ICBF data shows yields dropping to 20.68 kg/cow as higher feed supplement costs and lower milk prices squeeze monthly cheques by over €6,700.
Severe drought conditions across Ireland have impacted late-summer milk production and placed farm balance sheets under pressure, according to data compiled by the Irish Cattle Breeding Federation (ICBF) and PastureBase Ireland. While nationwide rainfall has begun to alleviate soil moisture deficits, average milk output dropped from 24.14 kg per cow in early July to 20.68 kg per cow by late August, reducing average daily milksolids to 1.66 kg per cow compared to 1.79 kg earlier in the season.
| 29/08/2025 | 28/08/2026 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Milk supplied (L and kg) | 2,063L or 2,125kg | Milk supplied (L and kg) | 2,008L or 2,068kg |
| Protein | Protein | ||
| Percentage | 3.65 | Percentage | 3.69 |
| Kg | 77.56 | Kg | 76.31 |
| €8.726/kg of protein | €676.79 | €7.142/kg of protein | €545.01 |
| Fat | Fat | ||
| Percentage | 3.94 | Percentage | 4.38 |
| Kg | 83.73 | Kg | 90.58 |
| €5.331/kg of fat | €446.36 | €4.254/kg of fat | €385.33 |
| Volume adjustment | €82.52 | Volume adjustment | €80.32 |
| A+B-C | €1,040.63 | A+B-C | €823.02 |
Despite lower total volume, component percentages improved as farmers adjusted feeding regimens, with fat and protein levels climbing to 4.38 percent and 3.69 percent respectively (up from 3.94 percent and 3.48 percent). These dietary interventions allowed producers to maintain aggregate solids close to prior-year levels (1.66 kg/cow versus 1.67 kg/cow in late August 2025), preventing a sharp production crash during late lactation.
Pasture growth rates suffered significantly during the dry spell, with PastureBase recording a national average of 46 kg of dry matter (DM) per hectare in late August. To bridge the forage deficit, dairy producers had to feed higher supplemental rations—averaging roughly 14.5 kg of grass alongside 3.5 kg of concentrate meal and 1 kg of silage per cow daily—greatly increasing daily feed expenses across herds.
The combined effect of higher bought-in feed costs and lower base milk prices compared to 2025 has created a substantial financial squeeze. For a representative herd of 100 milking cows, daily gross milk revenue under the A+B-C component pricing system fell by €217.61 per day compared to the same week in 2025 (dropping from €1,040.63 to €823.02), primarily driven by lower component unit payouts for fat and protein.
Over a full monthly cycle, this revenue gap equates to an estimated deficit of roughly €6,745 per month for an average 100-cow dairy operation. Industry advisers note that while feeding costly supplemental rations was essential to protect herd condition and lactation persistence, compounding fodder deficits and tighter margins continue to challenge farmgate cash flow as herds head into autumn.
Source: Agriland
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