Dairygold Farm Updates 2023
Friday December 8th
| Farmer | Location | Fat % | Prot % | Meal kg | Average Farm Cover | Pre Grazing Yield | Growth Rate/Ha | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| John Walsh | Ballylooby | 5.94 | 4.36 | 2.0 | 571 | 1200 | 10 | |
| Tim O’Riordan | Mourneabbey | 5.42 | 4.38 | 3.0 | 435 | 1100 | 2 | |
| Jimmy Cotter | Coachford | 6.38 | 4.52 | 3.6 | 505 | 1275 | 5 | |
| Joe Morrissey | Rostellan | 5.49 | 4.18 | 3.0 | 367 | 900 | ||
| Mark Lonergan | Rosegreen | 5.8 | 4.27 | 2.0 | 641 | 1100 | 5 | |
| Sean Barry | Pallasgreen | 5.6 | 4.31 | 6.0 | 829 | 1750 | 5 | |
| Sean Moher | Mitchelstown | 5.58 | 4.28 | 4.5 | 552 | 1000 | 8 | |
| Tim Leader | Rathcoole | 5.17 | 4.22 | 3.0 | 531 | 1300 | 4 | |
| Tom O’Connell | Inniscarra | 5.78 | 4.34 | 4.0 | 786 | 1200 | 9 | |
| Raymond Goggin | Templemartin | 5.18 | 4.14 | 2.0 | 696 | 1600 | 5 | |
| Average | 5.63 | 4.30 | 3.3 | 591 | 1243 | 6 |
Demo Farmers Update
The majority of cows have been dried off at this stage in order to give them a minimum of 8 weeks dry. Most of the farmers walked the farms to complete a final grass cover. This is important when reviewing tonnage of grass grown across the farms. Average farm cover is lower than planned on some farms partly due to lower than normal November growth rates.
Friday November 17th
| Farmer | Location | Litres /Cow | Fat % | Prot % | kg MS /Cow | Meal kg | SCC | Lactose | Average Farm Cover | Pre Grazing Yield | Growth Rate/Ha |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| John Walsh | Ballylooby | 13.0 | 5.59 | 4.37 | 1.33 | 2.0 | 79 | 4.47 | 566 | 2100 | 13 |
| Tim O’Riordan | Mourneabbey | 9.0 | 5.2 | 4.22 | 0.87 | 3.0 | 343 | 4.38 | 513 | 1100 | 4 |
| Jimmy Cotter | Coachford | 12.4 | 6.18 | 4.37 | 1.35 | 3.6 | 166 | 4.58 | 505 | 1275 | 5 |
| Joe Morrissey | Rostellan | 12.7 | 5.42 | 4.19 | 1.26 | 3.0 | 171 | 4.50 | |||
| Mark Lonergan | Rosegreen | 13.6 | 5.62 | 4.26 | 1.38 | 3.0 | 115 | ||||
| Sean Barry | Pallasgreen | 10.8 | 5.54 | 4.07 | 1.06 | 6.0 | 224 | 4.49 | |||
| Sean Moher | Mitchelstown | 12.5 | 5.35 | 4.15 | 1.22 | 4.5 | 141 | 4.58 | 552 | 1000 | 8 |
| Tim Leader | Rathcoole | 11.0 | 5.12 | 4.06 | 1.04 | 3.0 | 112 | 4.42 | 642 | 1800 | 8 |
| Tom O’Connell | Inniscarra | 10.5 | 5.93 | 4.27 | 1.10 | 3.0 | 246 | 4.42 | 642 | 1250 | |
| Raymond Goggin | Templemartin | 13.1 | 5.16 | 3.92 | 1.23 | 2.0 | 394 | 4.29 | 597 | 1400 | 8 |
| Average | 11.9 | 5.51 | 4.19 | 1.19 | 3.3 | 199 | 4.46 | 574 | 1418 | 8 |
Jobs for the rainy days
Organise soil sampling
Complete a closing cover and input to Pasture base around the 1st of December, to get an accurate picture of annual tonnage of grass grown on the farm
Record Dry off dates of cows to improve accuracy of milk recording production reports
Do a fodder budget & get your silage tested!
