Zero Graze Milk

Prefect_1998

Afternoon

I have zero farm background but i do consume the output ;-)

I try and buy Free-range as much as posible, i have no issue with Meat production if the welfare of the animal is highest priority until the final blow.

But i am just wondering will there be a push to indicate on Milk cartons if the cows have been in a zero graze environment for the life of the animal ?

Just wondering about this as i have been told about a move towards this form of Farming in Dairy.

thank Ro

Base price

Indoor systems are more common in the UK and mainland Europe. There are probably a few herds in Ireland that are indoor but the majority of Irish dairy cows enjoy the freedom to graze in the fields weather permitting. Dairy farmers at present are struggling with all the wet weather that we are having so you may not see as many cows out as normal for this time of year. Fingers crossed the weather changes for the better soon as all livestock farmers are finding the conditions difficult.

893bet

I know of a farm the next parish over that the dairy kicked up a fuss at the idea of a robot being installed and cattle being permanently housed and grass drawn to them. Not sure where it ended up.

I don’t think there will be any push towards that on cartons and I would think that situation is a rarity in Ireland.

K.G.

Mostly in a irish context zero grazing used to replace silage on the shoulders of the season. I know someone who zeros right through the year but even he lets them out to grass during as much as he can.

Prefect_1998

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121993995#Comment_121993995

Thats interesting to hear, i get weather is a the factor but with the intention that they are going to Graze at some point. Its the Full time zero graze i would be concerned with.

Prefect_1998

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121994002#Comment_121994002

I wonder does the Dairy check for this ? interesting that they care how the Milk was produced if the same end product for them.

Prefect_1998

do you know why they let them out / cost or for the natural graze ?

For beef would Zero graze make sence ?

Danzy

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121997093#Comment_121997093

Ultimately it is cheaper and better for the cows to walk to Grass themselves than pay thru the nose to bring it in.

Siamsa Sessions

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121997105#Comment_121997105

I presume you mean 'does the co-op/processor check for this'?

If so, the answer would be no. They want cheap cheap cheap because the supermarket dictates all, and they want to sell basic food cheap cheap cheap to consumers.

50HX

I know 2 farmers that have the cows in all year round.

Co op won't take their milk as it doesn't fit with origin green

GrasstoMilk

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121997747#Comment_121997747

they do ask for it. They want to know %’of diet that is grazed grass

cjpm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121997747#Comment_121997747

The co-op want to know how many acres have you around the parlour. If you have 50 acres and 300 cows it doesn’t take a genius to work it out.

Also plenty of gossiping goes on in rural Ireland. If you’re 100% zero grazing there will be plenty of people talking about you as it’s not the norm.

mr.stonewall

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121997116#Comment_121997116

Its time, money for the equipment and diesel to run it. The ultimate aim for over 95% of farmers on Ireland is to have their stock grazing as it's the cheapest means of feeding the animal. Even the winter period has costs, the cost of getting silage made for the winter, slurry storage and spreading cost. Even the machinery to feed the cattle in shed don't run for free

alps

There is an exodus from liquid milk production because the cost of producing it is in no way reflected by the price obtained from the supermarkets.

The fact that all farmer suppliers to multiples are finding it impossible to continue is a damming reflection on supermarket pressures.

We are very close now to seeing imported milk on our shelves at some point in the year. It is likely that there will be a reset in this industry and we will end up with a very small group of large very specialised liquid milk producers paid properly through schemes like in the UK, however this type of production will tend further away from the grazed grass system that we typically have here.

Jack98

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121999788#Comment_121999788

is there even co ops offering liquid milk contracts anymore?

green daries

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121999922#Comment_121999922

Some smaller new contracts ....but poor for the farmers ...its just a way of accessing their milk pool for the couple of peak demand months. Mostly bigger lads getting out to hell and changing systems. There was a large oversupply of liquid volumes for the last decade or more.( especially in glanbia) bur there's a general tightening of suppliers and supplies as of the last couple of years.

Prefect_1998

thanks for all the posts lads, great to see farmers want the cows in fields but future is not so bright for Dairy farming for the smaller farms.

No idea how i can help farmers directly other than buy at their Milk Barns…