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National Dairy Conference 2024

'Robust dairy farming for future challenges’

Wednesday, 27th November | 9am
Limerick Racecourse, Patrickswell, Co. Limerick. Eircode: V94 k858

Dairy Conference 2024 Proceedings

Dairy Conference 2024 Opening Remarks
Professor Frank OMara, Director of Teagasc

Session 1:

Achieving grazing system objectives in real-world conditions    

Session 2:

Nutrient use on dairy farms – improving margins at lower environmental impact

Session 3 - Workshops

  1. Trends in TB, reducing risk for dairy herds 
    Key speakers: Damien Barrett, DAFM, Niamh Field, Teagasc Moorepark; Derek O'Donoghue, Principal Salesian College, Pallaskenry
    Presentation: Trends in TB, reducing risk for dairy herds (pdf)
  1. Meeting herd feed requirements this winter and next spring
    Key Speaker: Aisling Claffey, Nutritionist in Teagasc; James Dunne, Teagasc Specialist; Kevin Stagg, dairy advisor Kerry/Limerick region
    Presentation: Meeting Herd Feed Requirements This Winter and Next Spring (pdf)
  1. Clover 150 - Lessons learned from 2024
    Michael Egan, Teagasc Moorepark, Joseph Dunphy, Grass10; Robert & Denis O’Dea, dairy farmers, Limerick
    Presentation: CLOVER 150 – Lessons Learned From 2024 (pdf)
  1. Controlling dairy production costs in 2025
    Key Speakers: Patrick Gowing, Teagasc; Nora O’Donovan, Teagasc Dairygold joint programme; Jerome & Brian Desmond, dairy farmers, Cork
    Presentation: Controlling dairy production costs in 2025 (pdf)

  2. Successful Use of Sexed Semen in Irish Dairy Herds
    Key Speaker:  Stephen Butler, Teagasc Moorepark; Stuart Childs, Teagasc Specialist; John McCarthy, Teagasc dairy advisor Kerry/Limerick region.
    Presentation: Successful use of sexed semen in Irish dairy herds (pdf)
  1. Managing young calves for better health outcomes
    Key speaker: Ian Hogan, DAFM veterinary laboratories; Emer Kennedy, Teagasc Moorepark; Deirbhile Browne, Teagasc dairy advisor Kerry/Limerick region.
    Presentation: Managing young calves for better health outcomes (pdf)

Workshop 1 - Trends in TB, reducing risk for dairy herds

Speakers: Damien Barrett, DAFM, Niamh Field, Teagasc  Moorepark, Derek O’Donoghue, Principal Salesian College, Pallaskenry

Herd TB incidence rates are increasing, from 3.72% in 2019 to 5.17% in 2024, resulting in 5280 affected herds nationally (Q2-2024). Data also shows dairy herds to be at greater risk of breakdown.

This workshop will discuss in detail how to reduce risk of introducing infection, and will offer insight and advice on managing the herd in the event of TB outbreak. The main points to be covered are:

  • What are the main sources of infection for TB-infected herds?
  • Understanding the TB skin test and the role of supplementary blood testing in managing breakdowns
  • Residual infection in the herd - is it a significant issue for dairy farmers?
  • How to improve biosecurity and reduce risk of transmission of TB from environment and wildlife to the herd

The workshop will feature a case study of a TB breakdown from the Salesian College Herd Pallaskenry. This will bring a real-world example of the impact and management of a prolonged TB breakdown

Workshop 2 - Meeting herd feed requirements this winter and next spring

Speaker: Aisling Claffey, Nutritionist Teagasc; James Dunne, Teagasc Specialist, Kevin Stagg, dairy advisor Kerry/Limerick region  

This workshop will discuss the requirements of the dairy cow in early lactation, with a particular focus on the energy density of the diet and dry matter intake to support milk production. We will examine the importance of forage quality and supplementary feed options, and the relative value of these in meeting potential feed deficits during the coming winter and spring period. We will also address the challenges of feeding the dairy cow in early lactation, during short term periods of adverse weather or poor grass growth, and the knock on consequences of this.

Our aim is that you will leave this workshop understanding:

  • The nutritional requirements of the spring calving cow in order to optimise herd performance.
  • The role grazed grass plays in the diet, with a renewed focus to achieve at least one grazing per day in early lactation.
  • How the requirements of the cow can be met when access to grass is impeded in the short term due to adverse weather conditions.

