Dairy

Select the correct fertilisers and save €25/cow

Over the coming weeks, with increasing day length and improving soil conditions, it will be time to start applying fertilisers to meet the growing nutrient demands on grassland farms. Mark Plunkett and Seamus Kearney take a close look at the cost saving benefits of selecting the most appropriate product.
17 February 2026

€500 per cow: Building the financial safety net for 2026

Donal Whelton, Head of Agri at AIB, joins Stuart Childs on this episode of the Dairy Edge podcast to discuss the financial situation that Irish dairy farmers are currently in, what challenges they may face and the solutions they may require in 2026.
16 February 2026

Using the California Mastitis Test (CMT) after calving

Calving is currently in full swing on most dairy farms, with many tasks needing to be completed each day. One of these important tasks is carrying out the California Mastitis Test (CMT) on freshly calved cows, typically around five days after calving, Padraig O’Connor, Dairy Technician at Teagasc Grange, outlines the process.
16 February 2026

Milking interval – time to make the change

With spring calving entering full swing, one of the simplest and most effective changes farmers can make to improve labour efficiency is adopting a 16:8 milking interval.
12 February 2026

Plans made in Sligo

Teagasc/Aurivo Focus Farmer, Jason Coulter has his grass plan made for the first half of 2026. He has a keen interest in pasture management and has been measuring grass for years. John McCabe of Teagasc caught up with Jason on his farm on the Co. Sligo coast for a Q & A session.
10 February 2026

Reducing your workload on dairy farms this spring

Conor Hogan, Research Officer with Teagasc Moorepark, whose work has focused on labour efficiency and work organisation on dairy farms, and Martina Gormley, Teagasc Dairy Specialist, who works closely with farmers on practical ways to reduce workload, join James Dunne on this week’s Dairy Edge.
9 February 2026

Waste milk – is it suitable to feed to calves?

A study was recently undertaken in Teagasc Moorepark to investigate the effects of feeding waste milk for either the entire pre-weaning period (12 weeks) or for two-weeks, from three to five weeks old, compared to calves fed milk replacer with no antibiotic residues.
9 February 2026

Cow fertility: It’s not just luck

Fertility in dairy cows is a major concern for Irish farmers operating spring-calving, grass-based systems where every extra day open means lost revenue.
9 February 2026

Reducing somatic cell count this spring

Elevated Somatic Cell Count (SCC) is one of the most significant hidden costs on Irish dairy farms. Here, Teagasc Dairy Specialist, James Dunne shares practical and timely advice for managing SCC in freshly calved cows.
9 February 2026

Grass10 update: Priorities for the week ahead

For this week’s Grass10 grazing management update, John Maher explains why opening farm cover measurement should be prioritised this week.
7 February 2026