Dairy
Organic dairy production
There is currently strong market demand for organic milk. Joe Kelleher and Elaine Leavy, Teagasc Specialists, discuss how organic dairy production can be profitable. They suggest that good clover sward content and soil fertility are key to maintaining a higher stocking rate.
17 September 2021
Calf housing on commercial farms in Ireland
Dairy expansion with increased herd sizes, results in more calves being born on Irish dairy farms. Fit for purpose calf rearing facilities with appropriate ventilation and space allowance are linked to improved calf health and welfare. Alison Sinnott & Emer Kennedy, Teagasc Moorepark researched this
17 September 2021
Milk quality research focusing on chlorine related residues
The use of chlorine-based detergents are very effective in maintaining hygiene of the milking machine and bulk talk. Residues, however, could potentially impact on milk powder as an ingredient for infant formula. Bernie O’Brien & David Gleeson, Teagasc, Moorepark discuss their research in this area
17 September 2021
Moorepark21 - Watch it back online
If you couldn't attend the Teagasc Dairy Open Day, Moorepark21, you can view the welcome board and the four main boards here on Teagasc Daily
17 September 2021
Improving the beef merit of dairy calves coming from the dairy herd
It is now possible to almost eliminate low value male dairy calves by using just enough sexed semen to generate the required number of replacement dairy heifers. That’s the message to Dairy farmers visiting the final of three Teagasc Dairy Open Days in Moorepark today.
16 September 2021
Teagasc Research on methane emissions in grazing dairy systems
Farmers visiting the Teagasc Dairy Open Day in Moorepark will see the latest work being carried out in Teagasc on ways to reduce methane emissions. Teagasc Researchers Ben Lahart, Katie Starsmore, Jonathan Herron, Frank Buckley & Laurence Shalloo outline how the GreenFeed units work.
16 September 2021
Making your milking process more labour and energy efficient
On the third and final day from the Moorepark Open Day, this week’s Dairy Edge speaks to John Upton, Ryan Prendergast and Fergal Buckley from Teagasc to discuss the milking and energy use efficiency of herringbone and rotary parlours.
16 September 2021
Dairy farm infrastructure for sustainable milk production
In recent years Teagasc has invested in research programmes aimed at identifying efficient farm infrastructure systems that will promote sustainable milk production. Patrick Tuohy & John Upton Teagasc, Animal & Grassland Research and Innovation Centre, Moorepark discuss these here
16 September 2021
How is dairy cow welfare research addressing current dairy industry challenges?
Muireann Conneely and Niamh Field, Researchers at Teagasc, Animal & Grassland Research and Innovation Centre, Moorepark, address the question - How is the dairy cow welfare research program addressing the significant challenges that are facing the dairy industry at present?
15 September 2021
Winners announced of Teagasc Dairy Photo competition
An exciting photo competition was run in the lead up to the 2021 Teagasc Moorepark Open Day, inviting entrants to upload a photo illustrating what they love about Irish dairying in order to show the many reasons why dairy farming is an attractive career.
15 September 2021
How will the new Nitrates policy impact your farm business?
On Day 2 of Moorepark Open Day, Jack Nolan, Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine joins Emma-Louise Coffey on the Dairy Edge to explain the measures proposed for the new Nitrates Derogation and challenges for farmers and industry as to how they can minimise negative environmental impacts
15 September 2021
Grass10 Newsletter - 14th September 2021
Get the latest from the Grass10 team including; PastureBase data & Elodie Ruelle’s MoSt Grass Growth Prediction Model; Grass10 Grazing tips; building soil Potassium (K) with Mark Plunkett, Teagasc Johnstown Castle, David O Leary's upcoming GFOY farm walk, farmer updates- David Gannon & JP Hammersley
15 September 2021
Reducing chemical nitrogen use on dairy farms
Dairy farmers visiting the Teagasc Dairy Open Day, yesterday and today in Moorepark, with the final day on Thursday 16th September, will hear from Teagasc researchers and advisers about the Five key practices which can be used to reduce N fertiliser use on all farms
15 September 2021
Teagasc Moorepark Dairy day focuses on Environmental Sustainability
The first day of the Teagasc Moorepark Open Day took place on Tuesday, 14 September. The Open Day will be repeated on Wednesday and Thursday, so farmers can visit on any of the three days of the event. The theme of the Open Day is ‘Delivering Sustainability’.
14 September 2021
Increasing biodiversity on intensive farms
Wildlife habitats such as hedgerows, field margins, ponds, wetlands, and woodlands, commonly occur on Irish farms. The retention of existing habitats is vitally important, as they typically deliver greater ecological benefits compared with newly created habitats.
