Dairy Intensification and Quota Abolition: A Comparative Study of Production in Ireland and the Netherlands

Läpple, Doris; Sirr, Gordon

doi:10.1111/1746-692x.12213

Cited by 25 publications

(22 citation statements)

References 6 publications

(10 reference statements)

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“…Between 2015 and 2016, milk production in Ireland increased by 18.5%, supported by an increase in the number of dairy cows by 23% from 2013 to 2017 ( 4 ). Irish dairy farming is seasonally grassland-based, providing a lower cost production system by maximizing pasture utilization.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Perspective on the Use of Sexed Semen to Reduce the Number of Surplus Male Dairy Calves in Ireland: A Pilot Study

2021

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The production of surplus male offspring illustrates a socioethical concern in the dairy industry. In this article, we highlight the animal health and welfare implications of production outputs for surplus dairy calves, namely veal production, dairy calf to beef production, and euthanasia. Moreover, we present a pilot study focus on exploring the perception of key industry actors within the dairy industry in Ireland regarding the use of sexed semen as a mitigation strategy to reduce the production of surplus male dairy calves. A pilot survey was completed by farmers (n = 6), veterinarians (n = 17), and dairy farm advisors (n = 11). All the veterinarians, 80% of the farmers, and 62% of the advisors believed that the use of sexed semen had a positive influence on herd welfare. All participants identified the same barriers to the implementation of sexed semen: lower conception rate, lower availability, and higher cost. The reviewed literature highlights the importance of tailored communication to support knowledge exchange between stakeholders and key industry actors such as dairy farmers, their veterinarians, and advisors. Research to understand stakeholders' perception is pivotal to address socioethical concerns such as the surplus male dairy calves.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Perspective on the Use of Sexed Semen to Reduce the Number of Surplus Male Dairy Calves in Ireland: A Pilot Study

2021

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“… There was a significant change in the structure of Irish farming post lifting of milk quotas in 2015, with significant shift towards dairy farming, associated with increasing milk production and increasing herd-size. For example, from 2008 to 2013, an average dairy herd from a representative sample increased the herd-size by 12%; higher performing (top quartile) herds increased the herd size by 37% [ 30 ]. It was unknown whether such change might impact risk factor analyses for recurrent breakdowns.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Future Risk of Bovine Tuberculosis (Mycobacterium bovis) Breakdown in Cattle Herds 2013–2018: A Dominance Analysis Approach

Byrne

Barrett

Breslin³

et al. 2021

Microorganisms

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Bovine tuberculosis (bTB) remains a significant endemic pathogen of cattle herds, despite multi-decadal control programmes being in place in several countries. Understanding the risks of future bTB breakdown (BD) and the associated characteristics of herds and index breakdowns could help inform risk categorisation. Such risk categories could then contribute to tailored management and policies. Here, we estimated the future risk of herd BD for the cohort of herds that were derestricted during 2013 in Ireland using multivariable logit regression models, with a dominance analysis approach. One third of herds that were derestricted in 2013 experienced a breakdown during the follow-up five year period (1469/4459; 33%). BD length was a significant predictor of future risk, primarily driven by long BDs > 230 days relative to short BDs < 130 days (OR 95%CI: 1.157–1.851), as was having had a previous BD (OR 95%CI: 1.012–1.366). Herd-size was the dominant predictor of future risk (accounted for 46% of predicted variance), suggesting significant increase in risk of future breakdown with increasing (log) herd-size (OR 95%CI: 1.378–1.609). There was significant spatial variation in future risk across counties, and it was the second most dominant predictor of future risk (25% of predicted variance). The size of index breakdowns was not a strong predictor of future risk over a 5-year period. These findings can inform a risk-based policy development.

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“…With the recent abolition of milk quotas in the European Union, there has been a large increase in milk production in Ireland driven by an increase in cow numbers and milk yield per cow (Läpple and Sirr, 2019). Dairy production systems in Ireland are primarily pasture based, and factors such as soil type (Shalloo et al, 2004a), stocking rate (Macdonald et al, 2008), grazing season length (Läpple et al, 2012), and supplemental feed use (Ramsbottom et al, 2015: Macdonald et al, 2017Hanrahan et al, 2018) can affect the efficiency and profitability of these systems.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

An economic comparison of pasture-based production systems differing in sward type and cow genotype

McClearn

Shalloo

Gilliland

et al. 2020

Journal of Dairy Science

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The objective of this study was to compare the economic performance of 2 sward types [perennial ryegrass (PRG; Lolium perenne L.) sown with or without white clover (Trifolium repens L.)] grazed by 3 cow genotypes. Physical performance data were collected from a 4-yr systems experiment based at Clonakilty Agricultural College, Clonakilty, Co. Cork, Ireland. The experiment compared 2 sward types (PRG-only swards and PRG-white clover swards), with each sward type being grazed by cows from 3 genotypes [Holstein-Friesian (HF), Jersey × HF (JEX), and Norwegian Red × JEX (3-way)]. All systems were stocked at 2.75 cows/ha with fixed fertilizer applications and concentrate supplementation. The data supplied 6 production systems (2 sward types × 3 cow genotypes). The production systems were modeled using the Moorepark Dairy Systems Model (stochastic budgetary simulation model) under 2 scenarios, one in which land area was fixed and one in which cow numbers were fixed. The analysis was completed across a range of milk prices, calf prices, and reseeding programs. The analysis showed that in the fixed-land scenario with a milk price of €0.29/L, adding white clover to PRG swards increased profitability by €305/ha. In the same fixed-land scenario, JEX cows were most profitable (€2,606/ha), followed by 3-way (€2,492/ha) and HF (€2,468/ha) cows. In the fixed-cow scenario, net profit per cow was €128 greater for PRGwhite clover swards compared with PRG-only swards. In this scenario, JEX was the most profitable per cow (€877), followed by HF (€855) and 3-way (€831). The system that produced the highest net profit was JEX cows grazing PRG-white clover swards (€2,751/ha). Regardless of reseeding frequency or variations in calf value, JEX cows grazing PRG-white clover swards consistently produced the highest net profit per hectare.

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Dairy Intensification and Quota Abolition: A Comparative Study of Production in Ireland and the Netherlands

Cited by 25 publications

References 6 publications

A Perspective on the Use of Sexed Semen to Reduce the Number of Surplus Male Dairy Calves in Ireland: A Pilot Study

A Perspective on the Use of Sexed Semen to Reduce the Number of Surplus Male Dairy Calves in Ireland: A Pilot Study

Future Risk of Bovine Tuberculosis (Mycobacterium bovis) Breakdown in Cattle Herds 2013–2018: A Dominance Analysis Approach

An economic comparison of pasture-based production systems differing in sward type and cow genotype

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