Glenn Forde is a top-quality milk supplier near Innishannon, not far from Bandon in west Cork. I was down on Glenn’s farm last week at one of the Teagasc winter milk walks.

Last year, Glenn produced the required volume of his annual supply over the five winter months to Bandon Co-op, one of the four west Cork co-ops, to claim his winter milk bonus. Visitors viewed and listened to details of an exceptional performer. I was struck by the herd that looked more like a spring-calving herd – all black and white, delivering very good quality, volume and fertility.

Reading between the lines and from listening to questions from the farmers and answers from Glenn, he is considering crossbreeding and perhaps moving to less milk produced during the winter milk months. A farmer in attendance asked Glenn why he didn’t go crossbreeding before now and where his priorities lay for the future. Glenn replied: “I am considering crossbreeding and also I’m looking at how our business might evolve into the future. I have not decided fully yet. Fertility is important and improving milk solids is important to me.”

Glenn has just got access to adjoining land which would allow him grow more grass and carry more cows. Whether the Forde family farm will continue to milk cows through the winter with these potential changes is up for discussion.

This cow-type message from Glenn tied in very well with the words of Joe Patton from Teagasc, who was speaking at the walk. Joe made the point to farmers that whether you are in spring or winter milk, you have a choice as to what cow type you have on your farm and ‘‘minding cows is not managing cows’’. He said: “Minding cows is a totally different to managing cows – they are two totally different things. One of the most important choices is to choose the right type of cow in the first place. You need to breed cows that do more than peak at a high milk yield. I want more balanced breeding.”

Read more from our winter milk focus supplement

Introduction: plan required for winter milkers

Irish liquid milk market in numbers

Liquid milk industry road map required to ensure it continues