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Teagasc/Tirlan Joint Programme Monitor Farm Updates 2024

4th October

Farmer County Litres / Cow Fat % Protein % SCC kg MS/Cow Meal kg Average Farm Cover  Cover /LU Pre Grazing Yield  Demand/Ha Growth Rate/Ha NUE% 2023
Donal Kavanagh Wicklow 17.5 4.61 4.05 80 1.56 4 747 230 1800 42 44 26
Tom Murphy Kilkenny 16.5 5.65 4.50 98 1.72 3 978 366 2000 43 35  
Francis Nolan Kilkenny 18.0 4.80 4.23 148 1.68 4 923 389 1500 39 38 28
Jack Kearney Cork 17.5 5.09 4.15 154 1.66 4 704 241 1400 44 40 33
John Ryan Tipperary 17.2 5.22 4.30 97 1.68 3 713 151 1500 24 54 29
Kevin Murphy Wexford 19.5 5.16 4.35 117 1.91 8 598 164 1300 33 45 27
*Mullen Farm Meath 20.0 4.79 4.00 119 1.81 4           21
Shane Fitzgerald Waterford 17.0 5.03 3.98 88 1.58 3 801 328 2000 41 46 37
Shay Ryan Wexford 18.2 4.76 4.10 81 1.66 3 627 167 1500 33 40 24
Steven Fitzgerald Waterford 19.0 4.96 4.25 53 1.80 3.5 950 400 2000 41 53 24
Tom Fennelly Laois 18.1 5.21 4.19 103 1.75 6 768 342 2000 27 28 23
* Winter milk                    
Average   18.0 5.03 4.19 103 1.71 4.1 781 278 1700 37 42 27
Average 06/10/2023 17 4.94 4.03 147 1.54 3.1 906 288 1962 47 51 28

Farmer Focus

monitor farmers group meeting on Tom Murphys farmLast week we held the monitor farmers group meeting on Tom Murphy's farm. After a focus on how the group were regards grass we walked the farm. At that stage Tom had an AFC of over 1000kgs DM/ha. He explained how he dropped the demand as low as he could during August and fed 60 bales and this had allowed him to build grass on the farm. Other topics discussed was nitrates, soil fertility, Tom's 11 week breeding season and whole farm SR. This week I was out with Tom in advance to the farm walk we will hold on the farm on the 30th of October. The current AFC is 978kgs DM/ha. The new reseed has now a 700kgs DM/ha cover and it got its post emergence spray. Tom will graze with cows this week to encourage tillering. We completed an autumn grass budget for the farm.  This budget was adjusted for what we thought growth rates would be for Oct/Nov. We will adjust this every week after each grass cover but it is showing Tom that he does not need to put in any silage, just grass and 3kg meal until 2nd to 3rd week of November when probably the herd will be housed. Feeding the silage in August has paid off! The farm also started 10 milkings in 7 this week.

6th September

Farmer County Litres / Cow Fat % Protein % SCC kg MS/Cow Meal kg Average Farm Cover  Cover /LU Pre Grazing Yield  Demand/Ha Growth Rate/Ha
Donal Kavanagh Wicklow 19.0 4.56 3.84 114 1.70 3 678 212 1650 26 60
Tom Murphy Kilkenny 18.1 5.52 4.19 124 1.80 3 872 312 1500 45 47
Francis Nolan Kilkenny             766 323 1500 39 62
Jack Kearney Cork 20.8 4.81 3.96 150 1.88 3 806 224 1400 54 66
John Ryan Tipperary 19.6 4.81 3.98 186 1.78 3 615 131 1200 24 40
Kevin Murphy Wexford 21.2 4.85 4.01 62 1.93 8 647 177 1250 33 66
*Mullen Farm Meath 20.0 4.43 3.92 156 1.72 3.5 550 179 1300 57 55
Shane Fitzgerald Waterford 18.6 4.60 3.86 82 1.62 1     1450    
Shay Ryan Wexford 20.2 4.46 3.96 85 1.74 4 645 172 1500 53 75
Steven Fitzgerald Waterford 19.4 4.68 4.02 53 1.74 3 790 324 1600 43 47
Tom Fennelly Laois 18.5 5.04 3.96 143 1.71 4 758 261 1600 30 55
Average   19.5 4.78 3.97 116 1.76 4 713 232 1450 40 57
Average 08/09/2023   19.8 4.58 3.84 115 1.71 2.0 981 291 2050 53 69

*Winter Milk

Group Focus

Farm update grassland and silageGrowth rates over the last 2 weeks have varied from 40 to 85kgs DM/ha. This is due to weather conditions. Many of the monitor farms could do with some rain as it is the limiting factor. Some have got rain but the accompanying wind has dried up any moisture in the ground very quickly. To combat this lower growth rate the farms have been dropping demand as best they can with zero grazed grass or silage. Last round of fertiliser is either out or out this week. Farm visits this month have focused on plans on how to build grass on the farm and how completing fodder budgets for all 11 farms. Some farms have over 5 months fodder and others that are tighter are looking at different meal supplementation and/or stocking rates for the winter. Good to see that the farmers have taken or are taking a break/time off farm. Change as good as a rest!

Tirlan have organised a webinar for 1pm on the 11th September on Fodder budgeting for the months ahead. Farmers can join here

Video on how to create a Fodder Budget using the Pasturebase ireland programme

23rd August

Farmer County Litres / Cow Fat % Protein % SCC kg MS/Cow Meal kg Average Farm Cover  Cover /LU Pre Grazing Yield  Demand/Ha Growth Rate/Ha
Donal Kavanagh Wicklow 19.7 4.24 3.60 78 1.53 3 659 193 1300 48 50
Tom Murphy Kilkenny 19.0 4.82 4.14 219 1.75 3 627 218 1300 46 71
Francis Nolan Kilkenny 19.1 4.66 3.88 63 1.68 3.5 751 316 1400 39 49
Jack Kearney Cork 21.5 4.49 3.80 171 1.84 3 630 173 1400 47 76
John Ryan Tipperary 19.0 4.45 3.86 187 1.63 3 533 113 1350 47 28
Kevin Murphy Wexford 21.0 4.66 3.85 54 1.84 6 553 152 1200 47 48
*Mullen Farm Meath 20.0 4.25 3.72 137 1.64 4 728 182 1250 62 50
Shane Fitzgerald Waterford 19.2 4.46 3.70 103 1.62 1 857 273 1450 57 76
Shay Ryan Wexford 21.0 4.30 3.86 110 1.83 3 889 224 1900 59 98
Steven Fitzgerald Waterford 20.6 4.50 3.82 59 1.77 3 730 274 1550 47 59
Tom Fennelly Laois 19.4 4.61 3.82 145 1.68 4 599 201 1300 30 45
* Winter milk        
Average   20.0 4.49 3.82 121 1.71 3 687 211 1400 48 59
Average 26/08/2023 20 4.54 3.78 126 1.73 2.0 867 249 1760 57 74

