See https://www.economist.com/news/asia/21731435-government-data-suggests-60-rivers-and-lakes-are-unswimmable-dairy-farming-polluting-new
This article describes the threats to water supplies in New Zealand whose farm economy is similar to Ireland's with a huge dairy cattle population, 5.2 million dairy cattle vs 6.6 million cattle,mostly dairy, in the Republic of Ireland. The boom in international demand for milk products, especially from China, had led to rapid expansion of dairy herds in both countries.
The key threats described in the article are:
[]Bovine urine rich in nitrogen causes toxic algae which leaches into water
[]Excesive use of nitrogen fertiliser for fodder crops affects water
[]These nitrogen flows cause algae blooms which suck oxygen from water, threatening streams and fish stocks
[]Ecoli bacteria are present in cow dung
[]New Zealand dairy farms are extremely water intensive, with many requiring irrigation schemes that damage the environment (In contrast,Ireland has very high rainfall)
As a result, about 60% of NZ's waterways are unsafe for swimming.
In Ireland, there seems to be complacency about the impact of dairy farming on drinking water and recreational use of water, although dairy herds' contribution to methane gas pollution has received publicity in connection with EU environmental limits. Because of pollution risks, maybe expansion of dairy farming should be discouraged even if milk exports are "white gold".
Alternatively, the government could introduce very strict inspections of waterways and farms to prevent farming pollution of waterways. But given the past neglect of environmental pollution on farms, could the government be trusted to do so?
This article describes the threats to water supplies in New Zealand whose farm economy is similar to Ireland's with a huge dairy cattle population, 5.2 million dairy cattle vs 6.6 million cattle,mostly dairy, in the Republic of Ireland. The boom in international demand for milk products, especially from China, had led to rapid expansion of dairy herds in both countries.
The key threats described in the article are:
[]Bovine urine rich in nitrogen causes toxic algae which leaches into water
[]Excesive use of nitrogen fertiliser for fodder crops affects water
[]These nitrogen flows cause algae blooms which suck oxygen from water, threatening streams and fish stocks
[]Ecoli bacteria are present in cow dung
[]New Zealand dairy farms are extremely water intensive, with many requiring irrigation schemes that damage the environment (In contrast,Ireland has very high rainfall)
As a result, about 60% of NZ's waterways are unsafe for swimming.
In Ireland, there seems to be complacency about the impact of dairy farming on drinking water and recreational use of water, although dairy herds' contribution to methane gas pollution has received publicity in connection with EU environmental limits. Because of pollution risks, maybe expansion of dairy farming should be discouraged even if milk exports are "white gold".
Alternatively, the government could introduce very strict inspections of waterways and farms to prevent farming pollution of waterways. But given the past neglect of environmental pollution on farms, could the government be trusted to do so?