Workshop 3 - Clover 150 - Lessons learned from 2024

Speakers:  Michael Egan, Teagasc Moorepark, Joseph Dunphy Grass 10 & Robert & Denis O’Dea, Dairy Farmers, Limerick

Legumes, particularly white clover have the potential to play a significant role in offsetting the reduction in N fertiliser use on Irish farms while helping to maintain adequate pasture production at farm level. 2024 has been a very challenging year weather wise with poor growing conditions & many farmers are disappointed with pasture growth (T DM/Ha) on their farms. Clover swards has been particularly affected with cooler soil & air temperatures affecting stolon proportion which delayed clover contributions in the sward until late summer on many farms.

In this session, Joseph Dunphy, Grass10 will be joined Michael Egan, Teagasc Moorepark & dairy farmers Robert & Denis O’Dea from Co. Limerick. The topics for discussion in this workshop will be-:

  • Reviewing the pasture grown & nutrient usage on clover150 farms over the last 5 years and lessons learned in the process
  • Managing the year to year fluctuations in clover contents & selecting appropriate fertiliser strategies
  • Checklist for setting your farm up for high clover contents in 2025

Workshop 4 - Controlling dairy production costs in 2025

Speakers:  Patrick Gowing, Teagasc, Nora O’Donovan, Teagasc Dairygold Programme & Jerome & Brian Desmond, Dairy Farmers, Cork

Controlling the cost of production has always been a vital tool in improving farm profitability. Since 2018, we have seen a significant increase in the cost of production on Irish dairy farms, generally driven by high input prices, particularly in 2022. This was generally matched by increases in milk prices. However, from 2021 to 2024, we have seen massive variability in milk prices while costs have remained high. It is essential to refocus on our costs to get control of our financial business.

This workshop will feature Patrick Gowing, Teagasc Dairy specialist, on trends in costs and showcase a new tool for Teagasc E-profit monitor users to identify areas where your costs may be higher than they need to be. Patrick will be joined by Nora O'Donavan, Teagasc/ Dairygold programme coordinator, and Jerome and Brian Desmond of Ovens, Co. Cork, to showcase how they use this new tool to control costs.

This workshop will demonstrate:

  • Trends in farm costs
  • High and low margin farms
  • New cost control tool for E- profit monitor

Workshop 5 - Successful Use of Sexed Semen in Irish Dairy Herds

Speakers:  Stephen Butler, Teagasc Research and Stuart Childs, Teagasc Specialist; John McCarthy, Teagasc dairy advisor Kerry/Limerick region.

Dairy sexed semen facilitates targeted breeding of the highest genetic merit females within the herd to produce replacements with increased milk solids production potential delivered with a lower carbon footprint. Similarly, the use of dairy sexed semen can eliminate the production of low value dairy bull calves which are a source of animal welfare concerns. With less dairy straws required to generate the heifer replacements, more females can be bred to high Dairy Beef Index (DBI) sires. This alters the calf crop significantly from one dominated by dairy x dairy breed animals to one that is approximately 70% dairy beef origin.

In this workshop, Professor Stephen Butler will outline the best and most cost effective strategies to employ to integrate sexed semen into dairy breeding for your farm to achieve high conception rates when using sexed semen.

The integration of sexed semen into dairy breeding on Irish dairy farms is important to

  • Deliver rapid genetic gain which in turn will deliver better financial returns
  • Assist with emissions reduction and
  • Address concerns relating to calf welfare

Workshop 6 - Managing young calves for better health outcomes

Speakers:  Ian Hogan, DAFM veterinary laboratories, Emer Kennedy, Teagasc Moorepark; Deirbhile Browne Teagasc dairy advisor Kerry/Limerick region.  

Calf scour is one of the most time consuming and stressful challenges that is commonly occurring each spring on dairy farms. Calf scour also adds costs to the business. Identifying the causes of the scour on your farm is the first step towards managing this challenge.

This workshop features Ian Hogan Research Officer, Limerick Regional Veterinary Laboratory, Department of Agriculture, Food, and the Marine; Emer Kennedy & Deirbhile Browne, Teagasc.

Our aim is that you will leave this workshop understanding:

  • Assessing & controlling calf scour
  • How to increase calf immunity
  • Risk factors for summer scour syndrome