Professor Laurence Shalloo, Head of the Animal and Grassland Programme in Teagasc Moorepark, joins Stuart Childs on this week’s Dairy Edge.
Professor Shalloo starts by acknowledging that there is a constant state of flux in the world now and that we are constantly adapting to change. This is no different to what we did in the run-in to the milk quota removal. He also talks about the pent-up energy in the industry post-quota removal that has delivered a 100% increase in milk solids production from just a 50% increase in cows, indicating the advances made in terms of productivity.
There are always challenges and costs were high on the agenda at previous open days; they are well up the agenda again in 2025, as there has been an upward shift in costs. There is a need to focus on getting on top of them again and key to that is efficiency and growing the cheapest feed we can – grass.
The other challenges facing the industry include generation renewal as some of the people that have delivered the expansion are now looking for the person to carry on the business. Greenhouse gas emissions and water quality challenges also exist but are trending in the right direction and can be overcome by implementing the research.
Listen to the full episode of the Dairy Edge podcast featuring Professor Laurence Shalloo below:
The Moorepark Open Day will take place on July 2nd, starting at 8:30am and we encourage all to attend and engage on the day. For more information on the Moorepark Open Day, visit here.
A co-production with LastCastMedia.com, more episodes from the Dairy Edge podcast are available on the show page.