Farmer Focus

reseeding and fertiliser spread machine in fieldThis week I was out with one of our Kilkenny monitor farmers, Tom Murphy farming near Inistioge with his parents milking 192 cows. Tom was getting the last of the reseeding done this week. This farm is free draining and can get caught with dry spells during the summer. Thankfully the mixed wet weather has suited this farm this year and the milking platform has grown on average 12.6tonnes DM/ha with most paddocks grazed 7 times so far. Tom has incorporated clover into all his reseeds and the farm has currently 49% clover of either medium or high content. The current reseed is made up of the varieties Aberclyde and Nashota with 2.5kgs of white clover. Focus for the farm will now change to building autumn covers. Tom has brought back in paddocks that had been cut for silage and a paddock that was out for surplus. Aftergrass covers range from 550 kgs DM/ha to 1100kgs DM/ha. This has brought the stocking rate to 2.87 LU/ha. Cows are getting 3kgs meal and if growth rates drop below demand this month the strategy is to introduce silage to help build covers. The rain this week and fertiliser spread will definitely help maintain a steady growth rate for this farm. Tom has scanned this week and after a 10 week breeding season he has 8% empty which he is happy with.

26th July

Farmer County Litres / Cow Fat % Protein % SCC kg MS/Cow Meal kg Average Farm Cover  Cover /LU Pre Grazing Yield  Demand/Ha Growth Rate/Ha
Donal Kavanagh Wicklow 22.7 4.17 3.60 74 1.82 3 833 234 1500 46 60
Tom Murphy Kilkenny 20.0 4.93 4.06 167 1.85 3 603 166 1300 58 81
Francis Nolan Kilkenny 22.6 4.17 3.67 96 1.82 3.5 942 276 1500 54 77
Jack Kearney Cork 22.3 4.28 3.69 145 1.83 3 612 175 1300 52 71
John Ryan Tipperary 20.0 4.27 3.62 160 1.63 3 803 163 1800 74 79
Kevin Murphy Wexford 24.4 4.35 3.78 51 2.05 4.5 752 203 1500 48 77
*Mullen Farm Meath 23.0 3.93 3.60 111 1.78 3.5 717 179 1500 68 59
Shane Fitzgerald Waterford 21.7 4.14 3.58 56 1.68 2 744 197 1400 64 64
Shay Ryan Wexford 22.8 4.10 3.80 72 1.86 2.5 771 163 1500 71 107
Steven Fitzgerald Waterford 24.0 4.28 3.79 54 2.00 3 732 232 1500 47 58
Tom Fennelly Laois 19.8 4.39 3.76 120 1.66 1.2 669 198 1500 59 65
* Winter milk        
Average   22.1 4.27 3.72 101 1.82 3 743 199 1482 58 73

Farmer Focus

This Wednesday I was on the farm of Shay Ryan, Rochestown, New Ross, Co Wexford and it was great to get a growth over 100kgs DM/ha. With this growth Shay planned to take opportunities to increase the area to be taken out for reseeding and 3 paddocks were ear marked to be taken as surplus when weather allows. There has been limited surplus off the MP this year so far so they will be a welcome support to the winter fodder plan. Shay is spreading fertiliser twice a month. Up to now he has spread Protected Urea. He will go with 18-6-12 +S, normally 20 units for every 30 days. Paddocks with over 25% clover is getting 10 units/ac. Shay has made good use of dairy washings and watery slurry as well. There is 3ha sprayed off for reseeding at the moment and it has FYM spread on it too. Shay plans to reseed with the variety Nashota plus white clover. This grass variety has been used in the past and is performing very well on the farm. Breeding went for 10.5 weeks on the farm, 6 weeks AI and 4 + weeks with the bulls. Shay is happy enough so far, seeing only a few repeats in the 1st week after finishing. He used sexed semen in the 1st week to 10 days. He will scan at the end of August to see how things have gone.

12th July 2024

Farmer County Litres / Cow Fat % Protein % SCC kg MS/Cow Meal kg Average Farm Cover  Cover /LU Pre Grazing Yield  Demand/Ha Growth Rate/Ha
Donal Kavanagh Wicklow 23.0 4.06 3.53 95 1.80 3 679 210 1400 42 71
Tom Murphy Kilkenny                      
Francis Nolan Kilkenny 24.0 4.13 3.57 81 1.91 4.5 810 237 1500 46 70
Jack Kearney Cork 23.1 4.19 3.54 99 1.88 4 601 172 1400 52 72
John Ryan Tipperary 21.8 4.14 3.62 197 1.75 3 720 146 1400 74 66
Kevin Murphy Wexford 24.5 4.05 3.64 49 1.94 6 537 141 1200 50 64
*Mullen Farm Meath 23.5 3.90 3.62 113 1.81 3.5 726 181 1600 72 80
Shane Fitzgerald Waterford 22.9 4.14 3.58 76 1.77 3 665 184 1400 54 43
Shay Ryan Wexford 23.0 4.10 3.70 113 1.85 2.5 590 157 1400 56 92
Steven Fitzgerald Waterford 25.0 3.97 3.70 65 1.95 4 752 273 1400 41 66
Tom Fennelly Laois 21.3 4.29 3.69 98 1.75 3 616 195 1400 54 64
* Winter milk        
Average   23.2 4.10 3.62 99 1.84 4 670 190 1410 54 69
Average 14/07/2023 23 4.28 3.59 113 1.85 3.0 681 196 1475 56 70

Farmer Focus - John Ryan Co. Tipperary

Cows crazing in field and close up of the grass swardGrass measuring with John Ryan in Gortnahoe, Co. Tipperary and  looking at his May reseed. John put in 3kgs of white clover in the mix. It received its post emergence spray at 7/8 weeks & was grazed at the end of June. It has a clover score of 25% + & with 1100kgs DM/ha on it it was to be grazed next to encourage tillering & clover establishment. John is following the cows with 29-0-14 plus3%S at 1 unit/day application rate. John got his 1st cut silage done in May so he is going at the 2nd cut this week weather permitting. We completed a fodder budget for all stock going to be winter housed building in a 1 month security amount. John has over 60% of his fodder in stock for the winter. We accounted for the 2nd cut plus a 3rd cut & he should be 100% secure come September. We would encourage all farmers to do a fodder budget up to see & plan for winter'24. Dung samples were taken from the calves 2 weeks ago & they were clear. They have received no doses so far. They have gotten all their vaccines like Blackleg etc. All 41 calves were weighed as well 2 weeks ago & all bar 9 were over 155kgs. Anything under 155kgs will receive 1.5kg meal until weighed next. Rest are on grass only.

