Dairy
Breeding Replacement Heifers
Breeding Replacement Heifers Maiden heifers are the most fertile animals in the herd and have the highest EBI. Therefore Teagasc recommends targeting your heifers with sexed or conventional dairy AI to maximise the rate of genetic gain in your herd. In the video clip here, Stephen Moore, Teagasc Researcher explains Another advantage […]
31 March 2022
Plan to use teams of bulls equally
Plan to use teams of bulls equally Teagasc and ICBF recommend that teams of bulls are used when breeding dairy cows. Last year we recorded Margaret Kelleher, ICBF and David Hannon, dairy farmer Meath discussing the issue. Their advice is as relevant in 2022 as it was in 2021. In a Dairy […]
30 March 2022
Rising costs a challenge for new dairy entrants in 2022
Rising costs a challenge for new dairy entrants in 2022 A cohort of farmers will convert to dairy farming in 2022. While prospects for milk price this year are positive, inputs cost are also increasing rapidly. In this article, Teagasc dairy advisor, Kevin Brennan, Oak Park, outlines what he recommends that new […]
30 March 2022
Setting the targets for spring breeding 2022
Setting the targets for spring breeding 2022 Teagasc advises that 90% of cows and heifers should calve in the first six weeks of the calving season. Nationally only 65% calve in this time. In a Dairy Breeding series factors such as maximising three-week in-calf rate, treatment of non-cycling cows and heat detection […]
28 March 2022
Now is not the time to skimp on fertiliser
Now is not the time to skimp on fertiliser The rapid rise in fertiliser price, particularly for fertiliser N, is causing some farmers especially those stocked at lower levels to question the economics of spreading Nitrogen this year. George Ramsbottom Dairy Specialist advises farmers to fertilise to maximise grass growth in April/ […]
14 March 2022
Clonakilty Agricultural College Dairy Update Jan/Feb 2022
Clonakilty Agricultural College Dairy Update Jan/Feb 2022 Calving commenced earlier than expected in January on the Clonakilty Agricultural College Dairy farm. James Daunt, Dairy teacher, has the first update of 2022 with the latest on what has happened on the dairy enterprise so far this year with calving, milk results and grassland […]
10 March 2022
Change your milk feeding strategy this spring and save time
0 Change your milk feeding strategy this spring and save time Milk replacer can be fed once-a-day (OAD) with no differences in weight gain or scour incidence. James Dunne, Teagasc Dairy Specialist discusses once-a-day feeding of milk replacer. He outlines the benefits, best practice and states it is essential to always follow the […]
7 March 2022
Early Grass Management on a Dairy Farm
0 Early Grass Management on a Dairy Farm The importance of early spring grazing can never be underestimated on Irish farms. Sandra Hayes Co Ordinator, Teagasc Glanbia Future Farm Programme recently visited Jack, Larry and Annette Kearney on their dairy farm in Cork and drew up a spring rotation plan. Watch the video […]
4 March 2022
Research Trial Update Clonakilty Agricultural College
0 Research Trial Update Clonakilty Agricultural College James Daunt, Clonakilty Agricultural College Lecturer caught up with Brian McCarthy, Clonakilty Research Officer to get a review of the clover trial at the College which took place from 2019 to 2021. The experiment looked at sward types and nitrogen fertiliser rates. There has been four […]
3 March 2022
Getting the most out of automatic calf feeding this Spring
Getting the most out of automatic calf feeding this Spring Calf rearing accounts for a large amount of the total workload on farms in spring. Some farmers have purchased an automatic calf feeder to reduce workload. Dairy Specialist Martina Gormley gives advice on best practice when using these feeders. Automatic calf feeding […]
28 February 2022