Fermanagh livestock farmers have just returned from a study tour to look at milk production and beef breeding in Spain.

The agricultural study visit organised by the Ulster Farmers’ Union in Fermanagh and facilitated by Heather McLaughlin from Europe Direct NI, looked at farming enterprises in the Granada region of southern Spain.

The 40 farmers visited several dairy farms where Holstein cows were producing up to 7,500 litres of milk as well as milk co-operative and a bull raising farm breeding animals for bull fighting. They also saw huge areas devoted to olive production.

Heather McLaughlin said their first visit was to Ganaderia Lodaisa S.C.A, dairy farm located in Cortijo Daimuz Bajo, near Lachar, in Granada, managed by Auricle and his sister, Anna Marie.

David West, Group Manager with the Ulster Farmers’ Union, explained how this farm had a herd of 250 Holstein cows producing around 6,500 to 7,500 litres of milk.

“Dairy milk is not a big part of the traditional diet here but the milk is sent to a local dairy run by the co-operative to be sterilised and bottled and sold directly to residents through various distribution channels,” he said.

“With the hot weather and dry conditions in this part of the Spain, conception rates are extremely low at around 35 per cent. Any slurry produced is dried and sold as fertiliser to vegetable growers. Cows are fed on green corn and alfalfa and kept inside all year round,” he said. However the main income was from olive production.

The second visit was to Sta. Fe where Pepe Luis hosted the farmers at the co-operative of around 20 members producing milk and also engaged in pork production. This was the Fermanagh farmers’ opportunity to hear about the co-operative approach to milk production at “Los Pastoreros.” With the main activity of this co-operative being production, processing and preparation of pasteurised milk as well as fattening pigs, the co-operative produces dairy products such as cottage cheese and cheesecake.

The trademark “The Pastoreros” has become a benchmark of quality and prestige in the food sector with its own production and distribution and marketing in the provinces of Granada and Malaga.

David West said this was an interesting visit to see how members of the co-operative have their own creamery. They also grew poplar trees to produce matchsticks.

Any bulls reared on the farm were sold on for rose veal.

The third farm visit was to Dahesa Chaparal, a bull raising farm breeding the famous Andalusian bull famed for bull fighting.

“These are bred for characteristics such as attitude. At two-year-old, if they did not have the right characteristics, they are slaughtered. They must be strong and fierce. If selected for bull fighting, they get a return of 1500 euros,” he said.

Bull fighting is a cultural event in Spain and controversial by its nature but still attracts plenty of people to take part.

Fermanagh UFU have now visited France, Brussels, Hungary, Spain, England, Scotland and the Republic of Ireland as part of their agricultural study visits in recent years to learn about agricultural enterprises and techniques elsewhere. They have all been sponsored by the Vaughan Trust.

The UFU’s Senior Group Manager, Albert McClelland, said they were grateful to the Vaughan Trust for their support shown which has enabled local farmers to learn more about agricultural practices in other parts of the EU.