Seanad Éireann debate -
Thursday, 19 May 1988

Vol. 119 No. 14

Adjournment Matter. - Milk Recording Scheme.

Mr. R. Kiely

I appreciate the opportunity to discuss this very important matter and ask that the Department take a more positive role on milk recording. When the Department controlled milk recording in 1977, a very low percentage of cows was included — only about 2 per cent in Ireland whereas the percentage in Germany was 41 per cent, France 20 per cent, The Netherlands 61 per cent and Denmark about 62 per cent. The only dairy farmers who kept milk records at that time were pedigree breeders. I was disappointed that the Department did not put more emphasis on milk recording because it would have ensured a higher yield per cow when the production restrictions came into being in 1983.

The milk yield per cow per annum in The Netherlands in 1965 was 4,207 kgs. while in Ireland the milk yield was 2,308 kgs. — twice the yield in Ireland. In the base year of 1983, the milk yield in The Netherlands was 5,290 kgs. and in Ireland 3,654 kgs. If there had been more emphasis on proper breeding, we would have a better yield now and that would ensure that we would also have a better quota now. I blame the Department because they did not put enough emphasis on milk recording. While a cow would yield a lot of milk for three months, it might not yield any for part of the year. The yield per annum is very important.

The Farmers' Journal was critical of pedigree breeding. The editor was not a supporter of our party — I think he was a Fine Gael supporter — and he was compensated by being appointed chairman of a State board by that party. As I said, he was most critical of pedigree breeding. It did not do justice to our case or encourage farmers to breed the cattle that would produce enough milk so that we would have a base yield.

The Department, in 1977, decided because of the cost, to hand over these records to some other body, and a centralised Irish Dairy Milk Board Association was set up under the chairmanship of Michael Buckley of Cork. They did a great job. They transferred the record-keeping to another body, the Irish Co-Operative Dairy Records Society, and they too, have done a great job. The Department will have to play a positive role to ensure that milk records are kept. At one time the Department kept records of yields. I had occasion recently to look for a milk record and had trouble getting it. The dairy industry are paying a fee for this service and the records should be available.

I congratulate the director of the Irish Dairy Milk Board P.J. Lawlor who did a great job. I was surprised when the Department decided he should be replaced. His successor is a neighbour of mine, Donal Kenny, who is also doing a good job. P.J. Lawlor did a great job and ensured that the percentage of cows recorded increased from 2 per cent to 8½ per cent. It is important that we devise a system that will encourage more farmers to keep records now that production is restricted. For farmers to have a viable business, it is important that they have the best cows and that they make better use of the facilities that are available. They could have the same milk yield with fewer cows. It is better to run their enterprises economically and to know how much their cows are producing. The only way they will know that is to keep milk records. I hope the Minister will monitor the position.

Minister for Agriculture and Food (Mr. O'Kennedy)

I apologise for being late. I was outside the door at 5 o'clock, and I was informed, mistakenly, that I would not be required until about 5.30 p.m. Out of courtesy to the House, had I known I would be required immediately, I would have waited. I am glad to be back here in the Seanad. Even in your temporary accommodation, you have made what appear to be reasonably appropriate arrangements for a House of the importance of Seanad Éireann.

I am glad to have the opportunity of addressing what is a very important issue and Senator Kiely has done a service in bringing the matter forward. I would like to thank him for his contribution. The development of milk recording in Ireland over the last ten years or so is solid proof of the positive approach taken by successive Ministers and the Department of Agriculture and Food to milk recording.

Because of the very low level of milk recording in this country compared with our EC partners, a study group, representative of all interests in the dairy industry, was set up in 1977 to examine the future of milk recording. At that time, only 2 per cent of cows in the country were milk recorded — and that is significant when one considers the figures for other countries — as against 34 per cent in the UK, 41 per cent in Germany, 61 per cent in Denmark and 62 per cent in Holland. The graph increases as one moves into areas of really intensive dairy production. Italy at 16 per cent was the next lowest to Ireland.

The study group recommended that in the future milk recording should be undertaken by an independent co-operative rather than by the Department of Agriculture and Food. As a consequence of this recommendation, the Irish Dairy Records Co-operative, which Senator Kiely has referred to, was established. I would like to join with him in confirming the tribute to the personalities he mentioned, some of whom I have had the privilege of meeting since, one of whom, Michael Buckley, accompanied me on a visit to the Friesian Cattle Society, and a recording unit of that society in England recently.

The Dairy Record Society was established and in recent years has gradually taken over full responsibility for milk recording, greatly expanding the service. In 1979 fewer than 60,000 cows were milk recorded while in 1987, more than 123,000 cows, or about 8.5 per cent, of the cow population were recorded. This is very significant progress but clearly further progress is still possible in the level of milk recording and, arising from that, because that is only used as a base of knowledge to improve the management of the enterprise and the data on which the enterprise is managed. Many farmers are losing money because they are not aware of the comparative achievement of the different cows in the herd and the only way to establish this is by having a constant milk recording unit, which is the purpose of Senator Kiely raising this matter.

Milk records are now, more than ever, a valuable tool in the day-to-day management of the dairy herds. I am aware that the Dairy Record Society are now in a position to provide somatic cell counts as part of the milk recording service. Because of production quotas, levels of milk output must be accurately projected and input costs strictly controlled. While milk records are valuable in the day-to-day management of the dairy herd, they also have a crucial role to play in breeding programmes both within the individual herd and at national level. A feature of the records of the Friesian Society in England to which the Irish Friesian Society is linked is that they were actually able, in respect of each individual cow, and each calf of that cow, to trace exactly the record of each one of those animals in terms of their milk yields, capacity and fat yields, matters that are now of vital importance.

Major benefits can be achieved by integrating milk recording and the AI breeding programme. This would allow for a greater degree of testing of young AI sires with consequential genetic progress at national level. The calculation of cow genetic indices which I understand is being considered at the moment would significantly improve the usefulness of milk records for breed improvement purposes.

It is essential that all aspects of the milk recording service be carried out with maximum efficiency and that there is the fullest utilisation of milk recording data. In this context, the active participation and co-operation of the various dairy cooperatives, AI bodies and breed societies are required, and it is gratifying to see that this is forthcoming.

The current management of the public finances has forced the Government to reduce public expenditure in all areas and, obviously, the grant-in-aid to milk recording will be no exception. This does not mean that the programme and potential of milk recording is being wound down. It does mean, however, that in the future the industry and herd owners, who benefit more than anyone indirectly, must carry an increasing share of the cost. Farmers are benefiting more than any other sector from the Government's programme of economic management in view of the continuing drop in interest rates. That is the reality with which we all live these days. My Department are of course, providing significant staff assistance in the milk recording area.

For example, the Department of Agriculture and Food staff currently serve as the national director-secretary of the Irish Dairy Records Society, provide professional and technical advice and support in the areas of sample recording, milk analyses, computerisation, statistical analysis and utilisation of milk records, and also supervise milk recording at field level.

I would like to assure Senator Kiely and the House that every effort will be made to continue to provide the necessary support staff to ensure the continuation and expansion of the national milk recording scheme and the authentication of milk records by the IDRC. As I said earlier, the recording of 123,000 cows in 1987 maintained the level of milk recording at 8.5 per cent of the national dairy herd. This is most encouraging and is a considerable achievement in difficult times. It certainly indicates that farmers see the many benefits of having accurate milk production records for the greater efficiency of the industry.

Mr. R. Kiely

I thank the Minister.

The Seanad adjourned at 5.30 p.m. until 2.30 p.m. on Wednesday, 25 May 1988.