Dairy
Correct fertiliser application rates and cutting dates for first-cut silage
0 Correct fertiliser application rates and cutting dates for first-cut silage 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, Teagasc Dairy Specialist, offers key advice on fertiliser application rates in this article. ‘Silage in the yard […]
3 April 2023
Breeding quality calves for repeat custom in Co. Meath
0 Breeding quality calves for repeat custom in Co. Meath Conor Smith milks 250 cows with his parents in Carlanstown, Co. Meath, producing 530kg of milk solids per cow last year from a herd of predominately high EBI Holstein Friesian cows. The herd’s average EBI value is €184. Split 75% spring and 25% […]
3 April 2023
The EBI: An Economic Breeding Index for the future
0 The EBI: An Economic Breeding Index for the future Breeding boasts the advantage of being a proven technology that has clearly been demonstrated over decades to be able to deliver changes in performance. The benefits from breeding cumulate over time and can be permanent. While an advantage, this can also be a […]
2 April 2023
Improving beef potential from the dairy herd
0 Improving beef potential from the dairy herd Regardless of cow type, there is the potential within dairy herds for a better beef breeding policy, Dr. Nicky Byrne, dairy beef researcher in Teagasc Grange, told the recent DairyBeef 500 Spring Conference in Navan, Co. Meath. “There is massive variation in the quality of […]
1 April 2023
Selecting beef sires on more than calving ease and short gestation
Selecting beef sires on more than calving ease and short gestation On many dairy farms, the decision of what beef bull to use on their cows is often based on having a very low calving difficulty along with having as short a gestation as possible. While it makes sense to use these […]
29 March 2023
Weaning calves successfully and target weights
Weaning calves successfully and target weights During the first weeks of life, the calf is entirely dependent on milk as a source of nutrition, with the digestion of milk occurring in the abomasum. Young calves have little to no rumen capacity in early life. Careful nutritional management before weaning ensures that the […]
29 March 2023
Watch: Identifying your herd’s strengths and weaknesses ahead of breeding
Watch: Identifying your herd’s strengths and weaknesses ahead of breeding With the calving season entering its final phase on many dairy farms, the next task on the horizon is breeding. Kevin Downing, ICBF HerdPlus Manager, joined Stuart Childs, Teagasc Dairy Specialist, as part of a Breeding Week webinar to explain how to […]
28 March 2023
Keeping grass in the cow’s diet with on-off grazing
Keeping grass in the cow’s diet with on-off grazing The last two weeks have been tricky when it came to grazing, Sandra Hayes, Co-ordinator of the Teagasc/Tírlán Future Farm Programme, explained in a recent update. What has worked well for the monitor farmers is on-off grazing. Once cows have been milked, they […]
28 March 2023
Future-proofing through breeding
Future-proofing through breeding The Economic Breeding Index (EBI) has revolutionised dairy breeding in Ireland. It has become the go-to tool when selecting dairy sires. Robert Prendeville, Alan Twomey and Adrian Curtin explain more in this article from the March/April edition of Today’s Farm. The EBI of dairy females continues to increase by […]
26 March 2023
CAP 2023-2027: How is your farm affected?
CAP 2023-2027: How is your farm affected? On the 1st of January this year, a new five-year CAP period started. Andy Ryder, Drystock Advisor, tells us there are a number of important changes occurring in relation to the distribution of CAP payments that farmers need to know about. The majority of farmers […]
24 March 2023