Got milk?

After a leisurely stroll through the little town of Ennis this morning we boarded the bus and headed to Kilmallock to visit Molanna Dairy Farm. Heading south we are passing through the area known as the golden vale as the land is very fertile and dotted with many small family dairy farms. Margaret and Paddy welcomed us to the farm that has been in their family for generations and is currently run by their son Patrick. We learned that Irish milk has a higher nutritional content than most of Europe. The dairy farms can earn a bonus for their milk, based on the fat and protein content. Fat and protein content are a factor of breeding and diet. These cows are primarily grass fed, specifically perennial rye grass with a touch of clover. Nice leafy grass with minimal stems is the key. The cows graze in rotating pastures all summer long. They are brought in to the barns November to March, depending on the weather. No point in risking having wet fields torn up by grazing livestock. When in the barn the cows are fed silage. Silage is different than hay. It’s grass that’s mowed and allowed to dry for a day or two depending on the weather. Then it is rolled and hermetically sealed into plastic where it ferments but does not spoil. Patrick has done an amazing job of expanding the family dairy from 50 to over 200 cows, planning for the future and successive generations. After a tour of the dairy we headed back to the farmhouse for a light lunch of turkey, potato salad, the creamiest and most wonderful coleslaw I’ve ever had, and a variety of breads. As we finished, their grandson poked his head in on his way to a hurling match and did his best to explain that Irish national sport. Not sure we got the gist but we’d just celebrated our tour company’s 100th anniversary with a potent shot of mead . Poor fella didn’t stand a chance. We had to fight to stay awake on the bus to Killarney. Where we took a horse drawn surry with the fringe on top ride through the national park. Our driver was quite the character with a never ending patter of jokes , stories, and snappy commentary. Through in a fancy dinner at a local restaurant and we’ll call it a day.Read more