If short silage feeding soya hulls/other straights for a number of weeks when dry and restricting silage may be cheaper than buying questionable quality silage
Friday November 3rd
| Farmer | Location | Litres /Cow | Fat % | Prot % | kg MS /Cow | Meal kg | SCC | Average Farm Cover | Pre Grazing Yield | Demand /Ha | Growth Rate/Ha |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| John Walsh | Ballylooby | 12.4 | 5.44 | 4.38 | 1.25 | 2.0 | 77 | 654 | 1800 | 34 | 22 |
| Tim O’Riordan | Mourneabbey | 11.1 | 5.18 | 4.21 | 1.07 | 4.0 | 255 | 651 | 1500 | 37 | 14 |
| Jimmy Cotter | Coachford | 14.8 | 5.91 | 4.4 | 1.57 | 3.6 | 199 | 563 | 1250 | 21 | 28 |
| Joe Morrissey | Rostellan | 12.0 | 5.22 | 3.99 | 1.14 | 3.0 | 358 | ||||
| Mark Lonergan | Rosegreen | 12.9 | 5.73 | 4.28 | 1.32 | 3.0 | 175 | ||||
| Sean Barry | Pallasgreen | 11.8 | 5.4 | 4.12 | 1.15 | 6.0 | 399 | ||||
| Sean Moher | Mitchelstown | 13.3 | 5.15 | 4.11 | 1.27 | 3.5 | 132 | 877 | 2600 | 21 | 17 |
| Tim Leader | Rathcoole | 10.7 | 5.4 | 4.13 | 1.05 | 3.0 | 130 | 576 | 1500 | 24 | 18 |
| Tom O’Connell | Inniscarra | 12.1 | 5.91 | 4.35 | 1.28 | 3.0 | 181 | 642 | 1250 | 41 | 19 |
| Raymond Goggin | Templemartin | 12.8 | 5.15 | 4.09 | 1.22 | 2.0 | 284 | 656 | 1700 | 27 | 22 |
| Average | 12.4 | 5.45 | 4.21 | 1.23 | 3.3 | 219 | 660 | 1657 | 29 | 20 |
Friday 27th October 2023
| Farmer | Location | Litres /Cow | Fat % | Prot % | kg MS /Cow | Meal kg | SCC | Average Farm Cover | Pre Grazing Yield | Demand /Ha | Growth Rate/Ha |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| John Walsh | Ballylooby | 12.5 | 5.24 | 4.06 | 1.19 | 2.0 | 114 | 830 | 2300 | 45 | 28 |
| Tim O’Riordan | Mourneabbey | 12.7 | 4.89 | 4 | 1.16 | 4.0 | 240 | ||||
| Jimmy Cotter | Coachford | 14.3 | 5.66 | 4.32 | 1.47 | 3.6 | 155 | 608 | 1500 | 46 | 26 |
| Joe Morrissey | Rostellan | 12.5 | 5.27 | 4.11 | 1.21 | 3.0 | 159 | ||||
| Mark Lonergan | Rosegreen | 13.5 | 5.64 | 4.27 | 1.37 | 3.0 | 112 | ||||
| Sean Barry | Pallasgreen | 12.0 | 5.28 | 4.04 | 1.15 | 6.0 | 299 | ||||
| Sean Moher | Mitchelstown | 13.5 | 4.73 | 3.95 | 1.21 | 3.5 | 128 | 877 | 2600 | 21 | 17 |
| Tim Leader | Rathcoole | 12.8 | 5.03 | 4.08 | 1.20 | 3.0 | 188 | ||||
| Tom O’Connell | Inniscarra | 12.3 | 5.83 | 4.29 | 1.28 | 3.0 | 163 | 818 | 1800 | 41 | 46 |
| Raymond Goggin | Templemartin | 12.0 | 5.02 | 4.02 | 1.12 | 2.0 | 188 | 656 | 1700 | 27 | 22 |
| Average | 12.8 | 5.26 | 4.11 | 1.24 | 3.3 | 175 | 758 | 1980 | 36 | 28 |
Friday 20th October 2023