June 28th 

Farmer County Litres / Cow Fat % Protein % SCC kg MS/Cow Meal kg Average Farm Cover  Cover /LU Pre Grazing Yield  Demand/Ha Growth Rate/Ha Teagasc Farm Sustainability Plan in place
Donal Kavanagh Wicklow 24.2 3.90 3.60 117 1.87 4 603 186 1450 42 47 YES
Tom Murphy Kilkenny 23.0 4.46 3.89 131 1.97 6 650 152 1300 56 57 YES
Francis Nolan Kilkenny 24.8 4.05 3.59 72 1.95 4.5 667 185 1400 49 63 YES
Jack Kearney Cork 25.9 3.99 3.53 81 2.01 5 589 169 1400 52 52 YES
John Ryan Tipperary 21.7 4.09 3.59 206 1.72 3 724 154 1500 71 65 YES
Kevin Murphy Wexford 24.4 4.23 3.65 56 1.98 6 564 148 1400 50 60 YES
*Mullen Farm Meath 24.0 3.89 3.51 126 1.83 4.5 605 151 1400 72 57 YES
Shane Fitzgerald Waterford 24.9 4.13 3.45 71 1.89 4 677 191 1200 53 53 YES
Shay Ryan Wexford 23.8 4.20 3.63   1.92 3 539 143 1350 56 65 YES
Steven Fitzgerald Waterford 25.5 3.97 3.63 59 2.00 5 599 221 1300 40 53 YES
Tom Fennelly Laois 22.4 4.20 3.60 105 1.80 2 546 173 1400 53 59 YES
Average   24.1 4.10 3.61 102 1.90 4 615 170 1373 54 57  
Average 30/06/2023   24 4.23 3.52 105 1.86 3.0 717 204 1425 54 77  
  • Winter milk

Group Focus

Busy fortnight for the monitor farm group. Firstly the Kearneys held a farm walk on mid-season management of clover plus steps taken on the farm to help improve water quality. All of the speakers on the day focused on the simple steps taken which added together make a large cumulative effect.

Soil conditions

Actual farm optimum percentages for pH, P, & K (93%, 100%, and 76% respectively) reveal mostly optimal soil conditions. The high adoption of protected urea on the farm (77%) reflects the Kearney’s efforts to reduce farm emissions.

Clover

We also got the farmer audience to clover score during the walk. Scoring is done 2/3 times a year on this farm. Mike Egan of Teagasc Moorepark explained it has been a tough year on clover and to ensure there is 25% clover before chemical N is cut back.

We then had the Tirlan Water Quality focused farm walk on Donal Kavanagh's farm in Baltinglas last Friday. Again we demonstrated that not one measure on its own is going to solve water quality issues. It is all farmers doing what they can. Its the cumulative effect that will work, not the silver bullet!

Then this Monday the group met on the farm of Kevin Murphy's for our June group meeting.

14th June

Farmer County Litres / Cow Fat % Protein % SCC kg MS/Cow Meal kg Average Farm Cover  Cover /LU Pre Grazing Yield  Demand/Ha Growth Rate/Ha Biodiversity Audit
Donal Kavanagh Wicklow 26.7 3.90 3.47 77 2.02 5 394 122 1200 42 48 YES
Tom Murphy Kilkenny 22.4 4.56 3.92 132 1.96 6 549 129 1250 62 43 YES
Francis Nolan Kilkenny 25.3 4.14 3.57 81 2.01 6 518 169 1300 42 62 YES
Jack Kearney Cork 26.0 4.10 3.62 91 2.07 6 516 137 1200 56 44 YES
John Ryan Tipperary 23.3 4.19 3.69 134 1.89 3 587 125 1400 71 47 YES
Kevin Murphy Wexford 23.0 4.39 3.53 63 1.88 6           YES
*Mullen Farm Meath 25.5 3.84 3.52 111 1.93 6 437 109 1100 72 42 YES
Shane Fitzgerald Waterford 23.8 4.25 3.41 63 1.82 4 692 179 1200 57 72 YES
Shay Ryan Wexford 23.5 4.20 3.60 114 1.89 4 656 166 1550 30 74 YES
Steven Fitzgerald Waterford 25.2 4.16 3.49 62 1.99 5 621 244 1350 35 46 YES
Tom Fennelly Laois 23.0 4.07 3.63 106 1.82 4 571 162 1400 53 65 YES
* Winter milk          
Average   24.3 4.16 3.59 94 1.93 5 554 154 1295 52 54  
Average 16/06/2023 24 4.13 3.48 97 1.90 4.0 611 171 1480 55 52  

Farmer Focus

fertiliser bags and silage pit on farmThis Tuesday I was on the farm of John & Shane Fitzgerald near Portlaw, Waterford. Both John and Shane were busy spreading fertiliser and getting out slurry via LESS in preparation for 2nd cut. 0-7-30 was also being spread on the multi species swards as it makes up to 20% of the swards on the milking platform. Kate, Shane's fiancee did the grass walk with us and we did notice a fall off in the clover content of both the clover grass swards and the clover in the multi species. As alot of the paddocks were grazed well it will be left to score once they have a higher cover in a week or two. It just goes to show how important it is to walk the farm regularly. Decisions regarding PGC, supplementation etc all need to be monitored closely in order to maintain milk solids. Walk grass as often as you can. Shane had been feeding 4kgs meal and 4kgs silage as AFC was low. Growth was 72kgs/ha so demand could be increased and silage dropped. If the farm was not walked supplement would have been in too long. The next walk will deem if meal can be dropped. The 21 day submission rate was 80% and 28% was the return rate from those cows served 24 days plus.

