The Focus Farmers, a central element of the Aurivo Farm Profitability Programme, continue to lead the way in terms of breeding, fertility and milk production in the western region.

As detailed as part of the recently published Aurivo Farm Profitability Programme 2024-2024 Focus Farmer 2024 Review, the five enrolled farmers – located across the Aurivo milk supplier base – have focused on the Economic Breeding Index to optimise milk production. On average across the five farms, cow EBI figures of €247 have been recorded – €70 higher than the average Aurivo supplier.

“This”, as Teagasc Advisor to the programme, John McCabe explained, “puts the group within the top 10% in Ireland for EBI and, along with good management, is driving high fertility and above average milk solids and milk price.”

Stemming for having the most efficient cow in place to suit their system, along with a dedicated focus on maximising performance from grass, the five Focus Farmers utilised 4.2t of forage dry matter per cow and delivered 476kg of milk solids per cow in 2024, translating to 755kg of milk solids per hectare.

“Breeding and excellent grassland management play central roles in achieving this level of performance, but the Focus Farmers are also focused on achieving key performance indicators when it comes to calving,” John McCabe added.

The Focus Farmers, on average, calved for 12.5 weeks in 2024 and 10.5 weeks in 2025. In 2025, it took them an average of 19 days to calve half the herd – three days shorter than 2024. Their empty rate in 2024 was 6% on average, even with a reduction in the length of the breeding season. Additionally, to better align their mean calving date with grass supply, calving was delayed by 3-4 days in 2025 and this delay in breeding start date probably had knock on effects in terms of improved conception rates due to extra days to recover.

Aurivo Focus Farms signposting the way

Commenting within the foreword of the report, Teagasc Head of Dairy Knowledge Transfer, Dr. Joe Patton said: “The Focus Farmer element of the Aurivo Farm Profitability Programme 2024-2026 has allowed us to track progress on key areas such as breeding, grassland and costs, as well as to highlight the challenges facing Aurivo milk suppliers in real time.

“The rates of improvement in milk solids, fertility, and grassland across Aurivo herds has exceeded that of most other regions in the last decade – the current and previous Focus Farmers have played a big part in helping to signpost this progress and we acknowledge their major contribution to this very positive story.”

For more insights from the Aurivo Farm Profitability Programme, visit here.

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