| Farmer | Location | Litres /Cow | Fat % | Prot % | kg MS /Cow | Meal kg | SCC | Average Farm Cover | Cows out | Pre Grazing Yield | Demand /Ha | Growth Rate/Ha |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| John Walsh | Ballylooby | 14.1 | 5.45 | 4.31 | 1.41 | 2.0 | 88 | 863 | Inside | 2100 | 45 | 40 |
| Tim O’Riordan | Mourneabbey | 14.4 | 5.08 | 4.17 | 1.37 | 4.0 | 295 | Inside | ||||
| Jimmy Cotter | Coachford | 15.1 | 5.67 | 4.35 | 1.56 | 3.6 | 110 | Inside | ||||
| Joe Morrissey | Rostellan | 14.0 | 5.37 | 4.4 | 1.41 | 3.0 | 205 | On/off | ||||
| Mark Lonergan | Rosegreen | 14.6 | 5.8 | 4.33 | 1.53 | 3.0 | 125 | 796 | Day | 2200 | 30 | 41 |
| Sean Barry | Pallasgreen | 12.4 | 5.36 | 4.26 | 1.22 | 6.0 | 168 | Inside | ||||
| Sean Moher | Mitchelstown | 13.9 | 5.03 | 4.08 | 1.31 | 3.0 | 155 | 808 | 2450 | 49 | 17 | |
| Tim Leader | Rathcoole | 14.2 | 4.98 | 4.1 | 1.32 | 3.0 | 341 | 600 | Day | 1700 | 33 | 30 |
| Tom O’Connell | Inniscarra | 13.6 | 6.01 | 4.38 | 1.45 | 3.0 | 196 | 907 | On/off | 1800 | 41 | 59 |
| Raymond Goggin | Templemartin | 13.9 | 5.06 | 4.02 | 1.30 | 2.0 | 217 | Day | ||||
| Average | 14.0 | 5.38 | 4.24 | 1.39 | 3.3 | 190 | 795 | 2050 | 40 | 37 |
Monitor Farms Update
At best cows are on/off grazing with the continued difficult grazing conditions which has had a negative impact on SCC. Milk recordings are being organised now in order to have critical information for drying off 1st calvers in the next few weeks. Getting milk samples cultured before purchasing Dry Cow tubes will help improve the cure rate over the dry period. See attached Cellcheck Report available for those milk recording within 60 days of calving to assess dry cow cure rate.
Friday 13th October
| Farmer | Location | Litres /Cow | Fat % | Prot % | kg MS /Cow | Meal kg | SCC | Average Farm Cover | Cover /LU | Pre Grazing Yield | Demand /Ha | Growth Rate/Ha |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| John Walsh | Ballylooby | 15.2 | 5.34 | 4.21 | 1.49 | 2.0 | 118 | 922 | 320 | 2700 | 47 | 46 |
| Tim O’Riordan | Mourneabbey | 15.2 | 4.53 | 3.91 | 1.32 | 3.0 | 226 | 998 | 270 | 1600 | 37 | 60 |
| Jimmy Cotter | Coachford | 15.6 | 5.34 | 4.25 | 1.54 | 2.7 | 120 | 874 | 285 | 1800 | 46 | 49 |
| Joe Morrissey | Rostellan | 13.5 | 5.38 | 4.3 | 1.35 | 3.0 | 297 | 907 | 251 | 1600 | 40 | 60 |
| Mark Lonergan | Rosegreen | 16.0 | 5.34 | 4.22 | 1.58 | 2.0 | 125 | 1076 | 437 | 2000 | 42 | 37 |
| Sean Barry | Pallasgreen | 14.4 | 5.12 | 4.04 | 1.36 | 6.0 | 305 | 994 | 326 | 2500 | 24 | 34 |
| Sean Moher | Mitchelstown | 15.5 | 4.95 | 3.97 | 1.42 | 1.8 | 121 | 968 | 309 | 2300 | 50 | 39 |
| Tim Leader | Rathcoole | 12.7 | 5.06 | 3.95 | 1.18 | 3.0 | 247 | 729 | 243 | 2300 | 33 | 24 |
