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Holstein calves
Holstein calves
The vast majority of dairy animals in Ireland are Holstein Friesians, the most popular bairy breed globally. They have been intensively selected for milk production in the main dairy regions around the world, particularly in the Netherlands and the USA. In 2010, there were 611,853 Holstein Friesian Calves born in Ireland compared to 17,099 Jersey calves and 9,472 Montbeliarde. Further details from the Irish Cattle Breeding Federation (www.icbf.com) and from the Irish Holstein /frieshian Association (www.ihfa.ie)
Copyright Irish Farmers Journal
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Farming in Ireland Overview
... an chomhairle leabharlanna reading room life and society in Ireland Farming Pat O Keeffe jpg emit format jpeg jpeg quality 1 nodata yes source cimg src aai files assets libraries an chomhairle ...
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Farmer's markets
Farmer's markets
At a Farmers’ Market, farmers, growers or producers (usually from a defined local area) are present in person to sell their own produce direct to the public. Farmers’ Markets give local producers the opportunity to eliminate distributors and retailers’ margins, as well as generating very valuable direct feedback on the product. Consumers can make a more direct connection with the source of their food and learn more about what is in season and the best cooking methods. Farmers' markets are held weekly or monthly in many Irish towns and cities in Ireland - a listing of approved Farmers Markets is available from An Bord Bia (www.bordbia.ie).
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Teagasc Moorpark
Teagasc Moorpark
Teagasc Moorepark Dairy Production Research Centre in Fermoy, Co Cork. Established by the Irish government in 1959, Moorepark Animal & Grassland Research and Innovation Centre has played a vital role in the development of the Irish dairy industry. It has been the focal point of Irish research into all aspects dairy production and is regarded as one of the world's leading grassland agriculture research centres.
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Silage making
Silage making
Each year, Irish farmers harvest their surplus grass crops during the summer growing season and preserve it as silage or hay for feeding during the winter when cattle are housed indoors. Silage is brought into farmyards and stored in airtight conditions under plastic. The crop ferments, with the resulting acidity preserving the feeding value of the material. Most silage crops are harvested by large scale machinery run by contractors. Farms generally take two main cuts of silage, the first in June and the second in August.
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Bailed silage
Bailed silage
Preserving grass silage as bailes is very popular in Ireland. The grass is compacted into a bale and then wrapped in an airtight plastic wrapper. The system offers more flexibility at feeding time than conventional pit silage, as bales can be transported for feeding. Some of the world’s best equipment for making baled silage is manufactured in Ireland by companies such as McHale (Mayo) and Tanco (Carlow).
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Farm organisations
Farm organisations
A high proportion of Irish farmers are members of representative organisations that provide information, offer strength in numbers as well as lobbying politicians and Government on their behalf. The largest organisation is the Irish Farmer's Association (IFA) (www.ifa.ie), with over 85,000 members in 947 branches nationwide. The picture shows a 2011 protest calling for farmers to receive a fair share of the retail price. For young farmers aged 17-35, Macra na Feirme (www.macra.ie), founded in 1944, offers a network of clubs active in agriculture, sports, travel, public speaking, community involvement and the arts. Thousands of Irish dairy farmers are also members of the Limerick based Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association (ICMSA) (www.icmsa.ie). Drystock farmers are also represented by the Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers Association (www.icsaireland.com)
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Cows grazing
Cows grazing
Weather permitting, Irish dairy cows are generally grazed on grass pastures from March to October when the grass is in plentiful supply. Average milk yield per cow in Ireland in 2010 was 4,567 litres with constituents of 3.84% butterfat and 3.35% protine. This is relatively low by international standards; in the United States and Continental Europe, average milk yields are close to 9,000 litres per cow. However, the yields in Ireland reflect the prevalence of cost grass based systems rather than intensive indoor confinement systems based on concentrate feeds.
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Calf rearing
Calf rearing
A group of Holstein Friesian calves gather around a milk feeder on the farm of Ann Moore in Middleton, Co Cork. The system is and example of low labour techniques imported from New Zealand that allow large numbers of animals to be managed by one person. Milk is placed in the central drum and brought by ATV or tractor to the field where the calves gather around and suck mild from plastic teats. Once they are well fed and have good shelter, calves are very healthy outdoors. In 2011, Ann was awarded the European Innovation award for farm women.
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Logging
Logging
Teagasc research (www.teagasc.ie/forestry) has found that well managed coniferous forests grow far faster in Ireland than in the UK, USA, Canada or Sweden. A major change in recent years has been the shift from the planting of predominantly conifer forests (mainly Sitka Spruce) to broadleaves, such as ash. Up until the turn of the century, conifers accounted for 90% of all planting, but this has fallen to 60% in recent years. Native species, including native broadleaves and Scots Pine, now account for close to 40% of all planting. Most planting is undertaken by farmers, whereas in the past it was undertaken by the State. Coillte, the State’s forestry company, owns over 445,000 hectares of land, or 7% of the land cover of Ireland.
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