Dairy
Achieving success with red clover and multispecies pastures
Farming in Mitchelstown, Co. Cork, Teagasc Signpost demonstration farmer Sean Moher is having success with red clover and multispecies swards. In this update, he discusses the management on his farm given the recent upturn in grass growth rates and how such swards are performing.
07 August 2024
Interactive grass silage stock checker available
An interactive grass silage stock checker is available on the Teagasc website to aid farmers in the completion of a fodder budget for the upcoming winter.
06 August 2024
Act Now to Assess Winter Feed Demand and Plan for the Winter Ahead
Guidelines for assessing and planning winter feed requirements for livestock, including calculating fodder needs and managing fertiliser allowances.
06 August 2024
Less work, better welfare: the benefits of upgrading your calf rearing facilities
James Dunne and Anthony Mulligan discuss the importance of reviewing and upgrading calf rearing facilities to improve efficiency and reduce labor demands during peak seasons on dairy farms.
06 August 2024
Assessing winter feed stocks - what are the priority actions?
For this week’s Dairy Edge podcast, James Dunne is joined by Dr Joe Patton, Head of Teagasc Dairy KT, to discuss the recent fodder survey and what options farmers should consider.
30 July 2024
How can the accuracy of fertiliser application be improved?
Setup and calibration of fertiliser spreaders is very important to ensure even distribution of fertilisers when spreading. This involves adjusting the spreader settings to achieve accurate application rates and uniform coverage.
30 July 2024
Now is the time for lime
Stuart Childs highlights the importance of spreading lime to optimize soil pH and improve fertiliser response for increased grass production and reduced fodder costs, alongside guidelines for nitrogen application before the closed season.
29 July 2024
Learnings from 2024 - have you enough high quality silage?
A delayed turnout on many farms over the course of spring 2024 has reaffirmed the requirement of having adequate stocks of high quality silage available to support cows during early lactation when grazing isn’t possible. But how much is required?
29 July 2024
Sexed semen accounted for over 20% of dairy AI serves in 2024
The use of sexed semen has significantly increased on dairy herds over recent years, visitors to the Ballyhaise’24 – Dairy Open Day heard, with such serves accounting for over 20% of dairy AI in 2024.
28 July 2024
Signpost Series: Calf welfare and TAMS supports
On this episode of the Signpost Series, host Mark Gibson, Teagasc Head of Outreach and Innovation, was joined by Stephanie Ronan and Dr Robert Leonard, Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM), to discuss calf welfare and TAMS supports.
27 July 2024
Futureproofing Irish dairy systems at Ballyhaise
Ballyhaise Farm hosted a major open day on July 24, where the latest technologies available to Irish farmers to futureproof dairy systems were shared.
26 July 2024
Signpost Farmer update: Alex and Michael McCarthy
Dairy farming in Feenagh, Co. Limerick, Signpost Programme participants Alex and Michael McCarthy tell us of the happenings on their farm over the month of July, where the focus centred on finishing the breeding season, grassland management, fertiliser applications and calf health.
25 July 2024
69% drop in Dairy Family Farm Income in 2023
Representative of over 15,000 dairy farms nationally, the Teagasc National Farm Survey (NFS) 2023 has shown that the average Family Farm Income on dairy farms last year was €49,432 – a decline of 69% or in excess of €105,000 on year previous levels.
23 July 2024
Transitioning to low chemical N input clover swards at Ballyhaise
In advance of this week’s Ballyhaise Open Day, taking place on Wednesday, July 24 from 10am, the project team summarise the current trial on clover grazing systems, share early results and look at the implications this research may hold.
22 July 2024
Better Farming for Water
Cathal Somers, Teagasc Water Quality Specialist, and Deirdre Glynn, Teagasc ASSAP Advisor in Kilkenny, and hosts of the Environment Edge podcast, join Stuart Childs on this week’s Dairy Edge to discuss the recently launched Teagasc campaign for water quality, Better Farming for Water.
