What do Irish cows eat?

Due to our climate and the large proportion of grassland, Irish cows graze on lush green grass for up to 300 days each year. A dairy cow, like other animals, must eat a balanced diet with enough nutrients to maintain her own growth as well as milk production and when relevant, the needs of a growing foetus. Therefore, the amount a cow needs to eat will vary across the year.

During the colder winter period, when grass stops growing, animals are housed and fed mainly grass-silage, often topped up with some meal/concentrates. These are often fortified with vitamins, minerals and trace elements. The choice of concentrate will be made based on the energy and protein needs of the cow, with common ingredients including barley, wheat, maize, soya, molasses, sugar beet, rapeseed meal or sunflower meal.