Dairy
Opportunity for greater flexibility on dairy farms
Completing the evening milking earlier is good for the farmer and helps recruit and retain employees, Martina Gormley, Teagasc Dairy Specialist, tells us more.
10 June 2023
Let's Talk Dairy - advisor's update from the grass roots
On this episode of Let's Talk Dairy, John Douglas, Teagasc Grass10 Advisor, is joined by Lorcan Dooley, Teagasc Dairy Advisor, based in Portlaoise, Co. Laois to discuss where the focus should be on dairy farms for June.
09 June 2023
Get snapping - 'This is Dairying' photo competition launched
The ‘This is Dairying’ competition, in conjunction with the Teagasc Moorepark Dairy Open Day, will run throughout June 2023. The idea behind the competition is to give people the opportunity to show what they love about dairy farming.
08 June 2023
Moorepark ’23: Meeting challenges to secure a sustainable future
The Irish dairy industry has undergone a transformational change since the removal of the EU milk quota in 2015. Since the Irish dairy industry began to prepare for EU milk quota removal, milk solids output has increased by over 96%.
07 June 2023
How to produce high Commercial Beef Value calves
On many dairy farms, the decision of what beef bull to use on cows is often based on having a very low calving difficulty, along with having as short a gestation as possible.
07 June 2023
Benefits of having a relief milker this summer
It is common for dairy farmers to employ someone to just complete a number of milkings each week. In this article, Teagasc Dairy Specialist Martina Gormley outlines the benefits this can bring.
06 June 2023
Dairy market outlook for the second half of 2023
On this episode of Let's Talk Dairy, Teagasc Dairy Specialist James Dunne was joined by Liam McCabe, Bord Bia's Dairy Sector Manager, to give an insight into the dairy market outlook for the second half of 2023.
04 June 2023
Examine costs early to make better financial decisions
Patrick Gowing, Teagasc Dairy Specialist, points the way to the use of the Teagasc eProfit Monitor Forward Planner as a tool to make better financial decisions for the remainder of the year.
29 May 2023
Actions to improve milk protein percentage in May and June
John McCabe, Teagasc/Aurivo Joint Programme Advisor, looks at the factors affecting and the steps to take to improve milk protein percentage in May and June.
28 May 2023
The story so far for the Tipperary Calf to Beef Demo Farm
The Tipperary Calf to Beef Demonstration Farm – trading as Ballyvadin Beef Farm Ltd. – was established by Teagasc, in conjunction with Dawn Meats and Shinagh Estates Ltd., to demonstrate the best technologies for profitable and sustainable production of beef calves from the dairy herd.
27 May 2023
How to stay in control of somatic cell count during the mid-lactation period
Don Crowley, Milk Quality Specialist at Teagasc, is on this week’s Dairy Edge podcast to discuss how to stay in control of somatic cell count (SCC) during the mid-lactation period.
26 May 2023
A win for grazing and a win for winter feed
Looking back to two weeks ago, conditions were closer to winter than they were summer. But the past week of sunshine has brought a well needed break from the thundery showers and heavy rainfall experienced across the country during March and April.
22 May 2023
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 cows, equipment, and people.
20 May 2023
Improving cow flow for efficient milking
Labour studies undertaken by Teagasc have shown that milking represents up to one third of a dairy farmer’s daily workload.
18 May 2023
Safety during silage season
Francis Bligh & John McNamara, Teagasc Health & Safety Specialists, highlight what you should keep in mind this silage season to ensure safety on farm
17 May 2023
Delaying silage cutting date will have a negative effect on quality and quantity
James Dunne, Teagasc Dairy Specialist, outlines the reasons why you should avoid delaying silage harvesting and looks at the quality of silage needed on dairy farms this year.
15 May 2023
Best Practice in Milking Courses start this week
The first of a number of Best Practice in Milking Courses gets underway this week. Developed in conjunction with Teagasc, Animal Health Ireland, and FRS Network, participants will develop their skills as a milker to ensure all cows are milked effectively and efficiently.
15 May 2023
Top five tips for May and the correct paddock size
Joe Patton, Head of Dairy Knowledge Transfer Teagasc, gives his top five tips for May and offers advice on moving to 24-hour grazing blocks.
14 May 2023
Let's Talk Dairy - achieving grazing success through the Heavy Soils Programme
On this episode of Let's Talk Dairy, host James Dunne, Teagasc Dairy Specialist, is joined by Pat Tuohy, Teagasc, to give an insight into the Teagasc Heavy Soils Programme - Achieving Grazing Success.
13 May 2023
How to minimise nitrate loss in farming to help improve water quality
On this week’s episode of the Dairy Edge, Edward Burgess, Agricultural Catchments Specialist, talks about minimising nitrate loss in farming to help improve water quality.
12 May 2023
Taking the opportunity to reseed on Teagasc/Tirlán Future farms
Sandra Hayes, co-ordinator of the Teagasc/Tirlán Future Farm Programme, outlines the progress farmers are making with grazing and reseeding in the most recent Teagasc/Tirlan Future Farm Update.
09 May 2023
Early intervention key with problem cows
Submitting cows for service is an important aspect of the breeding season, with a target of 90% submitted in the first three weeks. In this article, Teagasc Dairy Specialist Stuart Childs explains why now is the time for managing problem cows on your farm to maximise this target.
08 May 2023
Completing a simple winter feed budget for a dairy herd
Silage accounts for at least 25% of the annual feed budget for the average spring-calving dairy herd. This will be greater on farms operating high grazing stocking rates or on heavy soils.
08 May 2023
Improved pregnancy rates from sexed semen
Carried out over a five-year period, the most comprehensive analysis of the performance of sexed semen in a commercial field setting ever undertaken has shown improvements in the pregnancy rates being achieved.
07 May 2023
Setting the sights on milking quality silage in Co. Mayo
Donal Ronayne is in his third year of milk production, milking a herd of 194 spring-calving cows in south Mayo.
06 May 2023
Managing late-calving cows to shorten calving interval
The management of late calvers is something that needs to be given some thought in order to avoid them calving late again or not at all. The bulk of herds will commence breeding in late April / early May, there will be a number of herds that will commence breeding earlier.
02 May 2023
Let's Talk Dairy - Advisor's update from the grassroots
On this episode of Let's Talk Dairy host James Dunne, Teagasc Dairy Specialist, is joined by Seamus Nolan, Teagasc Advisor based in the Roscommon/Longford Advisory Region, to give an update from the grass roots.
02 May 2023
Managing the dairy herd for a successful breeding season
With the dairy breeding season currently in full swing on most Irish dairy farms, Kevin O'Hara, Teagasc Ballinrobe, looks at some of the key targets farmers need to achieve over the coming weeks.
01 May 2023
Accelerating genetic gain in the dairy herd
The calving season in the dairy herd is coming to an end and the breeding season is fast approaching. In this article, Séamus Nolan, Dairy Advisor in Teagasc Castlerea, outlines technologies farmers can use to accelerate the genetic gain in their dairy herd.
28 April 2023
Caution urged as ‘small number of local clusters’ of BVD identified
Caution has been urged as the Bovine Viral Diarrhoea (BVD) eradication programme approaches a particularly critical juncture.
26 April 2023