Dairy
Growing heifers more on grass
0 Growing heifers more on grass Producing replacement heifers on a dairy farm is a costly exercise, but one of the best ways of making sure they get to the parlour is by hitting target weights – whether that be at weaning, housing for the first winter or the start of the breeding […]
3 April 2025
What quality of silage is needed for milking cows?
0 What quality of silage is needed for milking cows? With the beginning of the second rotation just around the corner, lower grass availability on some farms means that silage may have to be re-introduced to the diet. As part of the ‘Nutrition of the spring-calving dairy cow in the early lactation period’ […]
1 April 2025
Fertilising first cut silage crops – correct application ensures correct cutting date
Fertilising first cut silage crops – correct application ensures correct cutting date What happens on farm over the next few weeks will have a significant impact to silage stocks on dairy farms for next winter. James Dunne discusses the importance of managing silage stocks, emphasizing the need for a good yield of […]
31 March 2025
How to increase your grassland performance
How to increase your grassland performance Michael O’Donovan, Head of the Grassland Science Department at Teagasc Moorepark, joins James Dunne on this week’s Dairy Edge. Michael discusses the grassland performance on Irish dairy farms over the last number of years, how farmers can increase the amount of pasture grown on farm and […]
31 March 2025
Timing is everything
Timing is everything “Right place, right time” or a perfectly timed tackle, timing is everything. This is also true for insemination with sexed semen. Getting it right can make a difference. Stuart Childs explains why. Sexed semen has grown in popularity in recent years and has increased dramatically in the last 2-3 […]
28 March 2025
Breeding healthier, more efficient cows with John and Brendan Walsh
Breeding healthier, more efficient cows with John and Brendan Walsh John and Brendan Walsh are focused on breeding healthier, more efficient cows through a strategic approach to sire and cow selection. Participants in the Teagasc/Dairygold Joint Programme and farming in Ballylooby, Co. Tipperary, calving commenced on the farm in January 18th and […]
27 March 2025
Ensuring the best performance from synchronisation programmes
Ensuring the best performance from synchronisation programmes Dairy Specialist at Teagasc, Stuart Childs takes a closer look at synchronisation programmes and offers tips on how to ensure maximum performance. Synchronisation of heifers, but also of cows to a lesser degree, has become increasingly popular in recent years. This is associated with the […]
26 March 2025
Breeding strategies to enhance herd sustainability, profitability and efficiency
Breeding strategies to enhance herd sustainability, profitability and efficiency In an effort to ensure breeding strategies are implemented to enhance herd sustainability, profitability and efficiency, all dairy farmers will receive a copy of the ICBF and Teagasc Breeding Guidelines in the post over the coming days. As the 2025 dairy breeding season […]
25 March 2025
The Next Generation Herd II
The Next Generation Herd II The Next Generation Herd study explores sustainable dairy farming through high-genetic-merit cows. It has driven breakthroughs in productivity, efficiency, and breeding strategies, tackling climate change and methane emissions. Dr Brian McCarthy and Prof Frank Buckley tell us about the next phase. The Next Generation Herd (NGH) was […]
25 March 2025
Irish Dairy Breeding with the ICBF’s Sean Coughlan
Irish Dairy Breeding with the ICBF’s Sean Coughlan Sean Coughlan, CEO of the Irish Cattle Breeding Federation (ICBF), joins Stuart Childs on this week’s Dairy Edge to discuss Irish dairy, dairy beef breeding and everything in between. Sean discusses the National Genotyping Programme, the changes that they have made to improve for […]
24 March 2025