Dairy Newsletter - June 2021

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In this month's edition:

• A unit a day is OK!
  In mid-season, the crude protein content of grass ranges from 17-22%. Basic chemistry tells us that the nitrogen (N) content of grass will average approximately 3.2% N during this time, as the protein content of grass (20%) divided by 6.25 gives the percentage N content of the grass. Using this figure we can calculate the amount of N that will be needed to grow a given amount of grass.
• White clover incorporation in pasture 
  The benefits of increasing the content of white clover in dairy pastures for animal and sward are well understood. The cow eats more and produces more while the sward can yield the same with less fertiliser N.
• A liner change is due shortly
  Liners are the only piece of the milking machine that comes into direct contact with the cow. They are made from complex material and have a limited useful life. The majority of rubber liners are expected to last for 2,000 milkings or six months, whichever comes first.
• Moving to beef AI
  Before any consideration is given to finishing artificial insemination (AI), consider how many empty cows you have left, and how many mature stock bulls you have. You need one mature bull for every 15-20 empty cows.
• National Quality Milk Virtual Farm Walk
  The National Quality Milk Virtual Farm Walk takes place on Tuesday, June 29, at 11.00am. It will be broadcast live from the farm of Richard and Wendy Starrett, Killendarragh, Lifford, Co. Donegal. Register for the event on www.teagasc.ie/virtualmilkwalk
• Managing replacement heifer weanlings
  Replacement heifer calves should be weaned when they weigh approximately 18% of their mature body weight (BW), e.g., just over 100kg for a Holstein Friesian (HF) heifer calf with a maintenance sub-index of €10 (and a predicted mature liveweight of 590kg).
• HEALTH & SAFETY - Keep yourself and children safe
  Farm workplace deaths have reduced in the four months to April 2021, with two fatalities reported. It is likely that there are more persons available to assist with farm work due to the Covid-19 lockdown, which may have helped with the injury reduction. This month we include a children’s safety newsletter, Jessy's Smart Kids. Check it out here