The use of a new earth-bank tank system for storing farm slurry and waste water, which would dramatically reduce the cost of dairy farming, has still to be sanctioned by a special scientific committee drawn from a number of Government Departments. Sean MacConnell reports.
Farmers attending the Teagasc national dairy conference in Cork yesterday were told the new tanks would dramatically cut the investment required if farmers wished to remain in dairying.
With the industry losing up to 1,000 dairy producers a year, and numbers now down to 22,500 farmers, dairy expert Mr Laurence Shalloo told the 700 delegates that if they wished to remain in business they would have to increase milk output by 50 per cent.
"Such expansion will require extra animal housing on many farms. The capital cost of conventional housing systems is up to €160,000 for a 100-cow herd.
"In contrast, out-wintering pads and an earth-bank tank for slurry and soiled water storage costs just €18,000 for a 100-cow herd. Our analysis shows that the key to maintaining real incomes is to expand using low-cost facilities," said Mr Shalloo, who works at the Teagasc research centre at Moorepark, Fermoy, Co Cork.
Dr Noel Culleton, head of Teagasc environment research unit at Johnstown Castle, Co Wexford, said extensive study of the earthen storage system had shown there were no environmental difficulties created with the system provided they were constructed and managed properly.
Dr Culleton said that, while Teagasc was not a regulatory authority, he expected a decision from the expert committee, drawn from the Departments of Agriculture and Environment, shortly.
The committee would also rule on the use of out-wintering pads which replace sheds for keeping animals over the winter out in the open. The pads are made of woodchip over a stone base and are cordoned off.
Animals kept on these open pads eat more food but despite the fact they are out in the open all winter they are able to put on up to 40 per cent more weight than cattle held in housing. The animals are also less prone to diseases like pneumonia.
He said Teagasc had estimated a decline in dairy farm numbers from the current 25,500 to just 18,000 in five years time.
And while change was inevitable, Irish dairy farmers were in a much better position than most of their competitors to address the changes which were necessary.
He said the majority of farmers could lift their profitability by at least €100 per cow by doing things like lengthening the grazing season by four weeks and adopting better grassland management throughout the grazing season.