Dairy
Bull choices for the latter stages of breeding
Bull choices for the latter stages of breeding Alan Dillon, DairyBeef 500 Campaign Co-Ordinator, joins Stuart Childs on this week’s Dairy Edge podcast to discuss late breeding season bull choice. Alan explains that late-born calves are as much of a hassle for the beef farmer as they are for the dairy farmer, […]
24 June 2024
Michael and Alex McCarthy – Signpost Farmer Update
Michael and Alex McCarthy – Signpost Farmer Update Michael & Alex McCarthy, Signpost Dairy Farmers, give us their farm update for June. Our current production is 26 litres/cow/day, @ 3.82% butterfat and 3.49% protein. Cows are delivering over 1.95kg milk solids per day on 4.5kg of meal. SCC is currently 83 which […]
22 June 2024
Shedding light on dairy cow weight and the beef potential of progeny
Shedding light on dairy cow weight and the beef potential of progeny The lack of knowledge on how selecting solely for smaller dairy cows impacts upon the beef merit of their resulting progeny has been narrowed through the publication of a recent paper in the Journal of Dairy Science. Across the world, […]
20 June 2024
Managing variable grass growth rates on the Teagasc/Tirlán Future farms
Managing variable grass growth rates on the Teagasc/Tirlán Future farms Farmers in the Teagasc/Tirlán Future Farm Programme are employing different strategies to counteract the effects of variable grass growth rates witnessed over recent weeks. Sandra Hayes, Co-Ordinator of the programme, explained: “There is variation in the average farm cover (AFC) recorded across […]
19 June 2024
Managing cash flow to make better financial decisions – a farmer’s perspective
Managing cash flow to make better financial decisions – a farmer’s perspective Given the significant increase in input costs on dairy farms since 2021, along with the increased feed budget costs this spring due to poor weather, good cash flow management has never been more important to ensure the efficient running of […]
17 June 2024
Milk residues and how to avoid them
Milk residues and how to avoid them Terry McElvaney, Veterinary Inspector at the Veterinary Medicines, Antimicrobial Resistance, By-products and TSE Division, joins Stuart Childs on this week’s Dairy Edge podcast to discuss residues in milk. Terry first explains the role of the division and how it is important in facilitating trade. Terry […]
11 June 2024
Cashflow planning after a difficult spring
Cashflow planning after a difficult spring To say dairy farmers have endured a tough period on cashflow is an understatement. The last few months have been about doing the best we could with the conditions in front of us and generally this meant increased feeding with lower milk yield than expected. This […]
10 June 2024
Assessing roadway condition and associated cow flow
Assessing roadway condition and associated cow flow Irish dairy farming can maintain its global competitive edge by prioritising low-cost grass- based milk production and continuing with compact spring-calving systems. The temperate climate allows for high-quality pasture production over a long growing season; pasture-based diets offer environmental benefits and improved animal welfare, making […]
10 June 2024
Cow-calf contact systems in Irish dairying
Cow-calf contact systems in Irish dairying Alison Sinnott, Sarah McPherson, and Emer Kennedy recently undertook an experiment comparing two differing Cow-calf contact (CCC) systems to a more conventional Irish calf rearing system. Cow-calf contact (CCC) systems allow calves to remain with their mother post-calving and are regarded as a more favoured management […]
10 June 2024
Getting the best return from second-cut silage
0 Getting the best return from second-cut silage Ensuring that there are adequate fodder reserves in place for next winter is something each individual farmer needs to focus on throughout 2024 rather than being reliant on purchasing feed next winter to fill a deficit. Many farmers took early crops of first-cut this year, […]
9 June 2024