Latest news with #Aurivo
Agriland
05-08-2025
- Business
- Agriland
Cancer Care West is Aurivo's charity partner of the year
Aurivo Co-operative has today (Monday, August 5) announced its 2025/2026 annual charity partner as Cancer Care West. The co-op and its employees will aim to reach a fundraising target of €50,000 in donations for the charity over the coming year. Cancer Care West is a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to supporting cancer patients and their families throughout Donegal, Sligo, Leitrim, Roscommon, Mayo, Galway and Clare. The charity's services include emotional and practical support, residential accommodation for patients undergoing treatment, and a range of therapies to improve quality of life, all provided free of charge. Cancer Care West, which operates centres in Galway and Letterkenny, supports approximately 2,500 families every year. While 450 families use the charity's accommodation in Galway, Inis Aoibhinn annually. This is the first time Aurivo's charity partner programme target has hit €50,000. The co-op explained that the new target will be split evenly; €25,000 raised by employees and €25,000 matched by Aurivo. Aurivo's 700 employees across its network of 34 stores, four livestock marts, production plants and headquarters will take part in fundraising efforts. Fundraising activities will include the annual golf tournament, the Killygordon 5km, coffee mornings, raffles and more. Since the Aurivo Charity Partner of the Year initiative began, the co-op has raised a total of €660,000 in donations for 17 charity organisations. These organisations include The Alzheimers Society of Ireland, Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind, and Make a Wish. Donal Tierney, chief executive, Aurivo said they were proud to increase their fundraising target this year. 'This marks a significant milestone in our ongoing efforts to support the communities in which we operate. 'Everyone in Ireland knows somebody impacted by cancer and the work that Cancer Care West does to support cancer patients and their families in a respectful and inclusive manner is extremely important. "We look forward to collaborating with Cancer Care West over the next 12 months to enhance awareness of the vital practical role they play in ensuring nobody faces cancer alone," he said. David O'Donnell, head of fundraising, Cancer Care West said the charity was looking forward to a year of "meaningful collaboration, shared goals, and making a lasting impact in the communities we serve". 'With significant overlap in our catchment areas, we are excited about the opportunities this partnership brings — both in raising awareness of the vital support services we provide and in supporting the fundraising efforts of Aurivo's dedicated employees," he said.
Agriland
09-05-2025
- Business
- Agriland
Mayo farmers crowned champions at Aurivo's Milk Quality Awards
A strong foundation in genetics helped propel farmers from Co. Mayo to the winners podium at the annual Aurivo Milk Quality Awards this year. The overall winner of the 18th Aurivo Milk Quality Awards and Highest Solids Award winner went to Donal Ronayne and Liam Trench of Trench Dairy Ltd in Ballindine, Co. Mayo. The awards aim to recognise not only quality and consistency, but also the innovation and 'heritage that define Aurivo's supplier base'. The Trench Dairy Ltd success, according to Aurivo, is 'driven by a strong foundation in genetics, focusing on optimising kilos of fat and protein, as well as top-quality nutrition through high-quality grass and silage'. The duo has also prioritised simplicity in their farming system. Milk quality awards Commenting on the award winners chief executive of Aurivo, Donal Tierney said 'The incredible commitment and dedication of our farming families allows Aurivo to produce some of the best quality milk in the world.' He also said that 'the awards are a celebration of the commitment, care, and passion our farmers put into their work every day'. 'We're proud to support and champion these farm families who uphold the highest standards in Irish dairy.' The future milk sustainability champion went to a fourth generation farmer, Leo Conlon of Easkey, Co. Sligo, who runs a crossbred herd made up of 25% Jersey and 75% Holstein. Judges said that winning this award was a reflection of both Leo's forward-thinking approach and Aurivo's wider commitment to sustainable farming. His focus on genotyping, breeding, using bulls with a high Economic Breeding Index (EBI) and Dairy Beef Index (DBI), and milk recording allows him to make data-led decisions that enhance animal health and milk quality. The award winners on the night A strong advocate for sustainable practices, Leo has incorporated protected urea into his fertiliser programme and is actively engaged in Aurivo's environmental events, such as its recent water quality initiative. The Lowest Somatic Cell Count (SCC) award went to James Garrivan of Westport, Co. Mayo and according to