Pat and Sean Kelly - Herd details and performance

Over the coming week Dairy Daily with George Ramsbottom, Dairy Specialist, will focus on the breeding performance and genetic merit of the dairy cows on the farm of Pat and Sean Kelly, Arrabawn Suppliers from Kilruane, Nenagh, Co. Tipperary. Today's video is on herd details and performance

Tail painting

At this time of year, just prior to the start of the breeding season is a good time to tail paint the cows. Paint the cows now and top up the paint regularly before breeding starts. Record the cows’ numbers and dates as tail paint is removed in the days leading up to the start of the breeding season. In the final days before breeding, draft out the non-cycling cows and seek veterinary intervention. This is to help ensure that the majority of the cows have a known date of heat prior to the start of breeding and those that are not reproductively active can be treated to ensure that they are bred as soon as possible after breeding starts. This helps to minimise empty rate at the end of the breeding season.

Over the coming week Dairy Daily will focus on the breeding performance and genetic merit of the dairy cows on the farm of Pat and Sean Kelly, Arrabawn Suppliers from Kilruane, Nenagh, Co. Tipperary. 

The Kellys’ herd of 120 spring-calving dairy cows supplied an average of 560 kg milk solids in 2021 on approximately 900 kg meal. Short videos will be released each day on different aspects of the herd performance and on breeding dairy herds in general.

Bernadette Bennett, Teagasc Dairy Advisor outlines the farm details in this short video clip. 

The Teagasc Dairy Specialists issue an article on a topic of interest to dairy farmers every Monday here on Teagasc Daily. If you have any questions about this topic talk to your Teagasc advisor.