Dairy

Managing late-calving cows to shorten calving interval

0 Managing late-calving cows to shorten calving interval The management of late calvers is something that needs to be given some thought in order to avoid them calving late again or not at all. The bulk of herds will commence breeding in late April / early May, there will be a number of […]
2 May 2023

Let’s Talk Dairy – Advisor’s update from the grassroots

0 Let’s Talk Dairy – Advisor’s update from the grassroots On this episode of Let’s Talk Dairy host James Dunne, Teagasc Dairy Specialist, is joined by Seamus Nolan, Teagasc Advisor based in the Roscommon/Longford Advisory Region, to give an update from the grass roots. Seamus Nolan gives an insight into what’s been happening […]
2 May 2023

Managing the dairy herd for a successful breeding season

0 Managing the dairy herd for a successful breeding season With the dairy breeding season currently in full swing on most Irish dairy farms, Kevin O’Hara, Teagasc Ballinrobe, looks at some of the key targets farmers need to achieve over the coming weeks. Most dairy herds in Ireland typically start breeding from May […]
1 May 2023

Accelerating genetic gain in the dairy herd

Accelerating genetic gain in the dairy herd The calving season in the dairy herd is coming to an end and the breeding season is fast approaching. In this article, Séamus Nolan, Dairy Advisor in Teagasc Castlerea, outlines technologies farmers can use to accelerate the genetic gain in their dairy herd. Animal performance […]
28 April 2023

Synchronisation programmes for replacement heifers

Synchronisation programmes for replacement heifers With the breeding season having commenced on many dairy farms, the use of synchronisation programmes for replacement heifers may be one avenue by which the workload involved with breeding is reduced. On many farms, replacement heifers are located on out-blocks away from the yard, which poses challenges […]
24 April 2023

Let’s Talk Dairy – matching stocking rate to grass grown

Let’s Talk Dairy – matching stocking rate to grass grown On this episode of Let’s Talk Dairy, Patrick Gowing, Teagasc Dairy Specialist, was joined by Eugene Lawler, dairy farmer, to discuss matching stocking rate to grass grown. Eugene gives an insight into his farming system and how the year is progressing so […]
24 April 2023

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