the judges his success stems from his focus on young cows, selective breeding, and meticulous animal care. He uses sexed semen and avoids breeding cows with high cell counts, while also rearing all his cows from day one. Farming with his wife Teresa and their daughters, James runs a family-oriented operation. In addition to dairying, he is a renowned pedigree sheep breeder, showcasing his diverse agricultural expertise. The Lowest Total Bacteria Count (TBC) in Liquid Milk award went to Oliver Conneely of Castlerea, Co. Roscommon and his success in achieving the Lowest TBC in Liquid Milk can be attributed to his unwavering focus on cleanliness, consistency in wash routines, and strong family involvement. According to Aurivo Oliver places great emphasis on maintaining the highest standards of hygiene and ensuring that every aspect of the milking process is meticulously carried out. His dedication to perfecting wash routines and using the right chemicals has resulted in consistently low TBC levels. New entrant The most improved SCC award went to Stephen Fitzpatrick, St. Johnston, Co. Donegal, who is a relatively new entrant to dairying. Judges highlighted that Stephen has made impressive strides in improving milk quality and his success can be attributed to his data-driven approach, using milk recording and analytics to make informed decisions that drive continuous improvements. Stephen's commitment to animal comfort, particularly through optimising cubicle design and care, has also been central to his rapid progress in reducing SCC. With support from his family, Stephen has built a strong foundation in the dairy industry. The Best New Entrant award went to Brian Murray, Four Mile House, Co. Roscommon, who is transitioning from beef and sheep farming to dairying as of two years ago. Brian's success is driven by strong breeding, effective grassland management, and a focus on milk quality. With attention to detail in breeding and milk recording, Brian has made a smooth and successful start in the dairy industry, supported by his family. The Best Northern Ireland Supplier went to Keith and Linda Watson, Keady, Co. Armagh, as they continue a farming legacy dating back to 1720. Their success is driven by strong breeding strategies. They focus on bulls with high solids and fertility, and consistent farm management. The Watsons run a family-oriented operation, with their children actively involved. Their exceptional farm performance and teamwork have earned them the Best Northern Ireland Supplier award, reflecting their dedication to high-quality farming. The Lowest TBC in Manufacturing Milk award went to Barry O'Farrell, Colehill, Co. Longford as he has achieved outstanding standards in milk quality. His success is driven by a strong focus on hygiene, consistently maintaining rigorous wash routines, and ensuring a reliable hot water supply, all of which contribute to his industry-leading standards in TBC.
Agriland
30-04-2025
- Business
- Agriland
Aurivo reports increased profits and turnover for 2024
Aurivo has reported a 'strong financial performance' for 2024 with group turnover of €725.1 million up 13.5% on the previous year (€638.6 million). The co-op has today (Wednesday, April 30) announced its full-year financial results for the year ended December 31, 2024. Despite the very difficult weather conditions on farms in the early part of 2024, ongoing geopolitical issues and inflationary pressures, Aurivo's operating profit for the year was €17 million, an increase of 236.1% on the previous year (2023: €5.1 million). Earnings before interest, taxes, and amortisation (EBITA) for 2024 was €27.3 million, an increase of 94.8% on 2023 (€14 million). The co-op said that it invested €8.8 million in capital expenditure last year, down from €17.8 million in 2023. Aurivo Aurivo said that total milk volume collected 'bucked the national trend' and finished marginally up on 2023, by 1.5%, to 516 million litres. The co-op said that it paid 'a very strong manufacturing milk price' to its milk suppliers, averaging 52.9c/L, an increase of 23% on 2023 (2023: 43.1c/L). Aurivo has re-initiated a milk stability fund of €3 million 'to help manage potential volatility in the future'. Aurivo said that its financial performance in 2024 was underpinned by a 'strong operational performance across each of the co-op's business units'. Aurivo Consumer Foods reported revenues up by 15.1% to €158.3 million (2023: €137.5 million). 2024 saw the integration of the Arrabawn liquid milk and butter van sales business. On the back of the acquisition, Aurivo's liquid milk sales increased by 15% year-on-year and branded conventional milk sales grew by 39%. The Organic For Us branded milk grew by 52%. Connacht Gold retail butter sales volumes grew by 16% in the year. Dairy ingredients Aurivo's Dairy Ingredients business unit saw revenues increase by 22.5% to €289.6 million last year (2023: €236.3 million). 