Dairy

No more tail paint
0 No more tail paint In the midst of the breeding season, Teagasc Signpost Programme and Lakeland Dairies Monitor farmer, Kieran McDermott tells us how a recently installed heat detection system is proving its worth on his farm in Co. Monaghan. I have just installed heat detection collars on the farm. It is […]
4 June 2025

Achieving high levels of farm performance in a sustainable manner – a farmer’s perspective
0 Achieving high levels of farm performance in a sustainable manner – a farmer’s perspective Irish dairy farms are making huge progress when it comes to improving their sustainability metrics, with the Teagasc/FBD Environmental Sustainability Awards highlighting the farms which are leaders in this regard. For this week’s Dairy Edge, James Dunne is […]
3 June 2025

Teat liners – time for a change?
0 Teat liners – time for a change? Over the next few weeks, Padraig O’Connor writes, the teat liners will need to be changed in most spring-calving dairy herds. This will depend on the parlour size, the number of milkings per day and the number of cows being milked through the parlour. The […]
2 June 2025

Working together: Collaborative farming models for a sustainable future
0 Working together: Collaborative farming models for a sustainable future Where potential successors are not in a position to take over, but the current generation want to step back from farming, what are the options? Collaborative Farming Specialist, Ruth Fennell took a closer look at collaborative farming models at the recent Entry, Progression […]
1 June 2025

Don’t miss the opportunity to apply lime
Don’t miss the opportunity to apply lime When it comes to applying lime, farmers have been encouraged to take every opportunity to do so during the growing season, Specialist on the Teagasc Signpost Programme, Mark Plunkett reminds us of the key benefits of liming. To maximise the return from applied fertilisers, soil […]
27 May 2025

July date for Moorepark Open Day
July date for Moorepark Open Day The date has been set, and preparations are well underway for Teagasc’s biennial flagship dairy event – the Moorepark Dairy Open Day. Taking place on Wednesday, July 2, 2025, the theme of the open day is ‘Innovating for the Future’, and is proudly sponsored by FBD […]
27 May 2025
Understanding the seasonal reduction in milk fat percentage on Irish dairy farms
Understanding the seasonal reduction in milk fat percentage on Irish dairy farms Within Irish dairy systems, farmers consistently face a seasonal reduction in milk fat percentage from spring to summer. In this article, Michael Dineen and Chris Heffernan from Teagasc Moorepark share recent findings on milk fat percentage. Milk fat contributes to […]
27 May 2025

Listen: Managing mid-season grass quality
Listen: Managing mid-season grass quality Teagasc Grass10 Programme Manager, John Maher joins Stuart Childs on this week’s Dairy Edge to discuss managing mid-season grass quality. John outlines the significance of getting grass quality right, as 40% of the milk is produced in May, June and July. He talks about why grass management […]
26 May 2025

How the Next Generation Herd II is progressing
How the Next Generation Herd II is progressing The Next Generation Herd II study is focused on advancing sustainable dairy farming using high genetic merit animals. It explores how genetic merit and stocking rate affect dairy production and beef output. Farm Manager Ricki Fitzgerald shares the latest on the newly established herd’s […]
26 May 2025

Achieving good silage preservation
Achieving good silage preservation Eamonn Dempsey, Teagasc Advisor, shares his advice for achieving good silage preservation. To produce high yields of grass for silage, use swards that are dominated by perennial ryegrass, as they contain more sugars than other grasses. Ensure the phosphorus (P), potassium (K), and pH status of the soil […]
26 May 2025