31st May

Farmer County Litres / Cow Fat % Protein % SCC kg MS/Cow Meal kg Average Farm Cover  Cover /LU Pre Grazing Yield  Demand/Ha Growth Rate/Ha Clover Scored the MP
Donal Kavanagh Wicklow 26.0 3.89 3.53 83 1.99 3 867 213 1600 69 110 Yes
Tom Murphy Kilkenny 24.1 4.65 3.94 159 2.13 3 492 115 1300 62 73 Yes
Francis Nolan Kilkenny 27.2 4.14 3.31 89 2.08 6 559 172 1300 45 45 Yes
Jack Kearney Cork 27.0 4.25 3.48 87 2.15 3 710 189 1500 56 51 Yes
John Ryan Tipperary 23.3 4.15 3.45 168 1.82 3 703 142 1500 74 73 Yes
Kevin Murphy Wexford 24.3 4.46 3.59 43 2.01 3 655 150 1530 70 83 Yes
*Mullen Farm Meath 27.0 3.92 3.40 108 2.04 3.5 479 119 1300 72 71 Yes
Shane Fitzgerald Waterford 25.8 4.09 3.47 82 1.95 2 879 188 1500 79 93 Yes
Shay Ryan Wexford 24.0 4.10 3.60 87 1.90 3 780 198 1500 55 85 Yes
Steven Fitzgerald Waterford 27.3 3.94 3.66 60 2.10 3 672 168 1400 60 70 Yes
Tom Fennelly Laois 23.0 4.23 3.40 74 1.81 6 478 135 1500 46 62 Yes
Average   25.4 4.17 3.53 95 2.00 4 661 163 1448 63 74  
Average 02/06/2023   26 4.04 3.52 104 2.01 3.0 781 196 1515 64 89  

*Winter milk
Group are measuring once if not twice a week a this stage

Farmer Focus

Future Farm Programme Co-Ordinator Sandra Hayes visited Tom & David Fennelly's farm in Co. Laois. She could see the evidence of lots of progress over the previous month - after-grass and reseeds.

Grassland

The farm has 80% of its 1st cut silage in and they reseeded a grass and fodder crop paddock with a multi species mix. Paddock sprayed off on 20th April and reseeded 10/11th May. Grass is tight now but surplus was taken to correct PGY as growth exceeded demand over a few weeks. On this walk we noticed that a lot of the clover dominant paddocks have less clover than last year. This was noticed this on many of the monitor farms. Soil fertility is excellent but a mixture of some heavy covers last year and this spring have impacted the clover.

Breeding

Breeding is going well with 94% submitted in 3 weeks. The heifers were synchronised and 2 Angus bulls are with them now. There were 200 sexed semen straws used, 83 on the heifers and rest on cows. Cow selection was on a number of criteria, high Protein %, good MS, positive for health and good maintenance figure too. Now a team of high DBI straws are being used.

Calves

Issue noted this week is coughing in the calves which are now on grass and a faecal sample as sent off to investigate further.


17th May

FarmerCountyLitres / CowFat %Protein %SCCkg MS/CowMeal kgAverage Farm Cover Cover /LUPre Grazing Yield Demand/HaGrowth Rate/HaASSAP farm visit in 2023
Donal Kavanagh Wicklow 26.0 4.10 3.43 150 2.02 4 841 251 1300 50 65 YES
Tom Murphy Kilkenny 25.0 4.70 3.93 191 2.22 3 896 165 1650 84 148 YES
Francis Nolan Kilkenny 25.5 4.23 3.41 56 2.00 5           YES
Jack Kearney Cork 27.0 4.13 3.42 119 2.10 3 675 180 1400 56 72 YES
John Ryan Tipperary 26.8 4.05 3.48 114 2.08 3 661 134 1500 74 81 YES
Kevin Murphy Wexford 25.7 4.13 3.46 52 2.00 4 647 156 1300 69 62 YES
*Mullen Farm Meath 28.5 3.93 3.40 111 2.15 4 713 178 1500 72 85 YES
Shane Fitzgerald Waterford 28.0 3.91 3.36 71 2.05 2 753 166 1600 76 79 YES
Shay Ryan Wexford 25.0 4.30 3.60 65 2.03 2 706 133 1700 85 93 YES
Steven Fitzgerald Waterford 28.0 4.00 3.56 50 2.20 3 740 203 1350 55 108 YES
Tom Fennelly Laois 24.4 4.27 3.54 76 1.96 2 557 140 1400 64 84 YES
* Winter milk Group are measuring once if not twice a week a this stage        
Average   26.4 4.16 3.51 96 2.07 3 719 171 1470 69 88  
Average 19/05/2023 28 4.03 3.48 112 2.13 3 714 169 1590 64 84  

Farmer Focus

grass and clippersWe took the opportunity while grass measuring this week to see how silage crops were going. Tom Murphy near Inistioge, Kilkenny had grazed his silage ground once in early spring and a small section twice due to poor growth rates in April. All had received 2500 gallons of slurry plus 60 units PU + Sulphur. We cut and weighed using 16% DM and got between 5 and 6 ton DM/ha. We noticed some of the grasses had started to head out. We know the later you delay cutting the lower the DMD drops. If cut nearer to the 22nd May DMD averages at 76.6%, 29th May it drops to 74.6%. After achieving a growth rate of over 100kgs DM/ha we looked to the wedge as PGY was too high, over 1640. We took out surplus paddocks to drop the cover per cow to 165 kgs DM/ha. This increased the SR to 5.4LU/ha but this is only for a short period. We also did a predicted wedge for next week and we can see more surplus that can be taken out. This is an opportunity to correct the wedge, make surplus bales and get the PGY to closer to 1350kgs DM/ha. Breeding is on target for over 90% submission in 3 weeks.

