Dairy

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

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

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

Implications of revised nitrates measures on the land market

The SCSI/Teagasc Annual Agricultural Land Market Review & Outlook 2023, published today, April 25th, examined the impact changes to environmental policies – specifically the Nitrates Action Programme – will have on the land market.
25 April 2023

Synchronisation programmes for replacement heifers

With the breeding season having commenced on many dairy farms, the use of synchronisation programmes for replacement heifers may be one avenue by which the workload involved with breeding is reduced.
24 April 2023

Let's Talk Dairy - matching stocking rate to grass grown

On this episode of Let's Talk Dairy, Patrick Gowing, Teagasc Dairy Specialist, was joined by Eugene Lawler, dairy farmer, to discuss matching stocking rate to grass grown.
24 April 2023

Teagasc Signpost Advisory Programme open to participants

Most of the actions you are being asked to implement to reduce emissions will also reduce costs, improve animal performance and increase farm profitability. It’s a win-win for your farm.
20 April 2023

Making the rest of 2023 a success with grass and breeding

Spring 2023 started like a dream, with slurry, fertiliser and cows out in February and early March. However, since about the 10th March, record breaking rainfall has created a lot of extra work, increased costs and reduced production on all farms - especially heavy farms.
17 April 2023

Let's Talk Dairy - Breeding beef from the dairy herd

On this episode of Let's Talk Dairy which took place on Thursday, 6th April, host James Dunne, Teagasc Dairy Specialist was joined by Ruth Fennell, Teagasc Dairy Advisor to discuss breeding beef from the dairy herd.
17 April 2023

Strategies to reduce lameness on your farm

Lameness is a painful disease that results in suffering for dairy cows, and damages the sustainable and welfare-friendly image of Irish agriculture. Lameness also has negative financial implications due to reduced milk yield and fertility rates, and increased culling and treatment costs.
17 April 2023

Feeding for fertility this breeding season

This spring was a game of two halves, in terms of herd feeding management. The good weather in February saw cows out to grass and intakes were good overall.
16 April 2023

Rebuilding of fodder stocks a priority

A challenging March has caused issues for dairy, drystock and tillage farmers, attendees heard at yesterday’s meeting of the Fertiliser Sub-group of the National Food and Fodder Security Committee in Teagasc Oak Park, Co. Carlow.
14 April 2023

Playing a crucial role in the environmental and economic success of dairy, beef and sheep

Genetics is an essential field to the future of the farming industry in Ireland. With new environmental targets being set nationwide, predicting animal characteristics may prove instrumental.
14 April 2023