The Dairy Edge

Latest Episodes:

Weekly Grass10 Update Feb 15, 2024

Show notes

On this week’s Grass10 grazing management update, Joseph Dunphy discusses PastureBase data, Dry Matter % and Predicted grass growth, rainfall & soil temperatures.

Joseph has a grazing update from featured farmer, Enda Armstrong from Co. Galway, who is currently grazing by day and explains the techniques he is using to get grass in the diet when weather is difficult.

Joseph also discusses the importance of early spring Nitrogen.

You can also read this week's Grass10 newsletter at:
https://bit.ly/Grass10-13thFeb

For more episodes from the Dairy Edge podcast go to the show page at:

https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/dairy/the-dairy-edge-podcast/

The Dairy Edge is a co-production with LastCastMedia.com

Taking control of SCC in the early stages of lactation Feb 12, 2024

Show notes

Don Crowley, Teagasc Milk Quality Specialist, joins Stuart Childs on this week’s episode of the Dairy Edge to talk about how to take control of SCC in the early stages of lactation.

Don first outlines the importance of a fresh cow group to manage the transition to the main milking group which is a key step to set cows up for the year ahead.

This fresh cow group will allow added attention to be given to both cubicles and the cows themselves in terms of preparation and observation of milking.

Don also advocates using the Californian Milk Test (CMT) on all cows immediately prior to allowing their milk into the bulk tank. This step will allow for early identification of sub clinical mastitis and facilitates appropriate early intervention to control the infection.

This process will cost time at what is a busy time of year already but it is time well worth investing and will set your cows up for their full lactation.

For more episodes from the Dairy Edge podcast go to the show page at:

https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/dairy/the-dairy-edge-podcast/

The Dairy Edge is a co-production with LastCastMedia.com

Weekly Grass10 Update Feb 08, 2024

Show notes

The Teagasc Grass10 team are bringing Dairy Edge listeners a new, weekly Grass10 update and for this week's grazing management update, Joseph Dunphy discusses PastureBase data, Dry Matter % and Predicted grass growth, rainfall & soil temperatures.

He also discusses the importance of getting your opening Average Farm Cover, grass budget & spring rotation planner completed.

Plus, Joseph has an update from the Clonakilty Research Farm in Co. Cork where grazing has started, as well as the dos and don’ts in relation to early spring slurry and N application.

You can also read this week's Grass10 newsletter at:
https://bit.ly/Grass10-6thFebruary

For more episodes from the Dairy Edge podcast go to the show page at:

https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/dairy/the-dairy-edge-podcast/

The Dairy Edge is a co-production with LastCastMedia.com

The priority tasks for setting up the farm for the grazing season Feb 05, 2024

Show notes

On this week’s episode of The Dairy Edge, dairy advisor Kay O’Connell joins Emma-Louise Coffey to address priority tasks from supporting cow and calf health to setting up the farm for the grazing season of 2024.

Kay recommends that farmers complete a spring rotation planner as a means of increasing the proportion of grazed grass in the dairy cow diet. Kay explains that grazed grass is highly digestible and high in protein and will support milk production and body condition in early lactation.

Kay discusses the considerations for Once-A-Day milking in early lactation. She explains that the biggest benefit comes from the labour savings. Addressing concerns about reduction in milk yield, Kay quantifies that during the 4 weeks OAD milking in early lactation, yield reduces by 22-24% but cows bounce back and there is no difference in overall production.

In terms of calf care, Kay emphasises the importance of the 1-2-3 of colostrum and hygiene in feeding implements and calf beds.

For more episodes from the Dairy Edge podcast go to the show page at:

https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/dairy/the-dairy-edge-podcast/

The Dairy Edge is a co-production with LastCastMedia.com

Getting the balance between achieving optimum dairy cow intakes and good graze outs in early lactation Jan 29, 2024

Show notes

Mike Egan joins Emma-Louise Coffey on this week’s Dairy Edge podcast to discuss the balance between achieving optimum dairy cow intakes and good graze outs in early lactation.

Mike first considers the dynamics that dictate dairy cow intake in early lactation including parity, quality of the dry cow diet, cow liveweight, health and EBI.

He explains that recent research estimates that the average cow in the herd will eat approximately 13 kg DM following calving, which is higher than the previous research which was carried out in the late 2000s.

However, Mike points out that despite the initial greater intake potential at week 1 of lactation, the weekly rise in the appetite of the cow is less than previous estimates (0.8 kg per week rather than 1.0 kg). Peak intake of 17-18 kg is reached at week 10 of lactation.

Mike says that in mid-January, farm cover was sitting at 830 kg DM/ha across farms that have measured and recorded grass on PastureBase and therefore there is great scope for grazed grass to make up the majority of the dairy cow diet in February.

Mike recommends that each farmer gets out to measure grass cover to assess exactly how much grass is available to them and to prepare a Spring Rotation Planner and Feed Budget for the months ahead. This will ensure cows are fed with the best quality feeds possible to support milk production and body condition and supplement is fed at appropriate rates and spec where necessary.

For more episodes from the Dairy Edge podcast go to the show page at:

https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/dairy/the-dairy-edge-podcast/

The Dairy Edge is a co-production with LastCastMedia.com

How to maximise the value of slurry Jan 08, 2024

Show notes

Pat Tuohy and William Burchill join Emma-Louise Coffey on this week’s Dairy Edge podcast to discuss how farmers can maximise the value of slurry through tactical use and having optimum storage facilities on farm.