Grass yield and digestibility

Harvest date 1 May 8 May 15 May 22 May 29 May 5 June 12 June
Yield (tDM/ha) 2.92 3.99 4.98 5.96 6.79 7.82 8.48
DMD% 79.9 77.9 77.5 76.6 74.6 69.2 67.9

Silage yields and digestibilities (DMD) will be lower than these vales


3rd May

FarmerCountyLitres / CowFat %Protein %SCCkg MS/CowMeal kgAverage Farm Cover Cover /LUPre Grazing Yield Demand/HaGrowth Rate/HaP, K & pH soil maps
Tom Murphy Kilkenny 24.75 4.58 3.91 165 2.16 2.8 739 162 1200 71 46 YES
Donal Kavanagh Wicklow 27.4 4.08 3.32 86 2.09 5 500 114 1200 47 38 YES
Francis Nolan Kilkenny 25.5 4.27 3.39 39 2.12 6 931 298 2200 31 10 YES
Jack Kearney Cork 27.4 4.11 3.46 158 2.13 5 483 128 1300 56 44 YES
John Ryan Tipperary 27.5 3.97 3.53 147 2.12 3 699 149 1700 70 56 YES
Kevin Murphy Wexford 26.2 4.29 3.47 42 2.10 4 844 215 2750 59 48 YES
*Mullen Farm Meath 29.0 4.06 3.45 74 2.24 5 611 143 1400 29 29 YES
Shane Fitzgerald Waterford 26.9 4.24 3.40 60 2.06 6 744 188 1200 63 50 YES
Shay Ryan Wexford 24.8 4.01 3.63 67 1.95 4 590 119 1400 35 44 YES
Steven Fitzgerald Waterford 28.7 4.05 3.55 46 2.27 4 722 235 1450 38 52 YES
Tom Fennelly Laois 24.0 4.51 3.56 140 1.99 2 739 162 1850 64 70 YES
Average   26.6 4.20 3.52 93 2.11 4 691 174 1605 51 44  
Average 05/05/2023   29 4.10 3.52 101 2.23 4.0 735 181 1550 62 71  

*Winter milk

Farmer focus - John Ryan

This week Sandra Hayes was out with John Ryan, our monitor farmer in Tipperary. Along with the usual grass walk we did a clover score of all the paddocks on the milking platform.

Clover

The farm now has 32% of the MP at a high clover score which is 30% plus clover content in the sward. These are mainly the reseeds from the last few years. There is also 26% at a medium score which is 20% clover content. This score will allow John to reduce his nitrogen applications on these paddocks from May onwards.

Breeding

John started breeding with the heifers on the 18th of April. All heifers had a fixed time AI programme and now there is a Hereford bull in with them. The cows were started on the 17th April and 73.5% were submitted in 17 days. On Monday 29th April the last of the Friesian sexed semen straws were used. From 30th April all cows will receive beef AI as will any repeats. John used 70 Friesian sexed semen straws on cows and heifers and this will give him a minimum of 35 replacement heifer calves. All beef AI straws are selected from high DBI bulls focusing on gestation length, calving ease and beef carcass quality. John used the same protocol last year and he was very happy with the results he got. He has 41 heifers calves & all beef calves are now sold this year.

Grassland

John is following the cows with either 2500 gal/slurry/ac or 25 units PU + S. Results from the latest soil tests showing that all ground in the MP is now >6.2 pH and Index 3 or 4 for P and K.John Ryan's cows May 3rd 2024

 


19th April

FarmerCountyLitres / CowFat %Protein %SCCkg MS/CowMeal kgAverage Farm Cover Cover /LUPre Grazing Yield Demand/HaGrowth Rate/HaSustainability Action Protected Urea
Donal Kavanagh Wicklow 25 4.05 3.28 150 1.85 4 884 276 2100 42 18 YES
Tom Murphy Kilkenny 25 5.03 3.65 154 2.23 4 913 215 1800 59 40 YES
Francis Nolan Kilkenny 26 4.54 3.21 56 2.07 6 1388 482 2500 43 18 YES
Jack Kearney Cork 28 4.46 3.44 145 2.27 4 662 176 1350 56 29 YES
John Ryan Tipperary 27 4.38 3.36 180 2.18 3 748 159 1600 42 36 YES
Kevin Murphy Wexford 26 4.55 3.36 102 2.10 4 1218 314 1600 38 39 YES
*Mullen Farm Meath 27 3.97 3.31 74 2.02 7 650   3000   23 YES
Shane Fitzgerald Waterford 28 4.29 3.35 101 2.12 3 770 217 1600 56 27 YES
Shay Ryan Wexford 24 4.56 3.46 76 1.98 3           YES
Steven Fitzgerald Waterford 28 4.33 3.37 68 2.20 4 700 270 1400 33 38 YES
Tom Fennelly Laois 24 4.69 3.59 146 2.05 3 724 198 1700 55 46 YES
Average   26 4.44 3.40 114 2.10 4 866 256 1865 47 31  
Average 21/04/2023 28 4.17 3.45 111 2.20 4.0 807 206 1670 58 49  

*Winter milk

Farmer Focus

Grass sward on Tirlan farmer Tom Murphy April 19th 2024Sandra Hayes was out grass measuring with Tom Murphy near Inistioge, Co. Kilkenny this week. Tom is on his 2nd round and graze out is variable depending on the weather at time of grazing. If no rain showers there was good graze out but heavy showers meant more was left in the paddock than Tom would like. He has about 40% of the round grazed. Cows are out day and night.

Cows are on 4kgs which will drop to 3kgs now.

Tom has 60 units of N out between chemical N and lagoon slurry. He will start to follow the cows with 20 units of Protected Urea plus Sulphur.

Tom put some of the cows, mainly 1st & 2nd calvers on OAD milking about a month ago. He is very happy with the condition they put on and they are now showing strong heats. He will do a pre breeding scan next week on cows that calved after 17th March and any cows that have not shown heats on the collars. Breeding for the cows starts 1st May, heifers on FTAI a few days later.

Aim for this week is to get pre grazing yield to 1300-1400kgs DM/ha by rectifying the wedge.


