Dairy
Body condition score cows
Body condition score cows Body condition is critical to a successful breeding season. Identifying thin cows early allows steps to be taken to improve their body condition in good time. The first step is to body condition score all animals in the herd. The next step is to provide extra care and […]
16 March 2021
Feeding for Fertility
Feeding for Fertility The quality of feeding in the dry period and early lactation is important in achieving good herd fertility. Joe Patton, Dairy Specialist, has advice here on getting some key targets right. Nutrition plays a vital role in achieving good herd fertility. Quality of feeding in the dry period and […]
15 March 2021
Getting more cows in calf during the first three weeks of the breeding season – Webinar
Getting more cows in calf during the first three weeks of the breeding season – Webinar This Dairy Breeding Seminar webinar took place in April 2020. Dr. Stephen Moore, Teagasc Moorepark made a short presentation on recent research in the area of compact calving. Dr. Donal Patton, Teagasc Ballyhaise outlined the plans […]
15 March 2021
Using teams of bulls equally
Using teams of bulls equally Teagasc and ICBF recommend that teams of bulls are used when breeding dairy cows as Margaret Kelleher, ICBF outlines here. This is the advice regardless of whether the bulls are genomically or daughter proven. The key message: when planning what bull to use, also plan how to […]
15 March 2021
Six point plan to successful breeding
Six point plan to successful breeding Have you received the new dairy breeding guidelines for the spring 2021 breeding season? The guidelines include six simple steps which if followed will ensure the continued improvement of your dairy herd into the future. Follw these 6 simple steps to improve your dairy herd […]
15 March 2021
Setting the targets for spring breeding 2021
Setting the targets for spring breeding 2021 Nationally only 65% of cows and heifers calve during the first six weeks of the calving season, ideally this should be at 90%. As part of Breeding Week 2021 the major factors to achieving a high six-week calving rate are discussed here In pasture-based systems […]
15 March 2021
Teagasc/ICBF Breeding Week 2021
Teagasc/ICBF Breeding Week 2021 The breeding season on Irish dairy farms has become increasingly concentrated in the late April to June period. Teagasc in conjunction with the Irish Cattle Breeding Federation (ICBF) will run a dairy breeding week from Monday 15th to Thursday 18th March 2021 on important genetic & technical issues […]
12 March 2021
Fertilisation of clover swards
0 Fertilisation of clover swards The use of clover in grassland to replace fertilizer N can substantially lower greenhouse gas and ammonia emissions from pasture-based production. James Humphreys, Researcher and Dan Barrett, Farm Manager, outline Clover sward fertiliser management from 12 years research at Teagasc Solohead Farm. Using Clover to replace Fertiliser N […]
8 March 2021
Early Management of the Dairy Beef Calf
0 Early Management of the Dairy Beef Calf With the main dairy calving season underway and dairy calves moving onto beef farms, having good practices in the early stages of dairy beef calf rearing will minimise problems later on. Vincent Ronayne, Teagasc Mayo, advises on a number of core principles which should be […]
1 March 2021
Maximising Grass in the dairy cow diet
0 Maximising Grass in the dairy cow diet Getting cows out on grass is better for the cows, and beneficial for the grass plant. Nutritionally, spring grazed grass is far superior to grass silage indoors with digestibility of 80 + in terms of DMD. So the more of it you can get into […]
1 March 2021