22 July 2024
A place for white clover in the ‘BMW’ region?
After developing and sharing blueprints for profitable grazing dairy systems in the Border, Midlands and West (BMW) region, the attention at Ballyhaise Farm turned to white clover in 2020.
21 July 2024
Farmers reminded to use slurry additives with a ‘solid scientific backing’
Slurry additives can help reduce emissions, but farmers attending the Farming for a Better Future Open Day at Teagasc Johnstown Castle were told to only use slurry additives with a solid scientific backing.
19 July 2024
Fence water courses to prevent cattle access
Fencing off watercourses to prevent cattle access is recognised as one of the ‘8-Actions for Change’ within the Teagasc Better Farming for Water Campaign, and visitors to the recent Farming for a Better Future Open Day, held in Teagasc Johnstown Castle, heard of the benefits it can bring.
18 July 2024
Best practices to protect your herd against TB
Roisin Scully, KT Masters Student, Teagasc Ballinrobe, shares key areas to manage within your farm gate to reduce the incidence of TB.
17 July 2024
Focus turns to fodder budgeting on Teagasc/Tirlán Future Farms
Following a June blighted by variable grass growth rates, July brought about some recovery in grass growth rates on farms enrolled in the Teagasc/Tirlán Future Farm Programme. Now the attention at farm level is turning to fodder budgeting, to ensure sufficient winter feed stocks are available.
15 July 2024
Transitioning to low chemical nitrogen perennial ryegrass white clover swards
Maintaining farm productivity and profitability is always top of a farmer’s agenda but doing that in a reducing chemical nitrogen environment is challenging and requires the successful incorporation of clover within our grazed pastures.
15 July 2024
The importance of changing teat liners
The milking machine is the most important machine on a dairy farm and its maintenance is vital for safe and efficient milking. As part of this maintenance, the teat liners need to be changed regularly, Padraig O’Connor tells us more.
15 July 2024
Livestock an important part of our overall food system – Teagasc Director
The benefits of livestock inclusion in the overall food system were outlined by Professor Frank O Mara, Director of Teagasc, on the recent Signpost Series webinar titled: ‘Cultivating a sustainable future for Irish agriculture’.
15 July 2024
Calf health and welfare research funding announced
Announced as part of the 2023 DAFM Thematic Research Call, funding has been provided to WELCalf – a research project with the overall objective of improving the health and welfare of calves born on dairy farms.
14 July 2024
Top five tips for dairy farmers this July
Joe Patton, Head of Dairy Knowledge Transfer, gives his top five tips for dairy farmers this July.
13 July 2024
Solohead aims to develop low emissions blueprint for fragmented dairy farms
Solohead has garnered huge farmer interest in recent years. Implementing a zero nitrogen input strategy on grass-clover swards, Teagasc researchers have shown that the carbon and ammonia footprints of milk production can be lowered substantially (25%) without impacting on economic competitiveness.
13 July 2024
Grazing update from Ballyvadin Research Farm
Joseph Dunphy discusses managing grass quality during July and he has a grazing update from Jack Spillane, farm manager in Ballyvadin Research Farm, Co. Tipperary.
11 July 2024
First open day at Tipperary Dairy Calf to Beef Demonstration Farm
Demonstrating the best technologies for profitable and sustainable production of beef calves from the dairy herd, the Tipperary Dairy Calf to Beef Demonstration Farm opened its gates, today, July 10, to all farmers to visit and see the progress that has been made since its establishment.
10 July 2024
Book straw supply as soon as possible
Shay Phelan, Crops Specialist at Teagasc, provided the reconvened meeting of the National Fodder and Food Security Committee on July 8 with a tillage update, where he shared key details on crop performance, potential yields and straw availability.
10 July 2024
Budget and take action to secure fodder stocks
The results and key advisory messages arising from the Teagasc June Fodder Survey were presented to the National Fodder and Food Security Committee (NFFSC) on Monday, July 8.
09 July 2024