5th April

FarmerCountyLitres / CowFat %Protein %SCCkg MS/CowMeal kgAverage Farm Cover Cover /LUPre Grazing Yield Demand/HaGrowth Rate/HaSustainability Action LESS**
Tom Murphy Kilkenny 24 5.01 3.84 113 2.2 4 900 390 1100 41 22 YES
Donal Kavanagh Wicklow 25 3.89 3.17 130 1.82 5 956 419 1300 30 16 YES
Francis Nolan Kilkenny 25 4.43 3.16 65 1.95 9           YES
Jack Kearney Cork 26 4.35 3.38 191 2.08 5 904 259 140 52 17 YES
John Ryan Tipperary 27 4.65 3.23 118 2.20 3 702 154 1600 41 18 YES
Kevin Murphy Wexford 26 4.65 3.08 5 2.07 8 930 274 2350 42 23 YES
*Mullen Farm Meath 29 4.27 3.27 111 2.25 6.5 701 165 2800 29 12 YES
Shane Fitzgerald Waterford 26 4.47 3.21 85 2.00 3 821 377 2200 37 25 YES
Shay Ryan Wexford 25 4.60 3.30 120 2.03 4 1283 326 2800 28 34 YES
Steven Fitzgerald Waterford 27 4.35 3.45 43 2.17 4 650 286 1450 24 18 YES
Tom Fennelly Laois 25 4.90 3.54 63 2.10 4 901 258 1500 49 35 YES
* Winter milk** LESS Low Emission Slurry Spreading         
Average   26 4.51 3.33 95 2.08 5 875 291 1724 37 22  
Average 05/04/2023 28 4.33 3.36 105 2.19 5.0 825 259 1670 43 33  

Farmer Focus

On badly damaged paddocks Steven spread 18-6-12. The P helps repair the damaged grass rootThis week I was with Steven Fitzgerald near Aglish in Co Waterford. Steven has been getting the cows to grass as much as he can. This has been achieved by walking the farm as much as he can so he can assess what fields can and cannot be grazed. On days where cows are in on silage they get 1-2kgs chopped beet and pit silage. Steven knows the quality of the silage at this stage is not great and protein % in the milk drops to 3.28%. When he gets grass back into the cows it rises to 3.48-3.5%. Over the last 2 weeks paddocks got 30 units of Pro Urea + Sulphur. On badly damaged paddocks Steven spread 18-6-12. The P helps repair the damaged grass root. The following video gives an overview of the spring and what Steven is going to do over the next 4/5 weeks in preparation for the breeding season.

Watch the video: Tough Spring and Breeding prep 2024

22nd March

FarmerCounty Average Farm coverGrowth Rate% calved% grazedMeal kgLitres/ cowFat %Protein %MS/CowSCC
Tom Murphy Kilkenny 1275 28 91 70 4 24.0 5.16 3.77 2.21 113
Donal Kavanagh Wicklow 1174 15 99 35 4.0 25.0 4.43 3.16 1.95 170
Francis Nolan Kilkenny 1254   90 15 8.0 25.8 4.36 3.03 1.96 61
Jack Kearney Cork 788 22 99 72 4.0 26.0 4.92 3.26 2.18 218
John Ryan Tipperary 846 10 95 54 4.0 26.5 4.51 3.16 2.09 132
Kevin Murphy Wexford 800 18 83 56 6.0 25.0 4.71 3.16 2.02 44
*Mullen Farm Meath 1111 16 80 46 5.5 27.0 4.18 3.31 2.08 129
Shane Fitzgerald Waterford 985 15 91 55 3.0 26.5 4.63 3.24 2.09 85
Shay Ryan Wexford 1148 19 95 40 3.0 26.5 4.65 3.25 2.16 120
Steven Fitzgerald Waterford 871 29 97 70 4.0 25.6 4.54 3.28 2.00 63
Tom Fennelly Laois 937 35 91 72 6.0 24.2 4.56 3.36 1.97 130
* Winter milk           
Average 1017 21 92 53 4.7 26 4.60 3.27 2.06 115
Average 24th Mar 23 842 26 89 71 5 26 4.4 3.3 2.07 112

Farmer Review

Breeding Farm Walk - John RyanThis week I was out with our new monitor farmer Tom Murphy from near Inistioge in Kilkenny. First thing we do on all visits is to do up a grass walk. As Tom has topless cubicles he makes every effort to get his cows to grass every day possible. He finds it is better for the cow and greatly reduces high SCC and cases of mastitis in the spring. This has been tricky this spring but Tom has a good dry farm and by using on off grazing he has got cows to grass and tried to minimise poaching. All of the heavy covers, 1500 kgs DM/ha received 2500 gal/ac of slurry a month ago and Tom has also got 30 units of Protected urea out on other paddocks. The earliest paddocks grazed have a minimum of 800kgs DM/ha back on them. Tom also has 27 acres of red clover that he can zero graze and bring back to the dairy herd. Another ground inspection is needed to see when this can go ahead. Calving is on the wind down with less than 20 cows to calve.

We will be hosting a Breeding Farm walk as part of the Teagasc breeding week on next Wednesday 27th March in John ryan's farm in Gortnahoe, Co Tipperary. We will start at 11am and have speakers from Teagasc, Teagasc Dairy Beef 500 team, Dovea and Tirlan. All are very welcome to join us

 

8th of March

FarmerCounty Average Farm coverGrowth Rate% calved% grazedMeal kgLitres/ cowFat %Protein %MS/CowSCC
Tom Murphy Kilkenny 1348 23 75 40 4 24.0 5.19 4.01 2.26 125
Donal Kavanagh Wicklow 1154 10 80 25 5.0 23.0 4.39 3.14 1.78 160
Francis Nolan Kilkenny     86   8.0 25.0 4.74 3.10 2.02 88
Jack Kearney Cork 956 17 91 47 4.0 25.6 5.00 3.28 2.18 147
John Ryan Tipperary 1103 31 87 30 5.0 24.5 4.84 3.26 2.04 75
Kevin Murphy Wexford 888 18 72 30 4.0 24.0 5.06 3.39 2.09 54
*Mullen Farm Meath 936 10 75 22 5.5 27.0 4.33 3.47 2.17 96
Shane Fitzgerald Waterford 987 16 70 30 3.0 24.2 4.71 3.44 1.97 92
Shay Ryan Wexford 1269 16 83 25 3.5 24.0 4.70 3.43 2.01 135
Steven Fitzgerald Waterford 900 18 85 40 4.0 24.6 4.80 3.60 2.13 71
Tom Fennelly Laois 752 10 82 47 5.0 21.0 4.63 3.31 1.72 176
* Winter milk           
Average 994 16 81 33 4.7 24.3 4.72 3.34 2.0 109
Average 10th Mar 23 738 15.0 79 50 5 26 4.6 3.5 2.2 107

Farmer review

Out this week with John Ryan in Gortnahoe, Co Tipperary. When we did the grass walk we were surprised how well the ground was holding up after the heavy rain on Monday night. It just goes to show that land needs to walked regularly as there may be an area availble for grazing and to limit too much damage. John has 87% calved and up to Monday had 28% grazed. The multi species reseed from 2023 was the first to be grazed and that had only 350 kgs DM/ha of a cover back on it. Other grass clover paddocks grazed in early February had 500/600 kgs DM/ha grown back. Graze out was variable depending on weather conditions but you could see the advantage to good road access and plenty of gateways in helping out with this. John has slurry out 2000-2500 gal/ac but this is mainly on the silage ground. Some of the milking platform has a mixture of soiled water and slurry spread. John plans to go with 25-30 units/ac of protected urea, ground weather conditions allowing in the next week. John has his first milk recording of 2024 booked in for next Monday. This will give him a look at how the herd's dry cow tube worked and to see if there any individual cow cases are present. At present herd SCC is at 75,000.

