Dairy
Listen: Assessing grazing infrastructure and how it can be improved
Listen: Assessing grazing infrastructure and how it can be improved Increasing the level of grazed grass in the cow’s diet is a key driver of profitability on Irish dairy farms. In order to achieve this, good grazing infrastructure is important to access all parts of the farm area and ensure cow performance […]
12 August 2024
Additional places available in National Genotyping Programme
0 Additional places available in National Genotyping Programme The National Genotyping Programme has reopened to additional applicants, with applications now accepted through the Irish Cattle Breeding Federation (ICBF) website. Since the programme was launched last year, over 10,600 herds have participated with over 1.3 million animals genotyped to date. 700,000 breeding animals, from […]
8 August 2024
All aspects of cubicle housing detailed in new publication
0 All aspects of cubicle housing detailed in new publication Teagasc has published a new booklet titled ‘Cubicle Housing for Dairy Stock’. The booklet provides detailed information on all aspects of cubicle housing for dairy farmers. The authors of the booklet are Tom Fallon, Farm Buildings and Infrastructure Specialist with Teagasc, and Francis […]
7 August 2024
Domestic milk intake down 242.6 million litres to end of June
0 Domestic milk intake down 242.6 million litres to end of June Estimates from the Central Statistics Office (CSO) have shown that domestic milk intake from the January to June period 2024 is running 5.3% lower than the corresponding period in 2023. Totalling an estimated 4.35 billion litres for the period, that’s a […]
7 August 2024
Achieving success with red clover and multispecies pastures
0 Achieving success with red clover and multispecies pastures Farming in Mitchelstown, Co. Cork, Teagasc Signpost demonstration farmer Sean Moher is having success with red clover and multispecies swards. In this update, he discusses the management on his farm given the recent upturn in grass growth rates and how such swards are performing. […]
7 August 2024
Less work, better welfare: the benefits of upgrading your calf rearing facilities
0 Less work, better welfare: the benefits of upgrading your calf rearing facilities James Dunne and Anthony Mulligan discuss the importance of reviewing and upgrading calf rearing facilities to improve efficiency and reduce labor demands during peak seasons on dairy farms. Now is the time to review your calf rearing facilities. There is still […]
6 August 2024
Assessing winter feed stocks – what are the priority actions?
Assessing winter feed stocks – what are the priority actions? For this week’s Dairy Edge podcast, James Dunne is joined by Dr Joe Patton, Head of Teagasc Dairy KT, to discuss the recent fodder survey and what options farmers should consider. Given the extended winter at the start of the year and […]
30 July 2024
Now is the time for lime
Now is the time for lime Stuart Childs highlights the importance of spreading lime to optimize soil pH and improve fertiliser response for increased grass production and reduced fodder costs, alongside guidelines for nitrogen application before the closed season. There is much talk of fertiliser in recent days with the minister’s decision […]
29 July 2024
Learnings from 2024 – have you enough high quality silage?
Learnings from 2024 – have you enough high quality silage? A delayed turnout on many farms over the course of spring 2024 has reaffirmed the requirement of having adequate stocks of high quality silage available to support cows during early lactation when grazing isn’t possible. But how much is required? As part […]
29 July 2024
Sexed semen accounted for over 20% of dairy AI serves in 2024
Sexed semen accounted for over 20% of dairy AI serves in 2024 The use of sexed semen has significantly increased on dairy herds over recent years, visitors to the Ballyhaise’24 – Dairy Open Day heard, with such serves accounting for over 20% of dairy AI in 2024. Sexed semen, the usage of […]
28 July 2024