Improving Technical Efficiency on Farms
28 September 2006
The future of dairy and drystock systems depends on maximising the profits generated by these enterprises. Since decoupling, any improvement in profit has to come from farming activity. Through its business and technology programme, Teagasc is working with farmers to achieve better results.
At the Teagasc stand at the Ploughing Championships in Tullow, County Carlow, the theme of the dairy exhibit is "Milk for Profit", while the message on drystock is "Profit from Technology"
The essentials for future dairying are clearly outlined. Efficiency, expansion, high herd EBI and low cost capital investment will be the key ingredients to a profitable future on dairy farms. Over the four day event Teagasc dairy advisers have been outlining how to finance and manage an expanded dairy enterprise.
On the Teagasc drystock stand, the focus is on increasing profits by improving the technical performance. Making the best use of grass in the diet, and breeding more valuable animals of higher confirmation is the main aim.
Results from the 2005 Teagasc eProfit Monitor for drystock farms have just been published and are available at the Teagasc stand at the Ploughing Championships. These show an improvement in the gross margin (excluding premia) on cattle farms last year.
On sheep farms the eProfit Monitor results show that only the top one third of producers are generating a net profit excluding premia.
The challenge to reduce the amount of labour required to run a sheep enterprise continues and Teagasc sheep specialists have outlined some ways to address this issue.