23rd of February

FarmerCounty Average Farm coverGrowth Rate% calved% grazedMeal kgLitres/ cowFat %Protein %MS/CowSCC
Tom Murphy Kilkenny 1462 13 53 18 3 20 5.36 4.09 1.95 249
Donal Kavanagh Wicklow 1019 5 60 10 6.0 27 4.15 3.20 2.04 100
Francis Nolan Kilkenny 1500 11 72 2 5.0 27 4.63 3.47 2.25 78
Jack Kearney Cork 990 16 71 20 3.0 22 5.00 3.57 1.94 198
John Ryan Tipperary 970 10 77 18 4.0 24 4.68 3.43 2.00 190
Kevin Murphy Wexford 1122 9 55 8 4.0 20 5.01 3.77 1.81 76
*Mullen Farm Meath 848 4 55 8 5.0 27 4.26 3.51 2.16 150
Shane Fitzgerald Waterford 921 7 55 5 3.0 22 4.73 3.59 1.88 255
Shay Ryan Wexford 1278 12 75 20 3.0 21 4.65 3.73 1.81 165
Steven Fitzgerald Waterford 1056 12 63 10 3.0 18 4.95 3.83 1.63 137
Tom Fennelly Laois 838 11 68 24 3.0 21 5.17 3.75 1.93 164
* Winter milk           
Average 1091 10 64 13 3.8 23 4.78 3.63 1.9 160
Average 27th Feb 23 837 15.0 69 33 4 25 4.9 3.6 2.2 134

Group review

field and bag of feedThe monitor farms have on average 65% calved but witht the difficult grazing weather the % grazed varies from 2 to 20%. All farms are trying to get out to grass. They are using good roadways, plenty of gaps, trying to let cows into paddocks one way and out another and using on off grazing. While I with Jack Kearney cows were let out at 10am, brought back in at 1pm, no access to silage, milked at 3pm, back out to grass for 2/3 hours and in for few kgs silage. This works well when you are restricted with wet weather. Some herds milked OAD for a few weeks as well. We are updating the grass budgets and this weeks growth's have been between 10-13kgsDM/ha. These are higher than we predicted so budgets are adjusted to allow more grass and reduce silage intake. Most of the farms have some slurry applied to lower cover paddocks at 2000 gal/ac. Protected Urea is in the yards waiting for this weekend or next week to spread. Target is to spread 23 units/ac where no slurry has been applied. Soil temperatures have been between 8-9 degrees.

9th of February

FarmerCounty Opening Farm coverWinter Growth RatePre Grazing YieldAverage Closing coverClosing Pre grazing Yield
Tom Murphy Kilkenny 1335 10 2000 711 1100
Donal Kavanagh Wicklow 1019 5 2000 716 1800
Francis Nolan Kilkenny 1500 11 3000 722 2200
Jack Kearney Cork 903 5 1850 695 1700
John Ryan Tipperary 1048 5 1700 592 1300
Kevin Murphy Wexford 1122 9 2000 578 1250
*Mullen Farm Meath 848 4 1300 568 975
Shane Fitzgerald Waterford 921 7 1500 745 1300
Shay Ryan Wexford 1278 12 2400 615 1300
Steven Fitzgerald Waterford 835 8 1700 655 1300
Tom Fennelly Laois 864 4 1800 621 1500
* Winter milk            
             
Average 1061 7 1932 656 1430

grass measuring equiptmentAll opening covers have been completed over the last 2 weeks. Winter growth has varied from 4kgs DM/ha to 12kgs DM/ha. We have completed spring grass budgets for most of the monitor farms and they are all following the spring rotation planner. Those with high opening farm covers will try and get 35-40% grazed in February if weather conditions allow. The high opening covers have allowed a grass budget of just grazed grass and meal which if weather allows will be great for the cows, great for workload reduction for the farmer and a huge saving in silage. After having the group profit monitor meeting on the 12th of January there was a refocus on how important it is to maximise the amount of grazed grass you can get into your cows. It is a huge driver of farm profitability. Grazed grass is good for the cow, the farmer and the environment! 

18th October

Farmer County Litres / Cow Fat % Protein % SCC kg MS/Cow Meal kg Average Farm Cover  Cover /LU Pre Grazing Yield  Demand/Ha Growth Rate/Ha Silage kgs DM
Donal Kavanagh Wicklow 16.0 5.06 4.19 160 1.52 4 638 197 1300 45 33  
Tom Murphy ** Kilkenny 14.2 5.85 4.70 184 1.50 3 844 316 1600 43 36  
Francis Nolan Kilkenny 16.4 5.21 4.23 157 1.61 4 760 321 1500 39 25  
Jack Kearney Cork 15.7 5.51 4.40 140 1.60 4 691 236 1400 44 39 2
John Ryan Tipperary 14.3 5.51 4.31 136 1.45 4 668 143 1500 23 31 9
Kevin Murphy Wexford 17.0 5.39 4.32 119 1.70 8 625 171 1300 33 45 3
*Mullen Farm Meath 22.0 4.72 3.90 175 1.95 4            
Shane Fitzgerald Waterford 15.9 5.28 4.24 73 1.52 3 573 243 1300 17 23 10
Shay Ryan Wexford 17.7 5.03 4.26 111 1.69 4 542 144 1400 41 39 4
Steven Fitzgerald Waterford 16.5 5.13 4.34 90 1.60 3.5 1000 462 1900 33 34  
Tom Fennelly Laois 16.6 5.30 4.32 97 1.65 6 736 580 1600 15 20 3
* Winter milk ** 10 in 7 milkings                  
Average   16.6 5.27 4.29 131 1.62 4.3 708 281 1480 33 33 5
Average 20/10/2023 14.7 5.21 4.09 146 1.40 3.5 734 254 1839 36 37  

October Focus

Teagasc/ Tirlán Future Farm Programme Farm Walk - Kilkenny 30 October 2024 Event Time 11am - 1pm Venue Farm of Tom, James and Chrissie Murphy, Fiddawns, Inistioge, Co. Kilkenny. Eircode: R95 H2N0Farm visits this month have centred on grass and autumn grass budgets. Depending on the farm there has been variation but each farm has done up a budget and has been adjusting it depending on their growth rates. Plans have started to select 1st lactation cows for drying off. Another round of milk recordings have taken place and some herds will do another milk recording in November before the larger number of cows are started to be dried off in batches.