At the outset, William says, if you are not prepared to go with bagged fertiliser, you should not be willing to slurry. In order for this to play out on farm, William explains that farmers need sufficient storage to allow flexibility in their system, particularly in late January and February.

William quantifies the value of slurry at €40/1,000 gallons with a nutrient profile of 9 units of Nitrogen, 5 units of Phosphorus and 32 units of Potassium.

William explains that 80% of the value of slurry comes from the P & K components and how farmers need to be tactical about where they spread (paddocks with low P & K or silage ground), how (LESS technology) and how much (using the appropriate rate).

William acknowledges the variation in nutrient value of slurry, be it covered or uncovered tanks or the type of stock feeding into the tank, and recommends farmers consider slurry sampling to know the exact profile of the slurry product.

Patrick has put an estimate of capital investment in slurry storage for typical options farmers choose from slatted tank, €790 per cow (€450/foot), to over ground tank, €835 per cow, and slurry bag, €325 per cow.

In an ongoing study across 100 dairy farms in Ireland, Pat recognises the contribution of rainwater whether to uncovered storage facilities and runoff not being channelled away from tanks. This can put existing facilities under significant pressure throughout the closed period.

For more information:

https://www.teagasc.ie/media/website/events/2023/Slurry-Storage-and-handling---how-best-to-invest.pdf

For more episodes from the Dairy Edge podcast go to the show page at:

https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/dairy/the-dairy-edge-podcast/

The Dairy Edge is a co-production with LastCastMedia.com

How some farmers are achieving an average 8 hour working day on farm Jan 01, 2024

Show notes

Marion Beecher joins Emma-Louise Coffey on this week’s episode of The Dairy Edge to discuss a recent case study of farmers who achieve an average 8 hour working day on their dairy farm throughout the year.

Marion explains that in the study, farmers cited a compact, seasonal calving system as the key driver of their labour efficiency and recognised that the average 8 hour day ranged with longer working days during calving and breeding to much shorter days when cows are dried off

Marion identified some top practices that lend themselves to lower labour demands including a good milking parlour with less than 8 rows going through the parlour (farm facilities), group calving pens (work practices), automatic calf feeders, collars (technologies) and setting an evening finish time (work organisation).

Ahead of the spring calving season on dairy farms, Marion encourages farmers to get a good break and well deserved rest, prepare as much as possible by having facilities set up and the relevant supplies to hand on farm and to ensure there is sufficient help available for the calving.

For more information:

https://www.teagasc.ie/media/website/events/2023/Marion-Beecher-Presentation---Getting-to-grips-with-labour-challenges-on-dairy-farms.pdf

For more episodes from the Dairy Edge podcast go to the show page at:

https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/dairy/the-dairy-edge-podcast/

The Dairy Edge is a co-production with LastCastMedia.com

Making informed decisions regarding farm stocking rate Dec 25, 2023

Show notes

Following the Teagasc National Dairy Conference where attendees heard how pasture utilised was fundamental to our dairy systems, Teagasc Researcher Donal Patton joins James Dunne on the latest Dairy Edge podcast to explain how to make informed decisions regarding farm stocking rate.

For more episodes from the Dairy Edge podcast go to the show page at:
https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/dairy/the-dairy-edge-podcast/
The Dairy Edge is a co-production with LastCastMedia.com

Wholefarm Nitrogen Use Efficiency Dec 20, 2023

Show notes

William Burchill, FBD Lecturer in Soil Science in UCC, is on this week’s Dairy Edge podcast discussing Nitrogen Use Efficiency (NUE) from a wholefarm point of view but also from the point of nitrogen applied.

William explains how wholefarm Nitrogen Use Efficiency works and then how NUE can be used in terms of the fertilisers (organic or chemical) applied to land. William discusses the 4 Rs of fertiliser application: Right type, Right place, Right timing and Right rate.

William also outlines a fertiliser shopping list for farms which will include protected urea as the main source of nitrogen and the requirements for P and K being addressed through 16% Super P and Muriate of Potash (0:0:50) or compounds such as 18:6:12 or 0:7:30.

The response to sulphur (S) also needs to be considered for fertiliser applications with recent work showing up to 25% increase in grass growth where S is included.

Finally, William recommends people test their soil, test their slurry, build a nutrient management plan and follow it ensuring to use the allowances that are available to the farm due to the importance of keeping all nutrients at the appropriate index in order to drive grassland performance.

For more episodes from the Dairy Edge podcast go to the show page at:
https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/dairy/the-dairy-edge-podcast/

The Dairy Edge is a co-production with LastCastMedia.com

Why the Irish dairy industry has the capacity for continued growth Dec 11, 2023

Show notes

International dairy consultant, David Beca, joins Emma-Louise Coffey for part two of his discussion on the Dairy Edge podcast to discuss the global milk supply trends over the last two decades and he speculates what milk producing nations have the capacity to meet growing consumer demands.
David explains that demand for dairy is growing by 1-3% per annum with the range being determined by economic conditions.
Examining individual countries, David sees compounding growth in milk supply in countries such as Ireland, New Zealand and South Africa while others have remained static or contracted e.g. the UK and Australia.
David anticipates that the Irish dairy industry has the capacity for continued growth in supply in the future but clarifies that this is dependent on external regulation and individual farmers’ ability to have clarity in their production system and utilisation of grass in the diet.
For more information go to:
https://www.teagasc.ie/media/website/events/2023/David-Beca---Key-drivers-of-milk-production-costs-in-dairy-systems.pdf
For more episodes from the Dairy Edge podcast visit the show page at:
https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/dairy/the-dairy-edge-podcast/
The Dairy Edge is a co-production with LastCastMedia.com

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