Dairy

Making the rest of 2023 a success with grass and breeding

Making the rest of 2023 a success with grass and breeding Spring 2023 started like a dream, with slurry, fertiliser and cows out in February and early March. However, since about the 10th March, record breaking rainfall has created a lot of extra work, increased costs and reduced production on all farms […]
17 April 2023

Let’s Talk Dairy – Breeding beef from the dairy herd

Let’s Talk Dairy – Breeding beef from the dairy herd On this episode of Let’s Talk Dairy which took place on Thursday, 6th April, host James Dunne, Teagasc Dairy Specialist was joined by Ruth Fennell, Teagasc Dairy Advisor to discuss breeding beef from the dairy herd. Also in the webinar, John Maher, […]
17 April 2023

Strategies to reduce lameness on your farm

Strategies to reduce lameness on your farm Lameness is a painful disease that results in suffering for dairy cows, and damages the sustainable and welfare-friendly image of Irish agriculture. Lameness also has negative financial implications due to reduced milk yield and fertility rates, and increased culling and treatment costs. Teagasc lameness study […]
17 April 2023

Feeding for fertility this breeding season

Feeding for fertility this breeding season This spring was a game of two halves, in terms of herd feeding management. The good weather in February saw cows out to grass and intakes were good overall. Things were a bit more challenging in March due to bad weather; however, the consensus among many […]
16 April 2023

Rebuilding of fodder stocks a priority

Rebuilding of fodder stocks a priority A challenging March has caused issues for dairy, drystock and tillage farmers, attendees heard at yesterday’s meeting of the Fertiliser Sub-group of the National Food and Fodder Security Committee in Teagasc Oak Park, Co. Carlow. A Teagasc delegation of Mark Plunkett, Michael O’Donovan, Shay Phelan and […]
14 April 2023

Playing a crucial role in the environmental and economic success of dairy, beef and sheep

Playing a crucial role in the environmental and economic success of dairy, beef and sheep Genetics is an essential field to the future of the farming industry in Ireland. With new environmental targets being set nationwide, predicting animal characteristics may prove instrumental. All our research covers different areas of genetics and breeding, […]
14 April 2023

Let’s Talk Dairy: Tirlán Focus Farmer update

0 Let’s Talk Dairy: Tirlán Focus Farmer update On this episode of Let’s Talk Dairy, George Ramsbottom, Teagasc Dairy Specialist, was joined by Steven Fitzgerald, Co. Waterford dairy farmer and Teagasc/Tirlán Future Farm Programme participant, to get an update on what’s been happening on the farm. Steven gives an insight into how the […]
6 April 2023

Setting a clear breeding strategy in Co. Kilkenny

0 Setting a clear breeding strategy in Co. Kilkenny As part of Dairy Breeding Week, Teagasc hosted a farm walk on the farm of Philip Donohoe, Goresbridge, Co. Kilkenny. In this article, Teagasc Dairy Advisor, Kevin Brennan, Oak Park, Carlow, outlines the main topics discussed. Philip has focused on breeding since the Economic […]
6 April 2023

3 tools to breed better beef from the dairy herd

0 3 tools to breed better beef from the dairy herd A historical preference of selecting beef sires for use on the dairy herd based solely on calving ease and short gestation resulted in the deterioration of the beef merit of the resulting calves. With additional cow numbers, a lessor requirement for replacement […]
4 April 2023

Watch: The advantages of sexed semen usage

0 Watch: The advantages of sexed semen usage Sex-biased semen is a revolutionary technology that provides many potential advantages for the Irish dairy industry, which Dr. Stephen Butler, Teagasc Principal Research Officer in reproductive physiology, discussed during Teagasc Breeding Week. One of the key advantages to sexed semen usage is that replacement heifer […]
4 April 2023