14 September 2021
Reducing the use of antibiotics on dairy farms
There is growing interest in the potential to use selective dry cow therapy (SDCT) in low SCC cows i.e. cows with SCC less than 200,000 cells/mL, to reduce antibiotic use at dry-off. Researchers Pablo Silva Boloña, Clare Clabby and Sinead McParland give some relevant information from a recent study
14 September 2021
The role of reproductive technologies in maximising your herd’s potential
Stephen Butler joins Emma-Louise Coffey on this week’s Dairy Edge podcast with an insight into the Sexed Technologies lab that will be established in Moorepark later this year to provide a semen sorting service open to all AI companies. This offers the potential for a greater number and elite bulls
14 September 2021
Grazing management to increase N use efficiency on Irish dairy farms
Nitrogen use efficiency (NUE;%) is a key indicator of agricultural system efficiency. It is defined as the proportion of the total N inputs, in feed, fertiliser, organic manures etc. that are recovered in milk & meat exports from the farm.
14 September 2021
PastureBase Ireland adds new functionality to benefit all grassland farms
Farmers attending the Teagasc Moorepark '21 dairy open day on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday this week will hear about the increased functionality in PastureBase Ireland (PBI). PastureBase Ireland is the national grassland database and provides daily updates on grass growth across the country
13 September 2021
Use COW rather than milk yield to cull cows
Milk yield alone is not a reliable measure to use when selecting cows for culling from a dairy herd. The culling tool, Cows Own Worth (COW), is a much more reliable means of identifying suitable cows for culling. George Ramsbottom, Teagasc Dairy Specialist talks about the ICBF generated tool here
13 September 2021
Irish Dairying - Delivering Sustainability
Exports of Irish dairy products and ingredients have increased from an average of €1.8 billion for the years 2007-2009 to over €5.2 billion in 2020. The expansion of the Irish dairy industry has contributed greatly to improve economic prosperity in rural Ireland. Pat Dillon Moorepark tells more
13 September 2021
Let's Talk Dairy Webinar - Replacement Management
On this episode of Let's Talk Dairy, which took place on Thursday, 9th September, Stuart Childs, Teagasc Dairy Specialist discusses keeping replacement heifers on target this Autumn.
13 September 2021
Making dairy farms a more attractive place to work
Many farmers are excellent employers offering decent employment opportunities with flexible working conditions for a fair wage. Marion Beecher, Beth Dooley and Abigail Ryan have information and advice on making dairy farms a more attractive place to work
12 September 2021
'Developing Rural Ireland' - A History of the Irish Agricultural Advisory Services - Official Launch
Developing Rural Ireland is a history of the Irish agricultural advisory services. The book written by Dr. Mícheál Ó Fathartaigh documents the important role of the advisory services in rural Ireland from the early 1900s to the current day. Watch the official launch of the book here
12 September 2021
Today's Farm - September/October 2021
The September/October edition of our bi-monthly magazine is now available online. The main focus of this edition is on Teagasc Moorepark research. It also has articles on autumn weed control in cereals; succession planning; finishing cattle earlier; Connemara/
Mayo Blackface sheep; and more.
11 September 2021
Growth Watch: Mid-September grazing targets
As the middle of September approaches, a number of key grazing targets begin to come into effect at farm level. Séan Cummins, Teagasc GreenAcres Advisor, discusses mid-September grazing targets and gets updates from farmers Peter Byrne, Co. Kildare and Ciaran Bartley, Co. Limerick.
10 September 2021
The Signpost Series Webinar - Ireland's Nitrates Review
On this episode of The Signpost Series, which took place on Friday, 3rd September, Pat Murphy Head of Environment Knowledge Transfer was joined by Jack Nolan, Senior Inspector, DAFM, to discuss Ireland's Draft Nitrate Action Programme and the 2nd stage consultation.
10 September 2021
Sexed semen lab to be established at Teagasc Moorepark
Sexing Technologies is the global leader in the production of sex-biased semen.They will establish a sexed semen laboratory at Teagasc Moorepark. This lab will provide a semen sorting service open to all companies in the Irish AI industry.
09 September 2021
New Head of Teagasc Dairy Knowledge Transfer Department
The new head of the Teagasc Dairy Knowledge Transfer Department, Dr Joe Patton will be at the dairy open day next week in Teagasc Moorepark to meet and engage with farmers on the challenges facing the sector. Earlier this summer, Dr Patton was appointed as head of Dairy Knowledge Transfer in Teagasc
09 September 2021
Small woodlands on dairy and drystock farms: Have your say on trees
Forests account for 12% of land area in Ireland. The government target is that forests will make up 18% of the land area by 2046. Rachel Irwin, Teagasc Walsh Scholar is surveying farmers to analyse their perceptions of, attitudes towards, and willingness to plant, trees on farms. Have your say here
08 September 2021