This study explores drivers and resulting changes in the structure and technical efficiency of Irish dairy farms from 2005 to 2018 (covering pre‐ and post‐milk quotas) during which milk production increased by 54%. Over this period, farm structure changed dramatically (fourfold increase in farmers milking >100 cows) and farmers improved technical efficiency and profitability and reduced the greenhouse gas emission intensity of milk produced. The impact of the adoption of key technologies at farm level and the contribution of strategic direction nationally (the Irish Government's Food Harvest 2020 Strategy) influencing this development are explored as are future sector challenges.

中文翻译：

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爱尔兰乳业–最近的历史和战略，现状和未来的挑战

这项研究探讨了从2005年到2018年爱尔兰奶牛场的结构和技术效率的变化以及驱动力以及由此带来的变化（覆盖了产前和产后的配额），在此期间牛奶产量增长了54％。在此期间，农场结构发生了巨大变化（> 100头奶牛的农民挤奶增长了四倍），农民提高了技术效率和利润，并降低了所生产牛奶的温室气体排放强度。探讨了在农场一级采用关键技术的影响以及全国战略方向对这一发展的影响（爱尔兰政府的《 2020年粮食丰收战略》），以及未来部门所面临的挑战。