Articles
Selective Dry Cow Therapy – the new norm for Dairy Herds
Selective Dry Cow Therapy – the new norm for Dairy Herds Kevin O’Hara, Education Officer, Teagasc Ballinrobe, discusses how Selective Dry Cow Therapy has become the new norm for Dairy Herds. With the evenings closing in, it has come to that time of year when farmers will have started drying off early […]
29 November 2022
Biodiversity continues to be encouraged on Newford Farm
Biodiversity continues to be encouraged on Newford Farm Newford Farm is working to enhance the level of biodiversity on the farm. The farm has been selected as a demonstration farm as part of the Teagasc Signpost Programme. This will see a suite of measures introduced over the lifetime of the programme that […]
29 November 2022
The care of the ram post mating
The care of the ram post mating Rams purchase costs represent a significant cost on sheep farms. Ideally rams should live long and fruitful lives and produce lots of lambs over a five year period. However the reality is that the expected lifespan for rams on Irish sheep farms is much shorter […]
29 November 2022
10 Things to Know About … Hemp
10 Things to Know About … Hemp There has been a very rich history of hemp research within Teagasc. Teagasc was preceded by an organisation called An Foras Taluntais, which was formed in the late 1950s. From very early on in the history of this organisation researchers were interested in the potential […]
29 November 2022
Use of foot baths on farm
Use of foot baths on farm On many farms footbaths are in use but they do not get the results they were looking for. The main reasons for this can be a poorly designed bath or the solution used in the bath is not appropriate. Patrick Gowing, Teagasc Dairy Expansion Service Advisor, […]
28 November 2022
Winter weighing – an essential in calf to beef production
Winter weighing – an essential in calf to beef production Achieving daily live weight gain targets throughout an animal’s life on calf to beef farms is one of the key metrics used to measure the success of animal nutrition, grassland management, husbandry and health programmes. As part of the DairyBeef 500 Campaign, […]
28 November 2022
Fact vs fiction: the ‘myths’ of calving at 24 months
Fact vs fiction: the ‘myths’ of calving at 24 months Contrary to popular belief, calving beef heifers at 24 months of age has no negative implications on subsequent lifetime performance when compared to calving heifers at 36 months. The age beef heifers calve for the first time is a cause of contention […]
28 November 2022
Sustainable energy use in horticulture – Heating with Biomass
Sustainable energy use in horticulture – Heating with Biomass A webinar on sustainable energy solutions in horticulture using heating with biomass took place on Monday, 14 November. Donal Gernon and Dónall Flanagan, Teagasc Horticulture Development Department were joined by Barry Caslin, Energy Specialist to discuss heating with biomass. The ongoing shift away […]
28 November 2022
Charlie Smyth, DairyBeef 500 Farmer, Farm Update November 2022
Charlie Smyth, DairyBeef 500 Farmer, Farm Update November 2022 Charlie is a relatively new entrant to calf-to-beef production. He is farming 50ha just outside Virginia, Co. Cavan – on a mixture of owned and leased ground. In this article Charlie gives us an update on his farm. We have operated a calf […]
26 November 2022
Applications open for €12/ewe scheme
Applications open for €12/ewe scheme The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine has announced details of the new Sheep Improvement Scheme, which will offer farmers payment rates of €12/ewe. Applications to the Sheep improvement Scheme are now open. To be eligible to apply, farmers must: submit a Basic Income Support for […]
26 November 2022