Milk worth modifications may enhance NI Jersey cattle numbers

The a lot anticipated change to a components-based milk pricing system ought to act to spice up Jersey cattle numbers in Northern Eire.

This was view expressed this week by Mark Logan, the present chair of the UK Jersey Cattle Society.

He has additionally confirmed that Clandeboye Property in Co. Down, at which he’s farm supervisor, will host the society’s 2023 annual common assembly (AGM).

“Jersey cattle numbers proceed to extend in Northern Eire. I’ve held the place of organisation chair for the previous two years,” Logan mentioned.

“And it’s a large privilege for Clandeboye to have been chosen because the venue for this 12 months’s annual assembly.”

The occasion takes place on Monday July 31 commencing at 11:00a.m.

It additionally represents the start of a two-day celebration of all that’s optimistic about Jersey cattle breeding in Northern Eire.

“The AGM will conclude at round 12:30p.m. Lunch will then comply with within the banqueting corridor on the property. The afternoon occasions will deal with a go to to the Clandeboye yoghurt manufacturing facility and a tour of the property,

“This may also present guests with a possibility to view the Clandeboye pedigree Jersey herd.”

Considerably, the choice has been taken to open up proceedings on the day from lunch time onwards.

“We have now invited members of the Jersey Affiliation of Eire to affix us for the afternoon’s proceedings, beginning with lunch,” Mark confirmed.

“And we’re additionally opening the invitation to others with an fascinating in Jersey breeding.”

Jersey cattle at Clandeboye

Clandeboye is house to 30 elite Jersey cows and followers. The herd is at the moment averaging  6750L at 5.4% butterfat and three.9% protein.

The next day will see the Fleming household, from Seaforde in Co. Down, internet hosting a go to for Jersey Cattle Society members and others with an curiosity in Jersey breeding.

Their Potterswalls’ herd is house to plenty of the UK and Eire’s most prestigious Jersey bloodlines. It’s at the moment averaging 7,500L with exemplary butterfat and protein ranges.

Current years have marked the set up of two milking robots on the farm. The farm go to will get underway at 10:00a.m.

Mark Logan is fast to substantiate Jersey cows’ inherent capacity to provide giant volumes of top of the range milk in a really environment friendly method.

“Jersey cows have been lengthy recognised for his or her capacity to provide milk from grass in a really sustainable method. Additionally they carry out nicely inside confined feeding situations,” he defined.

“The power of the breed to provide milk with excessive ranges of fats and protein is universally accepted.

“Seeking to the longer term, our core breeding purpose is to take care of this stage of high quality whereas additionally growing milk volumes. And this goal is greater than achievable.”

Local weather

The previous years have seen the local weather change debate collect momentum throughout the UK and Eire.

Considerably, Mark Logan believes that the Jersey cow has an inherently decrease carbon footprint than manufacturing animals in different breeds.

However having a way of one thing and proving it are two fully various things.

“There’s each advantage in having the carbon footprint of Jersey cows independently assessed and verified throughout a variety of manufacturing situations,” he mentioned.

Yoghurt

Courtesy of his involvement with the administration staff at Clandeboye, Mark has performed a central function within the growth of the property’s now extremely recognised and equally recommended yoghurt enterprise.

“The entire milk produced on the property now goes for yoghurt manufacturing. Gross sales are sturdy all through the island of Eire and our market shops proceed to increase,” he continued.

“As a consequence we might quickly attain a place, which sees us buying-in further milk to fulfill our yoghurt manufacturing wants.

“There isn’t a scope to additional enhance the dimensions of the present Clandeboye dairy herd. All of the farmable land on the property is already totally accounted for.

“The acreage not used for milk manufacturing is devoted to crops, that are used to gas the anaerobic digester, or AD plant, at Clandeboye,” he defined.

By taking this strategy, the property has been capable of generate all the warmth and electrical energy it wants, together with for the yoghurt manufacturing facility.

“All of the whey produced as a by-product of the yoghurt manufacturing course of is fed again into the digester; the feedstock for which additionally consists of our personal cattle slurry and the excessive vitality silages grown particularly for AD functions at Clandeboye,” Logan added.

A ‘round economic system’ strategy has been taken for the event of the yoghurt manufacturing enterprise.

“Current assessments have confirmed that the yoghurt manufacturing facility has, to all intents and functions, a zero carbon footprint. That is on the premise of the dairy herd not being included within the figures,” Logan said.

“The following stage within the evaluation course of will probably be to have a look at the influence of the cows on the carbon footprint of all the enterprise.

“That is one more reason why we have to see verifiable carbon footprint information produced for the entire dairy farming programs practised right here in Northern Eire.”