Dairy
Wholefarm Nitrogen Use Efficiency
0 Wholefarm Nitrogen Use Efficiency William Burchill, FBD Lecturer in Soil Science in UCC, is on this week’s Dairy Edge podcast discussing Nitrogen Use Efficiency (NUE) from a wholefarm point of view but also from the point of nitrogen applied. William explains how wholefarm Nitrogen Use Efficiency works and then how NUE can […]
1 January 2024
Future-proofing winter-milk systems
Future-proofing winter-milk systems The Johnstown Castle dairy herd was established in 2003 to provide a base for winter-milk research within Teagasc. Readily available, high-quality pasture during a long grazing season makes the Irish dairy industry highly seasonable. During the winter period, most spring-calving cows are non-lactating. As a result, winter-milk is a […]
31 December 2023
Part-time dairy farm employees – developing mutually beneficial working relationships
Part-time dairy farm employees – developing mutually beneficial working relationships To remain competitive with other sectors, it is necessary for dairy farms to become more attractive workplaces, and to meet the changing career-lifestyle expectations of the available workforce. The increase in dairy farm scale since milk quota abolition has created new employment […]
30 December 2023
Pre-calving feeding impacts on calf health – latest findings
Pre-calving feeding impacts on calf health – latest findings The effects of dairy cow feeding on calf health are mediated through colostrum formation and, consequently, calf immunity, and, ultimately, mortality. The nutritional adequacy of the forage and supplementary diet fed and the metabolic status and body condition score (BCS) of the dam […]
28 December 2023
Managing out blocks to ensure overall farm performance
Managing out blocks to ensure overall farm performance Growing and utilising high-quality, home-produced feed rather than depending on purchased in concentrates or bought in feed remains the most cost effective option for dairy farms. Over the last number of years, feed costs have increased by approximately 30% on farms. Fertiliser, contractor, spray […]
27 December 2023
Making informed decisions regarding farm stocking rate
Making informed decisions regarding farm stocking rate Following the Teagasc National Dairy Conference where attendees heard how pasture utilised was fundamental to our dairy systems, Teagasc Researcher Donal Patton joins James Dunne on the latest Dairy Edge podcast to explain how to make informed decisions regarding farm stocking rate. More episodes from […]
25 December 2023
Teagasc Professional Diploma in Dairy Farm Management 2023 Graduation
Teagasc Professional Diploma in Dairy Farm Management 2023 Graduation The 2023 Graduates of the Teagasc/UCD Level 7 Professional Diploma in Dairy Farm Management course were presented with their diplomas at an awards ceremony at Teagasc Moorepark on Tuesday, 19th December. The awards were presented by Dr Anne-Marie Butler, Head of Education at […]
20 December 2023
Future-proofing the farm with solar panels
Future-proofing the farm with solar panels The Dolan family have installed a solar energy system to cut costs and enhance sustainability on their 400-cow dairy farm in Westmeath. John and Una Dolan, and their children Aoife, Shane and Cathal, are dairy farmers in Fardrum, Co. Westmeath close to Athlone. The family can […]
19 December 2023
Lessons on pasture utilisation and meal feeding to be learned from 2022
Lessons on pasture utilisation and meal feeding to be learned from 2022 2022 was an extraordinary year on Irish dairy farms. Although input price volatility overshadowed much of the year, dairy incomes still managed to hit record highs on the back of all-time high milk prices. With volatility now seemingly an ever-present […]
18 December 2023
Recuperation for yourself and your cows during the dry cow period
Recuperation for yourself and your cows during the dry cow period Although 2023 has been a long and challenging year on dairy farms, now is the right time to take back control and help get 2024 off to a good start, writes Tom Murphy, B&T Advisor at Teagasc Galway/Clare. Compact calving spring […]
17 December 2023