Dairy
Confidence in the 16:8 milking interval split
Confidence in the 16:8 milking interval split Managing a dairy enterprise across two blocks in Co. Laois, Bernard Ging has operated a 16:8 milking interval since the farm’s conversion to milk production in 2012. Supported by two full-time staff, three relief milkers and students occasionally, Bernard finds that the 16:8 split has […]
23 March 2024
€25 million scheme to improve beef progeny from the dairy herd unveiled
€25 million scheme to improve beef progeny from the dairy herd unveiled A €25 million scheme to incentivise the use of genotyped and genetically superior beef sires for breeding dairy beef calves has been unveiled. Launched by Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue today, March 21, the Dairy Beef […]
21 March 2024
Cow numbers for dairy AI
Cow numbers for dairy AI How many cows do you need to breed to dairy AI to ensure adequate numbers of replacement heifer calves? It depends on the number of heifer replacements required and whether the semen being used is conventional, sexed, or a combination of both. Reducing the number of cows […]
21 March 2024
How do you know if replacement heifers are on target weight for breeding?
How do you know if replacement heifers are on target weight for breeding? To say the least, weather conditions have been extremely difficult with areas grazed well back on many farms. Martina Gormley discusses the importance of assessing heifer body weight before the breeding season to make informed decisions. Understandably, much of […]
18 March 2024
Impact of housing environment on calf respiratory disease
Impact of housing environment on calf respiratory disease Bovine respiratory disease (BRD) in preweaning dairy calves presents a challenge to many dairy farmers in Ireland. John Donlon, John Mee and Conor McAloon tell us how housing can help. Although calf housing environment is often cited as a major influence on the level […]
18 March 2024
Improving silage quality within our dairy systems
Improving silage quality within our dairy systems The need for enough quality silage in our dairy systems is often underestimated. With silage stocks reducing and average quality on a lot of farms there is a need for farmers to put a silage plan in place for 2024. Dairy advisor William Byrne, and […]
18 March 2024
Pasture, present and future
Pasture, present and future Is pasture-based Irish milk truly better than milk from conventional indoor feeding? To examine this question, researchers from Teagasc and Food for Health Ireland conducted one of the largest, most in-depth trials of its kind. There is a growing demand for dairy products produced from pasture-fed animals, as […]
17 March 2024
Optimized Milking Intervals with Sean Kelly, Tipperary
Optimized Milking Intervals with Sean Kelly, Tipperary Dairy farmer, Sean Kelly from Tipperary outlines his milking times for the farm. Sean finds the 16/8 milking interval optimises milk production and milk quality while allowing flexibility to take some time off the farm. Sean Kelly, a dairy farmer from Kilruane, Nenagh, in County […]
15 March 2024
Watch: John Hatton’s Dairy Farming Approach
Watch: John Hatton’s Dairy Farming Approach John Hatton, alongside his wife Kay and their son Mark, who is currently in Australia, have their own approach to dairy farming with a focus on efficiency, family, and lifestyle balance. For 30 years, John has dedicated his life to milking cows, overseeing a herd of […]
14 March 2024
Keeping Calves Healthy this Spring
Keeping Calves Healthy this Spring Stephen O’Callaghan, Walsh Scholar, Teagasc Meath, discusses the critical aspects of calf rearing, emphasizing the importance of calf health for achieving growth targets and ensuring animals thrive. Calving is now in full swing on most farms across the country, and an important factor that must be considered […]
14 March 2024