Dairy
Decision support tools can facilitate more sustainable beef-on-dairy systems
Siobhan Ring, Senior Geneticist at the Irish Cattle Breeding Federation (ICBF), tells us how tools such as the Dairy Beef Index and Commercial Beef Value can facilitate most sustainable beef-on-dairy systems.
25 August 2024
Bovine TB in dairy herds: Taking action to reduce the risk of breakdown
Levels of bovine TB have been rising since 2016. In June 2024, 5.12% of herds had a breakdown in the preceding 12 months, with 32,118 reactors in that period. This has resulted in 5,242 herds being restricted.
25 August 2024
What milk makes
Visitors to the 81st Virginia Show were treated to a visual display by Teagasc researchers that unveiled the numerous products ensuing from the processing of raw milk.
23 August 2024
Time to benchmark your costs
Having recently reviewed over 700 eProfit Monitors, Dairy Specialist at Teagasc, Patrick Gowing reminds us why dairy farmers need to keep a firm focus on the key drivers of profitability for their farm businesses.
19 August 2024
Listen: Soil fertility and maximising growth in the coming weeks
William Burchill, Lecturer in Soil Science in UCC, joins Stuart Childs on this week’s Dairy Edge podcast to discuss lower than normal growth rates in 2024, and advice on what to do over the next number of weeks to maximise growth.
19 August 2024
Contract rearing in action
Collaborative Farming Specialist at Teagasc, Ruth Fennell takes a close look at how a contact rearing arrangement has been working out for two farmers in Co. Waterford over the past six years.
19 August 2024
Making contract rearing a ‘win-win’ for all involved
Contracting out heifer rearing offers many benefits once both parties take time to draw up a tailor-made agreement that covers all the potential scenarios that can arise, Collaborative Farming Specialist at Teagasc, Ruth Fennell shares the key details.
17 August 2024
Listen: Building grass cover for autumn grazing
Denis Brassil, Teagasc Kerry Joint Programme Monitor Farm Advisor, joined Stuart Childs on this episode of the Dairy Edge to discuss building grass cover for autumn grazing.
15 August 2024
Building grass is this month’s focus
August is the month to start building grass for autumn. We have had a slow year in terms of growth but management in the next six weeks will be crucial, as the rate of grass growth (supply) will be less than what is eaten (demand) by mid- September.
12 August 2024
Listen: Assessing grazing infrastructure and how it can be improved
Increasing the level of grazed grass in the cow’s diet is a key driver of profitability on Irish dairy farms. In order to achieve this, good grazing infrastructure is important to access all parts of the farm area and ensure cow performance isn’t compromised through lameness etc.
12 August 2024
Grass 10 Grazing Management Update: Preparing for Autumn Growth
On this week’s Grass10 grazing management update, Joseph Dunphy discusses the importance of getting autumn build-up correct on your farm and has a grazing update from Eugene and Eoin Lawler, Co. Kildare.
11 August 2024
2024 fertiliser N performance during a difficult grass-growing year
There has been much debate as to why grass was not growing as anticipated during the last 4 months with many theories put forward as to the reasons why. Research from Teagasc, Johnstown Castle compares the performance of different nitrogen fertiliser types in this challenging environment.
09 August 2024
Additional places available in National Genotyping Programme
The National Genotyping Programme has reopened to additional applicants, with applications now accepted through the Irish Cattle Breeding Federation (ICBF) website.
08 August 2024
All aspects of cubicle housing detailed in new publication
Teagasc has published a new booklet titled ‘Cubicle Housing for Dairy Stock’. The booklet provides detailed information on all aspects of cubicle housing for dairy farmers.
07 August 2024
Domestic milk intake down 242.6 million litres to end of June
Estimates from the Central Statistics Office (CSO) have shown that domestic milk intake from the January to June period 2024 is running 5.3% lower than the corresponding period in 2023.
07 August 2024
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
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