We are holding our final farm walk of 2024 on the Murphy family farm on the 30th of October in Fiddawn, Inistioge, Co Kilkenny. On the day we will discuss the KPI's on milk production, breeding, farm finance and grass performance. There will also be speakers on soil fertility, value of slurry on this farm  & N surplus and what it is plus water quality and what is the water EIP about & how can farmers apply. Tirlan will speak on their Milk Solids Tracker and its benefits. We will start at 11am and all are very welcome. Eircode is R95 H2N0 (zero)

1st November

Farmer County Litres / Cow Fat % Protein % SCC kg MS/Cow Meal kg Average Farm Cover  Cover /LU Pre Grazing Yield  Demand/Ha Growth Rate/Ha Silage kgs DM/ha
Donal Kavanagh Wicklow 16.6 5.03 4.07 127 1.66 6 500 150 1200 47 20 6.0
Tom Murphy ** Kilkenny 14.8 5.83 4.82 149 1.62 4 750 281 1500 40 34 0.0
Francis Nolan Kilkenny 15.9 5.27 4.49 127 1.60 5            
Jack Kearney Cork 14.7 5.51 4.31 90 1.49 4 627 215 1400 30 20 7.0
John Ryan Tipperary 14.0 5.62 4.26 203 1.41 4 631 143 1300 22 33 10.0
Kevin Murphy Wexford 15.7 5.32 4.29 76 1.55 8           3.0
*Mullen Farm Meath 22.0 4.76 3.87 124 1.96 5           6.8
Shane Fitzgerald Waterford 14.4 5.36 4.17 94 1.37 3 716 403 1400 17 26 3.0
Shay Ryan Wexford 15.8 5.20 4.21 113 1.53 5 605 161 1200 34 37 6.0
Steven Fitzgerald Waterford 16.0 5.71 4.66 110 1.70 4 980 450 2000 35 24 0.0
Tom Fennelly Laois 15.6 5.28 4.32 128 1.54 6 749 429 1500 10 17 6.0
* Winter milk **10 in 7 milkings                  
Average   16.0 5.35 4.32 122 1.58 4.9 695 279 1438 29 26 6
Average 10/11/2023 13 5.20 4.01 151 1.26 3.9 647 218 1619 13 13  

Farmer Focus

Farmer speaking at a farm walkLast week we held the last of our farm walks for 2024 on the Murphy family farm outside of Inistioge Co Kilkenny. A large farmer audience got to hear of how this 1st year has been for the farm in the Teagasc Tirlan Future Farm programme. Last year the cows achieved 532kgs MS and this year is on track to do similar as discussed by Bryan Harte, Tirlan via the new milk solids tracker. The financials of the farm were discussed including prospects for 2024/2025. The breeding of their herd was analysised including how the predicted Fat & Protein potential of the herd with an average of 2.9 lactations is already being achived on the farm, 4.83% fat & 4.01% protein. Farmers learnt about the new water EIP & how they can apply for funding on over 43 different measures to help improve water quality on the farm. A new KPI was discussed called Nitrogen surplus, also known as N balance. The lower this figure is on farm shows that more N inputs are used on farm and not lost to the water or gaseous emissions. The less N lost the higher productivity and profitability on the farm. Farmers can access their N balance figure via AgNav from all Teagasc Signpost advisors and this is a free service available to all farmers.

22nd November

Farmer County Litres / Cow Fat % Protein % SCC kg MS/Cow Meal kg Average Farm Cover  Cover /LU Housed or still out?
Donal Kavanagh Wicklow 17.5 5.11 3.98 150 1.64 7 547 169 Cows housed
Tom Murphy Kilkenny 10.5 6.19 4.71 180 1.18 4     All housed
Francis Nolan Kilkenny 12.5 5.25 4.22 159 1.22 5     All housed
Jack Kearney Cork 10.0 5.50 4.27 170 1.01 3     OAD All housed
John Ryan Tipperary 11.0 5.47 4.36 231 1.11 3.5     All housed
Kevin Murphy Wexford 12.5 5.57 4.14 99 1.25 8 667   Housed 22nd Nov
*Mullen Farm Meath 21.0 4.60 3.77 129 1.81 6 650   All housed
Shane Fitzgerald Waterford 13.0 5.69 4.25 82 1.33 3     Cows housed
Shay Ryan Wexford 14.7 5.20 4.10 138 1.41 5     All housed
Steven Fitzgerald Waterford 14.0 5.47 4.47 102 1.40 4.5 700   Out till 25th Nov
Tom Fennelly Laois 12.5 5.63 4.25 135 1.30 5 867 497 Finished 25th Nov
* Winter milk              
Average   13.6 5.43 4.23 143 1.33 4.9 686 333  
Average 24/11/2023 12 5.32 4.13 152 1.18 3.4 661 270  

Group Overview

investigating soil health, worm in soilMain activity over the last week or two has been the housing of livestock. The weather the last 2 months have meant extended grazing for most of the monitor farms. This has made substantial savings on silage stocks. Heifers have been dried off, most have been given a 12 week dry off period and cows have received a 10 week dry period. The cull cows have either been sold off farm already or are being milked until mid to late December and then being sold.

Over the last few weeks we have taken the opportunity to investigate soil health on the farms. We have dug soil profiles in many different sites including, best clover fields. multi species, poached areas from the springtime and paddocks that have or not been reseeded. This has allowed us to examine the soil structure in these fields and to advise on over the winter remedies to help improve damaged soil structure. If gaps into paddocks are poached a moving of that access point to allow no further heavy damage to take place. Farmyard manure is spread in areas now to allow worm activity to break up over the winter months.