Ποια ήταν η πρόκληση/ πρόβλημα που αντιμετωπίστηκε?
Dairy farming is a labour intensive activity with most cows having to be milked at least twice per day. As most dairy farms are family farms, milking morning and evening can be anti-social and difficult particularly on smaller farms without employed labour. During the 1990’s some farms saw and adopted the practice of once a day milking in the early lactation period 6-8 weeks post calving, this in a seasonally compact all spring calving situation was a major help on farms where labour was scarce. Research at that time showed little or no reduction in milk yield. Περίπου 2000 a number of farmers adopted once a day milking all year round as this had been done successfully in New Zealand. At that time a number of farmers who were in a discussion group asked their advisor to set up a discussion group for once a day milking herds. These farmers recognised that their systems, breeding, nutrition and animal health needed a different level of management and support compared to conventional herds who milked twice per day.
This group expanded and several farmers became interested in the practice. There was a clear knowledge deficit and an annual programme of events for OAD farmers was led by the then Teagasc Dairy Advisor Mr Brian Hilliard. These events which included a day long conference were a great success and were supported by Teagasc Research staff and expertise from international research and consultancy organisations.
Even though Brian Hillard has retired he still supports a group along with other advisors who have benefited from the pioneering efforts to reduce labour and to offer family run profitable dairy farms a good family life with less work and more time for social activities.
Πώς λύσατε το πρόβλημα?
Advisor formed a group of interested dairy farmers and organised events for them, over time they became stronger as a group, active on social media and WhatsApp.
Ποιοι είναι οι παράγοντες επιτυχίας στην επίλυση του προβλήματος?
Discussion Group, targeted events, research back up.
Απροσδόκητες αποτυχίες, εάν υπάρχει
Some farmers were joining for the wrong reasons.
Διδάγματα
Important to have positive can do attitude and an advisor who can leverage support for novel approaches to real problems.
Τι ρόλο παίζει ο σύμβουλος ή η συμβουλευτική υπηρεσία στην πρακτική περίπτωση?
Strong technical, advocacy and organisational support.
Μπορεί η προσέγγισή σας να μεταφερθεί ή/και να προσαρμοστεί για άλλες προκλήσεις και περιοχές καινοτομίας?
Ναί.
Εκτιμώμενη δυνατότητα μεταφοράς σε κλίμακα από 1 ΜΕΤΑ ΜΕΣΗΜΒΡΙΑΣ 5
(όπου 1 είναι εύκολο και 5 πολύ δύσκολο)
3
Για την ανταλλαγή εμπειριών σχετικά με την καλή πρακτική, please contact Brian Hilliard, phone +353872373292