Most Irish dairy cows moved to sheds in March – survey

The majority of Irish dairy farmers have returned their cattle to sheds in some form due to the wet weather experienced recently, according to a new survey. This finding is based on the latest Calving Insights Survey conducted by FRS Co-Op for the month of March. The survey revealed that, despite some spells of dry weather throughout March, Irish farms needed to take their cattle off the grazing platform before the end of the month. This was particularly evident on dairy farms where milking cattle were "cutting up the grass," as highlighted by the March Calving Insights survey.

To address this situation, some farmers have adopted on-off grazing practices, returning cattle to sheds at night or in some cases completely. FRS Managers and team leads working closely with farmers noted that many slurry storage issues were alleviated during the dry periods. However, farmers in wetter areas of the country are still grappling with slurry capacity challenges.

The survey also revealed that there has been a higher cost of production than anticipated this year. Farmers attributed this to additional buffer feeding (such as silage and maize), extra meal being fed in the milking parlour, and more lime required for bedding in sheds. These increased costs have been further compounded by higher-than-normal labour costs, as many farmers sought additional farmyard support during the prolonged period of bad weather.

With cattle spending more time indoors this spring, 23% of farms have experienced animal health issues. Pneumonia and milk scour have been identified as the two main issues on farms this season, but there has also been a rise in reported cases of milk fever and mastitis. Moreover, more farmers have begun vaccinating for Bluetongue (BTV-3) due to growing concerns across the industry about the viral disease.

In addition to these challenges, the March Spring Calving survey from FRS Co-Op showed that, on average, 85% of cows had now calved on farms by the end of March. Furthermore, approximately 98% of farms across the country had started calving by the end of the month.

The survey findings underscore the challenges faced by Irish dairy farmers in recent months, particularly due to the unpredictable weather conditions. The need to move cattle indoors has led to increased production costs and health concerns, while the calving season has progressed amid these difficulties. As farmers navigate these challenges, they must also consider the potential long-term impacts on their operations and the broader dairy industry.