A report from Teagasc predicts dairy cow numbers will reach 1.65m cows by 2027, with milk output of 9.5bn litres.

Stocking rate on dairy farms will increase from 2.1 cows/ha currently to 2.3 cows/ha, but nitrogen fertiliser usage will remain unchanged at 184kg N/ha.

However, the amount of grass utilised on dairy farms is predicted to increase by 30% to 10.2t DM/ha on average.

The report states that this can be achieved through improving soil fertility, incorporating clover, more efficient use of nitrogen and the increased usage of Pasturebase among other measures.

In terms of profitability, Teagasc is forecasting profits to more than double from €519/ha to €1,302/ha in 2027 at a base milk price of 29c/l.

Greenhouse gas emissions

Speaking at the online Teagasc Dairy Conference on Wednesday 25 November, Teagasc researcher Brendan Horan said that the road map predicts a 15% reduction in greenhouse gas emission intensity.

“By 2027, our greenhouse gas emissions will be 65% of the EU average in emissions intensity and one third of the global average and between one sixth and one seventh of the emissions level of dairy in many of the countries we export milk to,” Horan said.