Dairy
Heat activity in pasture based dairy cows
Heat activity in pasture based dairy cows During the recent Teagasc/ICBF breeding week three key reproductive targets were identified as being critically important in seasonal calving dairy herds. George Ramsbottom, Dairy Specialist has details, plus breeding guidelines for spring 2021 and advice on managing late calving dairy cows here Key reproductive targets […]
15 April 2021
Upgrading an Old Milking Parlour
Upgrading an Old Milking Parlour Francis Quigley, Teagasc milking machine specialist, outlines what farmers should consider when upgrading a milking parlour in respect of location, collecting yard design, handling facilities, good cow flow & water systems. Advice for a 30-cow farmer with a 4-unit parlour considering upgrading a milking parlour to accommodate 100 […]
12 April 2021
Feeding for fertility in the lead up to breeding season
0 Feeding for fertility in the lead up to breeding season Nutrition plays a vital role in achieving good herd fertility. Quality of feeding in the dry period and early lactation can affect outcomes. Teagasc specialist Joe Patton gives advice on getting nutrition right before breeding. There are many issues cannot be solved […]
5 April 2021
Dairy Breeding
0 Dairy Breeding Dairy breeding at Kildalton College has a focus on increasing the EBI (Economic Breeding Index) of the college dairy herd. Here for the Farm Walk and Talk with AgriAware dairy lecturer Martin Raftice explains the advantages of improving EBI both for environmental and economic reasons Greenhouse gas emissions are of […]
1 April 2021
The cost of a missed heat
The cost of a missed heat George Ramsbottom,Teagasc Dairy Specialist and Laurence Shalloo, Teagasc Research Officer talk about the key reproductive targets in seasonal calving dairy herds. They discuss slippage in calving interval and the cost and consequences of a missed heat here Background The key reproductive targets in seasonal calving dairy […]
29 March 2021
Using both dairy and beef AI
Using both dairy and beef AI Teagasc in conjunction with the Irish Cattle Breeding Federation (ICBF) is running a dairy breeding week this week. The focus of today’s videos is on Using both dairy and beef AI, from the start of the breeding season. Siobhan Ring, ICBF, and Hugh Egan, Dairy Farmer, […]
18 March 2021
Managing late calving cows to shorten calving interval
Managing late calving cows to shorten calving interval We are now only weeks away from the start of the 2021 breeding season. Whenever you intend commencing your breeding season, the management of late calvers is something that needs to be given some thought in order to avoid them calving late again in […]
17 March 2021
Top results with sexed semen
Top results with sexed semen Sexed semen can be successfully used to increase numbers of dairy female replacements born and to reduce the number of dairy bull calves born. Teagasc recommends that early calving younger cows or maiden heifers are most successfully bred to sexed semen. George Ramsbottom, Dairy Specialist explains In […]
16 March 2021
How to improve likelihood of success with sexed semen
How to improve likelihood of success with sexed semen Sexed semen provides many potential advantages to dairy farmers. The most obvious and compelling reason to use sexed semen is because of the sex bias induced in the calf crop. Stephen Butler, Teagasc, Moorepark has some advice as part of Teagasc / ICBF […]
16 March 2021
Breeding maiden heifers on the out farm
Breeding maiden heifers on the out farm Teagasc recommends that maiden heifers are bred with dairy AI as these are the most fertile animals in the herd and have the highest EBI. Make sure to target your heifers with sexed or conventional dairy AI to maximise the rate of genetic gain in […]
16 March 2021