The top 10% of dairy farms generated a gross output of compared to €4,392 on the average farms, according to the Teagasc e-Profit Monitor results for spring calving farms in 2014.
This topline figure represents a 39% increase on the average levels of performance across the 1,363 dairy farms recorded.
The higher output on the top units reflected higher stocking rate, higher output per livestock unit (LU) and higher output per hectare.
Output per ha on the top 10% of farms was 303kg of milk solids, or 35%, higher than on the average farm (872 kg/ ha). This is as a result of a higher stocking rate (+0.49 LU/ ha) and higher output per LU (+ 40kg milk solids per cow).
Average spring-milk dairy farms had lower variable costs than the top farms at €1,437/ha versus €1,669.
However, as a percentage of gross output they accounted for 33% on the average farms compared to 28% of the output on the top farms. The gross margin was €4,422/ha on the top spring-milk farms which was 50% or €1,467/ha higher than those on the average farm.
The key figures generated by the e-profit monitor analysis for spring-calving dairy farms are as follows:
- Where winter milk is concerned, the top 10% of farms generated a gross output of €6,767/ha in 2014 compared to €5,188 on the average farms. This represents a difference of 30%. The higher output on the top farms reflected higher stocking rate, higher output per livestock unit and higher output per hectare.
- Output per ha on the top 10% of farms was 263 kg milk solids or 26% higher than on the average farm (999kg/ ha). This is as a result of a higher stocking rate (+0.35 LU/ ha) and higher output per LU (+ 41kg milk solids per cow).
- Average winter-milk farms had lower variable costs than the top farms at €1,811/ha versus €2,059. However, as a percentage of gross output they accounted for 35% on the average farms compared to 30% of the output on the top farms.
- The gross margin was €4,709/ha on the top winter-milk farms which was 39% or €1,332 higher than those on the average farm.
