Dairy
‘Our ultimate aim is to try and breed the best beef animals that we can’
0 ‘Our ultimate aim is to try and breed the best beef animals that we can’ Calf quality is often mooted as a reason for the high attrition rates of dairy-beef producers nationally, with just 39% of those engaged in this system in year one doing so at the end of year five. […]
3 February 2023
Solving the mystery about grass-clover swards
Solving the mystery about grass-clover swards Over the last year, discussion has emerged around the adoption of new grassland management practices that have the potential to improve farm performance. A trending topic has been the introduction of clover into grazing swards. Despite efforts to promote its adoption, not much is known about […]
27 January 2023
Labour saving this spring
Labour saving this spring The workload in spring makes up over one-third of the total hours needed to run a farm per year. Many farm owners are working in excess of 80 hours per week in spring and overcoming this workload can be a challenge on many farms. The main spring labour […]
24 January 2023
Dairy production costs and projections 2022-2023
Dairy production costs and projections 2022-2023 The average unit cost of producing milk has increased since the abolition of quotas. The rate of increase in costs from 2015 to 2017 was 1.9% per year. In the period 2017-2018, this rate increased to 3.4% per year. However over the last two years as […]
23 January 2023
A Game Changer for Calf Gut Health?
A Game Changer for Calf Gut Health? For the second part of the interview with Tommy the Vet, Stuart talks to Tommy about Precision Microbes, a complementary feed for calves that he thinks is going to be game changing for calf gut health. Tommy first discusses how he came to have an […]
23 January 2023
How to investigate an outbreak of abomasal bloat in dairy calves
How to investigate an outbreak of abomasal bloat in dairy calves Abomasal disorders (bloat, twists, infections and ulcers) are a common problem in primarily unweaned dairy calves. While each problem (e.g. bloat) may occur independently, they are inter-related ailments and they may also be misdiagnosed. They accounted for some 12% of all […]
22 January 2023
Excellent calf nutrition in the first week of life: the 1-6 rule
Excellent calf nutrition in the first week of life: the 1-6 rule The peak spring-calving period is fast approaching or has just commenced on dairy farms nationally. To ensure calf health is maximised, colostrum management is critical, as it is the most important factor in calf health and vitality. Where poor colostrum […]
21 January 2023
Tommy the Vet on Getting the Basics of Calf Health Right
Tommy the Vet on Getting the Basics of Calf Health Right With calving season under way, on this week’s episode of the Dairy Edge podcast, Tommy Heffernan aka Tommy the Vet talks about doing the basics right on calf health. Tommy says that doing the basics right, though sounding boring, is the […]
17 January 2023
Spring 2023: Failing to plan=planning to fail
Spring 2023: Failing to plan=planning to fail With Spring calving just around the corner now is a great time to plan work and time off. Task drift and stress can escalate if farmers are not mindful of the importance of planning and delegation. Martina Gormley, Dairy Specialist, gives her advice for staying […]
16 January 2023
A Preview of the IGA Dairy Conference
0 A Preview of the IGA Dairy Conference Vincent Griffith, Farm Profitability Specialist with Aurivo Co-Op and chair of the IGA Dairy Conference Committee, joins Stuart Childs on this week’s Dairy Edge podcast to preview the IGA Dairy Conference taking place in Charleville on Wednesday 18th January. Vincent outlines the three sessions on […]
9 January 2023