National Dairy Conference 2025

Pathways to Progress

The National Dairy Conference 2025 took place on Wednesday, 26 November in Tipperary and on Thursday, 27 November in Cavan. The theme of this year’s event is ‘Pathways to Progress’.

View the conference proceedings and presentations

Wednesday, 26 November | Tipperary

Talbot Hotel Clonmel, Cahir Road, Clonmel, Co. Tipperary. Eircode: E91 X0N7.

Thursday, 27 November | Cavan

Kilmore Hotel, Dublin Road, Co. Cavan. Eircode: H12 F6Y7.

Conference Programme

Session 1 | Milk markets and key farm performance priorities for next year

Chair: Joe Tobin, Dairygold (Clonmel) | Andrew McHugh, Lakeland Dairies (Cavan)

What’s happening in international milk markets- prospects for 2026
Chris Walkland, Dairy Market Analyst

Key Performance Indicators – what lessons can we learn from real-farm data?
Joe Patton and Laurence Shalloo, Teagasc Moorepark

Using benchmarking to help drive my farm performance
Tony and Stephen Kenny, Clonmel | Oisin Gallen, Cavan

Session 2 | Models for succession and progression in dairy farming

Chair: Martina Gormley, Teagasc Dairy Specialist

Partnerships, profit sharing, leasing farming – which option is right for me?
Ruth Fennell, Teagasc Collaborative Farming specialist and Conor Hogan, Teagasc Researcher

Farmers experience of collaborative dairy farming- making it work for both parties
Michael Dunphy and John Gilvarry (Clonmel)
Conor Wynne and Tony McCormack (Cavan)

Session 3 | Driving further progress in Irish dairy breeding

Chair: Stuart Childs, Teagasc Dairy Specialist

Reviewing EBI after 25 years- a lot done and more to do?
Donagh Berry, Teagasc Moorepark Researcher specialising in animal genetics

Interactive audience discussion on future breeding priorities

Session 4 | Bite-size research updates

Chair: Donal Mullane, Teagasc Regional Manager, Tipperary | James O’Donoghue, Teagasc Dairy Advisor, Westmeath, Cavan, Monaghan

Practical steps to protecting water quality on dairy farms
Cathal Somers, Teagasc ASSAP Programme

Controlling dairy production costs in 2026
Owen McPartland and Michael Freaney, Teagasc Dairy Advisors

Update on the Pasture Profit and Clover Indexes
Sarah Walsh, Teagasc Moorepark

Using the MOST grass prediction model for precision grazing management
Elodie Ruelle and Michael O’Donovan, Teagasc Moorepark