Articles
The factors affecting bull fertility
The factors affecting bull fertility David Kenny, Teagasc Animal & Grassland Research and Innovation Centre, Grange, Co. Meath, reports on some of the factors affecting the fertility of bulls. Irish statistics suggest that the main reasons for the culling of natural service breeding bulls in beef herds were: injury (23.2%); locomotory issues […]
21 May 2023
Cobalt supplementation – effect on ewe and lamb performance
Cobalt supplementation – effect on ewe and lamb performance The productivity of Irish lowland flocks is low at approximately 1.3 lambs reared per ewe joined, and has remained relatively static for the last 40 years. In this article, Dr. Tim Keady, Teagasc Athenry, looks at the effect of cobalt supplementation on ewe […]
21 May 2023
Improving biodiversity on farm
Improving biodiversity on farm Eamonn Dempsey, Teagasc Advisor, tells you how you can improve biodiversity on your farm. Biodiversity covers all plant and animal species as well as micro-organisms that grow and live on and around your farm. Biodiversity is flora, fauna and the habitats in which they exist. Everywhere has some flora and […]
21 May 2023
Milking efficiency of rotary and herringbone parlours
Milking efficiency of rotary and herringbone parlours Milking efficiency is often defined as the number of cows milked per hour, or cows milked per operator per hour. In order to achieve optimum milking efficiency, there must be successful engagement between factors that can have most impact on the milking process such as […]
20 May 2023
How can we help bees?
How can we help bees? Today is World Bee Day! The purpose of the international day is to acknowledge the role of bees and other pollinators for the ecosystem. In Ireland there are 77 solitary bee species, 21 bumble bee species and one honey bee species. One third of our bee species […]
20 May 2023
Controlling docks with Future Beef farmer Michael McGuigan
Controlling docks with Future Beef farmer Michael McGuigan Michael McGuigan has worked hard to control docks on his farm. Docks are the major weed of intensively-managed grassland. Despite the best efforts of many farmers to control them, their persistence is stubborn and unyielding. There are many species of docks, but the most […]
19 May 2023
Ticking the beef breeding boxes down Wicklow way
Ticking the beef breeding boxes down Wicklow way Located just outside Aughrim, Co. Wicklow, John Pringle operates a mixed suckler and sheep farm on 62.48ha of grassland. The suckler herd consists of 45 mainly Simmental-sired cows, while a lowland flock of 225 ewes are also carried. John, a participant in the Teagasc […]
19 May 2023
How farmers can support biodiversity
How farmers can support biodiversity National Biodiversity Week Ireland 2023 takes place 19th – 28th May. National Biodiversity Week is all about connecting people with nature and communicating the importance of biodiversity. Conservation of Farmland Habitats Conservation and protection of farmland wildlife and habitats is an important dimension of environmental sustainability. In […]
19 May 2023
Forests and human health and well-being
Forests and human health and well-being Paul Butler, Teagasc Forestry Specialist, tells us about the importance of non-timber values of forests. I was lucky enough to work for several years as a young graduate in a huge forest reserve in the south eastern amazon of Peru. I remember one morning meeting a […]
19 May 2023
Improving gestation housing for sows benefits piglets
Improving gestation housing for sows benefits piglets Martyna Lagoda presented her research on gestation housing for sows at the recent Teagasc Pig Open Day. Here she tells us more about practical forms of sow enrichment, with knock-on benefits for piglet health. Conventional gestation housing for sows does not fully cater to their […]
19 May 2023