Grass fed Irish dairy

Why Ireland?

Ireland’s lush grasslands, farmed by generations of families, are key to the success of our renowned dairy industry, which exports more than €6.8bn-worth of products to 147 countries each year. Ireland’s reputation for premium quality dairy is enjoyed globally, with consumers and trade customers around the world benefitting from its assurances in quality, traceability and sustainability.

On average, our 1.5 million dairy cows spend an average of 240 days a year on pasture, with our temperate climate, plentiful rainfall and rich soils providing the longest grass-growing season in the northern hemisphere. The result; our much-loved butter, cheese, milk and powders which are famed the world over for their quality and flavour.

View the Irish dairy brochure, featuring an overview of the Irish Dairy Industry, Reasons to Choose Irish Dairy and a Directory of Irish Dairy Processors and Supplier

Lowering Carbon begins with grass

Did you know that Irish grass fed production systems produce lower carbon dairy? Irish dairy farmers are committed to lowering carbon through sustainability practices from pasture based systems through;

• Improved grassland management and soil health: To improve soil health lime is being applied to grassland. Lime balances the pH of the soil and reduces the amount of additional nitrogen required.
• Improved use of manure as a fertiliser source: Farmers are improving the use of manure as a fertilizer source by utilising Low Emissions Slurry Spreading technologies which increases the utilisation of nitrogen by the grass and reduces the emissions associated with manure application.
• Responsible use of lower emissions chemical fertilisers: To ensure there is sufficient grass available to feed their cows, farmers apply fertilizers to promote grass growth. Irish dairy farmers are increasing their use of chemical fertilizers with lower emissions such as Urea and Protected Urea. Additionally, 90% of farms have incorporated clover into their reseeding programmes for better soil management, demonstrating Irish dairy farmers commitment to reducing agricultural emissions.

Origin Green

Irish dairy farmers who are verified members of the Sustainable Dairy Assurance Scheme (SDAS) are also members of Origin Green, Ireland’s pioneering food and drink sustainability programme. As members of Origin Green the work of Irish dairy farmers and producers is measured and independently audited to drive continuous improvements across the supply chain in areas of sustainability. We are proud that Irish dairy farming is one of the lowest globally from a GHG emissions intensity perspective at an average of 0.91kg CO2 equivalents per kg output. This is a 9% reduction in the last eight years, with further new initiatives being implemented to make a positive contribution towards achieving Ireland’s agricultural sector’s reduction target of 25% by 2030.

Meet Our Farmers

Located in Tinahely, County Wicklow, brothers Joe and Michael Hayden run a family owned dairy farm. Being part of the Origin Green programme, the farm has been audited to meet the highest standards under the Bord Bia Sustainable Dairy Assurance Scheme.

All milk is produced using a grass-based system with a focus on the continuous improvement of soil fertility, milk, grass quality, and herd genetics. The Hayden family have invested significantly in the expansion of their farm and dairy herd in recent years. Changes on Joe and Michael Hayden’s farm include;

• Farm area dedicated to the dairy enterprise has increased by approx. 20%.
• Cow numbers have increased from 150 to 170.
• The volume of fertilizer used has been reduced significantly from 65 tonne to 40 tonne due to improved nutrient management.
• Excellent grassland management has facilitated a compound feed reduction.

What is the Bord Bia Grass Fed Standard for Irish Dairy?

Developed by Bord Bia, the Irish Food Board, our Grass-Fed Standard is the world’s first independently verified standard that provides verifiable proof of the grass-fed status of each dairy herd. Therefore, it provides assurance for what we have long known to be true: grass is intrinsic to the quality of Irish dairy.

Bord Bia’s Grass-Fed Standard brings a data-based assurance that dairy is sourced from dairy herds that enjoy a diet that’s on average 95% grass and grass-based forage and graze in open pastures for an average of 240 days a year. Only dairy from herds that meet this threshold can bear the Bord Bia Grass-Fed Standard.  Our standard uses data collected during farm audits as part of the Bord Bia national Sustainable Dairy Assurance Scheme – a voluntary scheme operating under Origin Green, Ireland’s national food sustainability programme.

Through the Standard, Irish processors will now be able to provide proof to support the claim that their dairy products come from qualified dairy herds.

Why was the Bord Bia Grass Fed Standard developed?

Consumers around the world are increasingly expressing a desire for dairy products that can be verified as grass fed and the market requires evidence to back the claim. Research from Ernst and Young shows that 50% of consumers globally now express a preference for grass-fed dairy. Almost two thirds (64%) of consumers are willing to pay more for grass-fed dairy, driven by its strong association with terms such as ‘natural’, ‘healthy’ and ‘premium’.

The Bord Bia Grass-Fed Standard provides rigorous assurance of Ireland’s commitment to producing dairy sourced only from pasture grazed herds.

The Bord Bia Grass-Fed Standard for Irish Dairy has been developed in consultation with relevant stakeholders from the dairy sectors including the Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine, Teagasc, Farmers, and dairy processors.

The Irish dairy industry is implementing this standard at processing level and verified product is planned for the market in 2022. For further details and to read the Bord Bia Grass-Fed Standard for Irish Dairy, please click here.