24 new entrants were welcomed by Aurivo into dairy, which the co-op said was over 20% of all new entrants to dairying in the Republic of Ireland in 2024. Aurivo's new product development team in Ballaghaderreen developed 12 new products. The business unit also progressed its strategic goal of broadening its geographic footprint with South East Asia now accounting for 10% of sales, having grown from zero in 2022. Aurivo said that it continued to lobby at national level on the importance of retaining derogation beyond 2026. Agri-business Revenues at Aurivo's Agri-business stood at €159.9 million in 2024 which were broadly in line with the previous year (2023: €161.7 million). Aurivo's feed mill achieved record production levels in 2024, with a 13% increase in feed volume. €6.2 million has been invested in this infrastructure over the past five years. Aurivo's Homeland retail network delivered a 3% increase in transactions in 2024 Aurivo's livestock marts saw revenues increasing by 13.8% to €117.3 million in 2024 (2023: €103.1 million). Throughput at year-end stood at just over 79,000 cattle and 83,000 sheep, an increase of 5% on cattle and 27% on sheep compared to 2023. Aurivo outlook Donal Tierney, chief executive of Aurivo, said that '2024 was a year of steady progress and it puts us in good stead to face the challenges that lie ahead in 2025'. 'The current global situation relating to tariffs and the consequent uncertainty over the past number of months is concerning for the sector and the wider economy as a whole with some global commodity markets (notably oil and metals) very volatile in the past few months. 'Notwithstanding the inevitable headwinds that face us, we believe the strategic and financial position of the co-op provides a sound basis to deliver ongoing sustainable growth for our member owners,' he said. Raymond Barlow, chair of Aurivo noted that 'a key highlight for the year was the resilience of our milk supply, with our farmers navigating the challenge of adverse weather conditions for a large part of the year'. 'We were happy to have been in the position of maintaining a competitive average milk price for our suppliers over the course of the year. 'Cognisant of the challenges that face the wider economy, we are prepared to adapt to same. 'Through prudent management, ongoing strategic investments and a steadfast commitment to supporting our farmer members, we will continue to position ourselves for long-term growth and resilience,' he said.
Agriland
22-04-2025
- Business
- Agriland
A+B-C pricing system ‘complements' high input milk production
Co. Antrim dairy farmer, Conor Casey, believes that an A+B-C pricing model complements a high input-high output dairy production system. Speaking at an AgriSearch conference, he said that switching to A+B-C with Aurivo last year had generated an additional £10,000 of income for his business over a 12-month period. The Casey herd is currently averaging 10.000L of milk at 4.6% butterfat and 3.5% protein. The 250 cows are robotically milked, with the current compound feed rate at 0.42kg/L. Calving takes place predominantly between August and April. The four-month gap when cows are not calving gives the Casey team an opportunity to get a break from calf-rearing while also allowing them to thoroughly clean out and refresh the calf rearing unit. The current calving index is 383 days. High input milk production The Casey family farms close to the village of Cloughmills. Conor told the AgriSearch conference that he had his mind set on building up the family's dairy enterprise from an early stage. Initially, this had seen the family getting out of sheep altogether and committing to increasing dairy cow numbers. This decision was marked by a corresponding investment in new dairying technology. This process has culminated in the establishment of a fully robotic GEA milking and feeding system. The installation of the robotic feeding system was the most recent investment on the Casey farm, with expenditure to date has totalled £280,000. Conor justified the cost on the back of the improved cow performance the system is delivering and the more efficient use of manpower on the farm. He also pointed to the fact that the decision was made easier because the alternative option would have been to invest in a new tractor and diet feeder. Other investments on the farm have included the development of improved calf and heifer-rearing facilities. All of this has been facilitated by an absolute commitment to the use of genomics as the key development driver within the business. Each calf born is genomically assessed. According to Conor, the information this delivers is allowing the immediate and accurate identification of those heifers that will deliver improved performance improvements in the most effective way possible. And it is not always the best-looking heifers that will deliver this commitment to change. Moreover, Conor said genomics can be used to improve all aspects of dairy farming: output, milk quality, fertility, and cow longevity.
