Teagasc Dairy Breeding Week 2023
The breeding season on Irish dairy farms has become increasingly concentrated in the late April to June period. Teagasc and ICBF have organised a series of 14 information events during ‘Dairy Breeding Week’ which is running from today, Monday, 20 March to Friday, 24 March.
These online and in person events will provide timely reminders to farmers on important genetic and technical issues underpinning a successful dairy breeding season. To register and to get more information visit https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/dairy/events/
Teagasc/ICBF daily lunchtime Webinars
Each day this week at 1pm, Teagasc and ICBF have organised a webinar for dairy farmers. On Monday, Kevin Downing, Irish Cattle Breeding Federation (ICBF) will outline ‘How to review EBI/herd management reports to identify breeding goal/objectives’.
On Tuesday’s webinar, Dan O’ Riordan, ICBF, will speak about ‘Identifying cows for dairy AI, sexed semen and beef AI’.
On Wednesday’s webinar Siobhan Ring, ICBF will discuss the ‘Use of DBI sires to generate better CBV calves’.
On Thursday’s webinar Dan O'Riordan, ICBF, will speak about ‘How to identify a team of dairy and beef bulls to improve/achieve breeding goals through sire advice’.
On Friday’s lunchtime webinar, Bryan Kingston, ICBF will outline ‘Recording heat and AI serves and how to monitor performance during the breeding season’.
Joint Programme Events
Teagasc/ Lakeland Dairies Joint Programme Seminar ‘Adding Value this Breeding Season’ will take place on Monday, 20 March at 7:30pm in Feericks Hotel, Rathowen, County Westmeath. The Topics and speakers include: Current state of play across Lakeland Dairies herds with Owen McPartland, Teagasc/ Lakeland Dairies Joint Programme; ‘Breeding a cow suitable for all systems’ addressed by Joe Patton, Head of Dairy Knowledge Transfer, Teagasc. Your breeding plan – what to consider? -Susan Casey/Michael Monahan, Lakeland Dairies Joint Programme.
A second Teagasc/ Lakeland Dairies Joint Programme Seminar ‘Adding Value this Breeding season’ will take place on Tuesday, 21 March, this time in the Errigal Hotel, Cootehill, Cavan.
Teagasc/ Aurivo Joint Programme Farm Walk takes place on Tuesday, 21 March at 11 am on the farm of Brendan McDonnell, Lacken, Ballina, County Mayo. The Topics include: Cow fertility, EBI, DBI, Sexed Semen. Speakers at the event include: John McCabe, Joint Programme Coordinator Teagasc/Aurivo; Martina Gormley, Dairy Specialist; Padraig O’Connor, Dairy Technician; Majella McCafferty, Aurivo Co-Op; Brendan McDonnell, Host Farmer.
A Teagasc/ Kerry Agribusiness Joint Programme webinar - Breeding strategies for the future using modern technologies will take place on Tuesday, 21 March at 7:30pm. Topics to be discussed: Sexed semen protocols from Teagasc Moorepark research; EBI and DBI; My experience using sexed semen and high DBI bulls - Diarmuid Fitzgerald, Signpost Farmer. Speakers on the day include: Stuart Childs, Teagasc Dairy Specialist; Stephen Moore, Teagasc Reproductive Physiologist; Sean & Diarmuid Fitzgerald, Signpost Farmer Cratloe, Clare
A Teagasc/ Tirlán Future Farm Programme Farm Walk will take place at 11am on Friday, 24 March on the Farm of Philip Donohoe, Goresbridge, Co. Kilkenny. The topics covered at the farm walk will include: Sexed semen and synchronisation programme; Selecting Cows for Dairy AI; Selecting the Dairy Bull Team for herd; Selecting the Beef Team for herd. The speakers on the day are; Kevin Brennan, Teagasc Advisor, Stuart Childs, Teagasc Dairy Specialist, Sandra Hayes, Teagasc/ Tirlán Future Farm Programme Coordinator, Philip Donohoe, Host Farmer and Joris Somers, Tirlán Veterinary Advisor.
Teagasc Kildalton College, in Piltown, County Kilkenny are holding a dairy breeding event at 11am Wednesday, 22 March. Topics covered on the day will be; Cow type and selection, selecting dairy and beef bulls for breeding, synchronisation and sexed semen and a live demo on condition scoring and heat detection. The speakers include local Teagasc Advisors and Dairy Specialists. Representatives from ICBF, 3 cow collar companies and local AI companies will be in attendance.
Meeting future challenges by breeding better cows – Teagasc Webinar on Thursday, 23rd March at 7:30pm. Stuart Childs, Teagasc Dairy Specialist will host the webinar with contributions from panellists: Donagh Berry – Teagasc Geneticist and Director of Vistamilk SFI Centre; Margaret Kelleher – ICBF Geneticist and Philip Donohoe – Dairy Farmer, Kilkenny. The topics up for discussion include: EBI – Breeding the cows of the future; Using data to make better breeding decisions to maximise herd performance; What EBI has delivered on farm and what it can do in the future?.
The Teagasc Dairy Edge Podcast presented by Stuart Childs, Teagasc Dairy Specialist covering: How are pedigree herds preparing for the future challenges? with Laurence Feeney, CEO, Irish Holstein Friesian Association (IHFA).
The Teagasc Let's Talk Dairy Webinar will take place at 10am on Thursday, 23rd March. Joe Patton, Head of Dairy Knowledge Transfer, Teagasc will speak about ‘Nutrition of the spring calving cow ahead of breeding.’