| Tom O’Connell | Inniscarra | 15.0 | 5.49 | 4.28 | 1.51 | 3.0 | 150 | 1057 | 312 | 2400 | 54 | 66 |
| Raymond Goggin | Templemartin | 14.8 | 4.93 | 4.05 | 1.37 | 2.0 | 228 | 901 | 297 | 2000 | 53 | 31 |
| Average | 14.8 | 5.15 | 4.12 | 1.41 | 2.9 | 194 | 943 | 305 | 2120 | 43 | 45 |
Jimmy Cotter Farm Update
Production is holding at 1.54 kgs Milk solids per cow with 3.6 kgs of ration in the continued difficult grazing conditions. Chemical Nitrogen on farm has reduced from 250kgs N/ha in 2020 to 130 kgs N/ha in 2023. Clover paddocks which received zero chemical N this year have grown as much as paddocks which have had full N allocation. All straight Nitrogen spread on farm is protected Urea, with no negative impact on grass production. Plan to keep under the new 220 limit: Ration reduced from 1393 kgs/cow last year to projected 800 kgs this year. Aiming for the middle band. Reducing from 110 to 107 cows.
Friday 6th October
| Farmer | Location | Litres /Cow | Fat % | Prot % | kg MS /Cow | Meal kg | SCC | Average Farm Cover | Cover /LU | Pre Grazing Yield | Demand /Ha | Growth Rate/Ha |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| John Walsh | Ballylooby | 15.6 | 5.33 | 4.21 | 1.53 | 2.0 | 98 | 1024 | 356 | 2350 | 47 | 51 |
| Jimmy Cotter | Coachford | 14.9 | 5.64 | 4.34 | 1.53 | 3.6 | 141 | 947 | 308 | 1800 | 49 | 40 |
| Joe Morrissey | Rostellan | 13.9 | 5.35 | 4.23 | 1.37 | 3.0 | 163 | 907 | 251 | 1600 | 40 | 60 |
| Mark Lonergan | Rosegreen | 15.8 | 5.26 | 4.22 | 1.54 | 2.0 | 114 | 1076 | 437 | 2000 | 42 | 37 |
| Sean Barry | Pallasgreen | 16.1 | 5.03 | 4.02 | 1.50 | 6.0 | 193 | 994 | 326 | 2500 | 24 | 34 |
| Sean Moher | Mitchelstown | 16.7 | 4.94 | 4.02 | 1.54 | 3.0 | 113 | 1092 | 349 | 2300 | 50 | 55 |
| Tim Leader | Rathcoole | 15.2 | 4.96 | 3.91 | 1.39 | 3.0 | 233 | 729 | 243 | 2300 | 33 | 24 |
| Tom O’Connell | Inniscarra | 14.8 | 5.3 | 4.19 | 1.45 | 4.0 | 188 | 1057 | 312 | 2400 | 54 | 66 |
| Raymond Goggin | Templemartin | 14.3 | 5.02 | 4.03 | 1.33 | 2.0 | 193 | 901 | 297 | 2000 | 53 | 31 |
| Average | 15.2 | 5.20 | 4.13 | 1.46 | 3.2 | 160 | 970 | 320 | 2139 | 44 | 44 |
Jimmy Cotter Farm update
Difficult weather conditions are making it hard to graze heavy covers (1800 PGY) while adequately feeding cows. Jimmy has increased from 2.7 to 3.6 kgs of ration and is holding cows in the yard for 1-2 hours after milking. This is to try and get the cows to clean out paddocks better. This will be important for the next round. If weather conditions are particularly poor, cows are coming in at 2pm for milking at 4pm. But so far cows are out day and night and there is no silage in the diet. This is keeping milk protein levels up.