Articles
Avoid feeding waste milk to calves
Avoid feeding waste milk to calves Waste milk is milk from cows treated with antibiotics and those with high somatic cell counts. The practice of feeding this waste milk, containing antibiotic residues to pre-weaned calves is not recommended. It has been associated with increased risk of diseases such as diarrhoea and leads […]
27 January 2024
Check list to prepare for purchasing calves
Check list to prepare for purchasing calves Alan Dillon, DairyBeef500 campaign manager, writes about the most important considerations when preparing for purchasing calves. In the next 4-8 weeks, roughly 400,000 to 450,000 calves will arrive on beef farms with the majority taken to either finished beef or to forward store stage. Due […]
27 January 2024
The tillage sting in the tail after a difficult autumn
The tillage sting in the tail after a difficult autumn Many winter cereal crops were drilled early and have suffered varying levels of damage. Others were planted late, reducing yield potential; some crops were not planted at all. Growers must try to salvage these crops while keeping an eye on costs, Shay […]
27 January 2024
Pregnancy nutrition – the foundation of flock profitability
Pregnancy nutrition – the foundation of flock profitability Pregnancy nutrition is the foundation of flock profitability, Dr Tim Keady, Research Officer in Teagasc Athenry, told this week’s Teagasc National Sheep Conference. Delving into the vast bank of research conducted in the Teagasc Animal and Grassland Research and Innovation Centre in Athenry, Tim […]
26 January 2024
Scale of seed shortage becomes apparent
Scale of seed shortage becomes apparent Planting delays in spring 2023, challenging harvest conditions and a reduction in the winter planted area have combined to create seed shortages for tillage farmers this spring. This was a key message from Michael Hennessy, Head of Crops Knowledge Transfer at Teagasc, who addressed a recent meeting […]
26 January 2024
Early grazing key to stretching fodder reserves
Early grazing key to stretching fodder reserves The National Fodder and Food Security Committee reconvened on Wednesday, January 24th, to assess the situation on farms in terms of fodder supplies and to quantify the challenges facing tillage growers this spring. Teagasc Livestock Knowledge Transfer Specialists, Joe Patton and Pearse Kelly reviewed the […]
26 January 2024
ForestMoocForChange is back with a new session!
ForestMoocForChange is back with a new session! ForestMoocForChange is a new educational project, co-financed by the European Union, whose co-ordination is shared between four European forestry development agencies involved in close-to-nature forestry development. Jonathan Spazzi tells us more. The European forestry development agencies involved are; Teagasc Forestry Development Department in Ireland, ANW […]
26 January 2024
Mapping the direction of travel of dairy beef systems
Mapping the direction of travel of dairy beef systems An increase in the national dairy herd since milk quota removal in 2015 has changed the dynamic within the Irish beef industry. Animals of dairy origin now account for ~60% of Ireland’s beef throughput. Through a combination of the correct genetics, calf health […]
25 January 2024
Action needed to avoid ‘uphill battle’ on future nitrates derogations
Action needed to avoid ‘uphill battle’ on future nitrates derogations The future of Ireland’s nitrates derogation is dependent on farmers making the right choices and implementing measures to improve water quality, according to Eoghan O’Brien, Teagasc Sustainability Advisor. Speaking as part of an ASSAP / Signpost Programme webinar for farmers in the […]
25 January 2024
Plan your nutrients to maximise your spend
Plan your nutrients to maximise your spend Fertiliser is one of the largest variable costs every year on tillage farms. On the latest Tillage Edge podcast, Dr Veronica Nyhan, a tillage advisor in Teagasc, chats through the benefits of planning the correct nutrients for each crop in 2024. Veronica explains that the […]
25 January 2024