The Dairy Edge

Latest Episodes:

Let's Talk Dairy: The Key Messages from the National Winter Milk Open Day Sep 22, 2023

Show notes

For this week’s podcast version of the Let’s Talk Dairy webinar series, James Dunne, is joined by Michael Dineen, Senior Research Officer at Teagasc, to discuss the key messages from the National Winter Milk Open Day.

To register for future Let’s Talk Dairy webinars go to:

https://www.teagasc.ie/corporate-events/lets-talk-dairy/

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

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

How to maximise the nutrient uptake and productivity from slurry on your farm Sep 18, 2023

Show notes

With the deadline for slurry spreading fast approaching, Mark Plunkett joins Emma-Louise Coffey on this week’s episode of The Dairy Edge podcast with his tips and advice to maximise the nutrient uptake and productivity from slurry on farm.

Mark urges farmers to make a plan to target the most appropriate fields for slurry application - slurry with low P and K indexes or have had silage cuts during the year.

Mark reminds farmers that this is the last opportunity to empty tanks ahead of the winter housing period.

Furthermore, Mark says that the window for liming fields is now open. Lime remains a cheap fertiliser product, especially with access to funding from the National Liming Programme.

Benefits of liming include building optimal soil fertility, nitrogen mineralisation and increased grass productivity.

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.

Let's Talk Dairy: Tools to keep grass in the diet longer this autumn Sep 15, 2023

Show notes

For this week’s podcast version of the Let’s Talk Dairy webinar series, James Dunne, is joined by Ciaran Hearn, from PastureBase Ireland, to discuss the tools to keep grass in the diet longer this autumn

To register for future Let’s Talk Dairy webinars go to:

https://www.teagasc.ie/corporate-events/lets-talk-dairy/

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 key learnings from farm visits for Grassland Farmer of the Year applicants Sep 11, 2023

Show notes

John Maher and John O’Loughlin from the Grass10 campaign join Emma-Louise Coffey on the latest Dairy Edge podcast to discuss the key learnings from farm visits for Grass10 competition applicants.
John Maher explains that these farms are good at basic grassland management as well as demonstrating excellence in nutrient management and biodiversity.
John O’Loughlin highlights the sources of nitrogen from mineralisation, organic fertilisers, chemical fertilisers and alternative pastures such as white clover.

The trend in use of chemical fertilisers is declining due to improved nutrient management and regulation.

John also explains that farmers need to continue to make better use of slurry and incorporate legumes into pasture swards to maintain grass productivity.

For more information on the Grass10 competition visit:
https://www.teagasc.ie/crops/grassland/grass10/grassland-farmer-of-the-year-/
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

Let's Talk Dairy: Labour requirements & efficiencies on-farm Sep 08, 2023

Show notes

For this week’s podcast version of the Let’s Talk Dairy webinar series, James Dunne, is joined by Martina Gormley to discuss labour requirements & efficiencies on-farm.

To register for future Let’s Talk Dairy webinars go to:

https://www.teagasc.ie/corporate-events/lets-talk-dairy/

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

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

Let's Talk Dairy: Managing costs and cashflow Sep 01, 2023

Show notes

For this week’s podcast version of the Let’s Talk Dairy webinar series, James Dunne, is joined by Patrick Gowing, Teagasc Dairy Specialist, to give an overview of costs, costs of production and managing cashflow for the remainder of 2023 and into early 2024.

To register for future Let’s Talk Dairy webinars go to:

https://www.teagasc.ie/corporate-events/lets-talk-dairy/

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

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

Let's Talk Dairy: Dealing with current conditions as the focus turns to autumn grazing Aug 11, 2023

Show notes

For this week’s podcast version of the Let’s Talk Dairy webinar series, James Dunne, Teagasc Dairy Specialist, is joined by Joseph Dunphy, Teagasc Grass 10, who offers advice on dealing with current conditions as the focus turns to autumn grazing.

To register for future Let’s Talk Dairy webinars go to:

https://www.teagasc.ie/corporate-events/lets-talk-dairy/

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

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

Tackling Bovine Respiratory Disease Aug 08, 2023

Show notes

On this week’s episode of the Dairy Edge, Sarah Higgins, Ruminant and Equine Veterinary Manager with MSD, discusses Bovine Respiratory Disease (BRD) but in particular Bovine Coronavirus.

Sarah first explains BRD and the risk factors that predispose animals to the disease. Bovine Coronavirus is a coronavirus, though it is not associated with COVID-19 having been first identified in the 1970s.

Research has shown a very high prevalence of the disease both across Europe and in Ireland and it is associated with ‘opening the gate’ for other BRD elements such as RSV, Pi3 and mannheimia haemolytica.

Given its prevalence and its gateway action, MSD have recently released a vaccine for administration from birth to counteract this virus.

Sarah then discusses herd health planning with the farm’s vet to establish a strong vaccination programme to deal with issues that occur on the farm. With reducing antimicrobial availability, vaccination strategies to maximise the health of the herd will be important

Sarah finishes by saying that while antimicrobials will still be required to treat disease when it occurs, the use of the right product at the right rate for the right length of time, is an important contribution farmers can make to reducing the risk associated with antimicrobial resistance along with an appropriate vaccination strategy.

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

Let's Talk Dairy: An update from the Salesian Agricultural College, Pallaskenry Dairy Herd Aug 04, 2023

Show notes

For this week’s podcast version of the Let’s Talk Dairy webinar series, James Dunne, Teagasc Dairy Specialist, is joined by Derek O'Donoghue, Principal of Salesian Agricultural College, Pallaskenry, who provides an update on the college's dairy herd.

To register for future Let’s Talk Dairy webinars go to:

https://www.teagasc.ie/corporate-events/lets-talk-dairy/

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

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

Let’s Talk Dairy: The Pasture Profit Index Jul 28, 2023

Show notes

For this week’s podcast version of the Let’s Talk Dairy webinar series, James Dunne, Teagasc Dairy Specialist, is joined by Tomas Tubritt from Teagasc Moorepark who goes through the Pasture Profit Index and how best to use it to select grass varieties.

To register for future Let’s Talk Dairy webinars go to:

https://www.teagasc.ie/corporate-events/lets-talk-dairy/

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

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