Dairygold has introduced a new bonus payment for its suppliers, the Milk Supplier Sustainability bonus.
The new bonus is designed to deliver healthier herds with the more productive cows, thereby improving both the economic and environmental sustainability of the Dairygold milk production base.
Bonus payments will be made to Dairygold milk suppliers who participate in Milk Recording and Herd Health programmes. The programmes have proven returns for farmers in terms of herd performance and profitability.
The Bonus
Dairygold is offering milk suppliers who participate in Milk Recording a 0.1cpl bonus, and another 0.05cpl bonus for those who join Munster Cattle Breeding Group’s Herd Health programme.
The group said that these bonus payments, together with the existing 0.1cpl Sustainable Dairy Assurance Scheme bonus, will mean a total of 0.25cpl in sustainability-related bonus payments for milk suppliers on top of the existing milk quality bonus of 0.4cpl.
The coop revealed that, within its supplier base, Milk Recorded herds currently produce, on average, 50Kg more solids, per cow, per year, than non-milk recorded herds, which is potentially worth an additional €23,650 per annum for a 100-cow herd.
“Dairygold has always sought to encourage more sustainable practices at farm level with initiatives like the Joint Farm Development Programme, the Sustainable Dairy Assurance Scheme and our Leanfarm programme,” Dairygold Chairman, John O’Gorman said, speaking at the launch event.
“The new Milk Supplier Sustainability Bonus continues our work as we aspire to have all our suppliers involved in both Milk Recording & Herd Health. All the time aiming for Sustainable Dairy Farming to create an environment where our milk suppliers can produce milk in a more sustainable manner.”
© 2019 Checkout – your source for the latest Irish retail news. Article by Aidan O’Sullivan. Click subscribe to sign up for the Checkout print edition.
