Articles
‘Growing Organics’ monitor farm programme launched
‘Growing Organics’ monitor farm programme launched A new programme focused on supporting and increasing organic production has been launched. The ‘Growing Organics’ Programme – led by Teagasc – will run for five years and will promote the adoption of best practice at farm level to increase the future viability and sustainability of […]
30 March 2023
Selecting beef sires on more than calving ease and short gestation
Selecting beef sires on more than calving ease and short gestation On many dairy farms, the decision of what beef bull to use on their cows is often based on having a very low calving difficulty along with having as short a gestation as possible. While it makes sense to use these […]
29 March 2023
Weaning calves successfully and target weights
Weaning calves successfully and target weights During the first weeks of life, the calf is entirely dependent on milk as a source of nutrition, with the digestion of milk occurring in the abomasum. Young calves have little to no rumen capacity in early life. Careful nutritional management before weaning ensures that the […]
29 March 2023
Suckler Carbon Efficiency Programme 2023 – 2027
Suckler Carbon Efficiency Programme 2023 – 2027 On Monday 20th March, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine launched the new Suckler Carbon Efficiency Programme (SCEP), Aidan Murray, Teagasc Beef Specialist, tells us more in this article. You can can apply via Agfood.ie until midnight on the 22nd May 2023. It […]
29 March 2023
Watch: Identifying your herd’s strengths and weaknesses ahead of breeding
Watch: Identifying your herd’s strengths and weaknesses ahead of breeding With the calving season entering its final phase on many dairy farms, the next task on the horizon is breeding. Kevin Downing, ICBF HerdPlus Manager, joined Stuart Childs, Teagasc Dairy Specialist, as part of a Breeding Week webinar to explain how to […]
28 March 2023
Keeping grass in the cow’s diet with on-off grazing
Keeping grass in the cow’s diet with on-off grazing The last two weeks have been tricky when it came to grazing, Sandra Hayes, Co-ordinator of the Teagasc/Tírlán Future Farm Programme, explained in a recent update. What has worked well for the monitor farmers is on-off grazing. Once cows have been milked, they […]
28 March 2023
Measuring physical and financial flock performance
Measuring physical and financial flock performance The Teagasc eProfit Monitor is a unique tool that allows farmers and their advisers to analyse both physical and financial data on the farm enterprises, Damian Costello, Teagasc Sheep Specialist, tells us about the tool. Sheep farmers need no reminding of how challenging 2022 has been […]
28 March 2023
Establishing clover this year?
Establishing clover this year? With price variability continuing to exist in the artificial fertiliser market as we approach the second quarter of 2023, the inclusion of clover in grazing and silage swards may be an option to reduce the dependence on chemical nitrogen applications on some farms. High fertiliser prices from the […]
28 March 2023
Tractor work – make safety a priority
Tractor work – make safety a priority After a busy spring, not helped by recent challenging weather conditions, many farmers will be returning to the fields in the coming days and weeks to complete field work – once weather conditions allow. Rainfall over much of March, which seen some areas untrafficable, has […]
28 March 2023
Breathing new life into a calf-to-beef system in Co. Meath
Breathing new life into a calf-to-beef system in Co. Meath Aidan Maguire, who farms 46ha of free-draining grassland in partnership with his son Luke, just outside Navan, Co. Meath, has reinvigorated his farm since 2018. Having previously operated a system where dairy-beef animals were sold as stores weighing 450kg at 24 months, […]
27 March 2023