The Dairy Edge

Latest Episodes:

Let's Talk Dairy: Milk Sensitivity Analysis Oct 21, 2022

Show notes

For this week’s podcast version of the Let’s Talk Dairy webinar series, Stuart Childs, Teagasc Dairy Specialist, discusses milk sensitivity analysis and its increasing importance for drying-off cows.

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 reduce greenhouse gas & ammonia emissions from your farm Oct 17, 2022

Show notes

Seamus Kearney, Teagasc Training and Development Specialist on the Signpost Programme, joins Stuart Childs on this week’s episode of The Dairy Edge to discuss some of the ways that farmers can reduce greenhouse gas and ammonia emissions from their farms.

Seamus explains that 65% of farm emissions are coming from methane and approximately 30% are coming from nitrous oxide which is derived mainly from how slurry is spread and the chemical fertiliser that is used on farms.

Seamus says that by switching from CAN to protected urea and using the most environmentally friendly compounds, where allowances allow, products such as 18:6:12 and 10:10:20, is not only an environmentally savvy solution but also a very financially wise move with savings of €40-50 per cow at current prices.

Seamus expects that approximately 20% of nitrogen used in 2022 will have been protected urea and he says that at roughly €50 more for protected urea, the reduced losses associated with it means that there is nearly €120 more fertiliser because of the protection preventing losses in comparison to straight urea.

Seamus is very clear that farmers need to spread lime before the end of the year where needed and is looking forward to a white Christmas this year because of the lime being spread by farmers!

Finally, Seamus says that farmers can replace 5t of CAN fertiliser with 3t of 46% protected urea and by doing this they can save approximately €1000 at current fertiliser prices and that for every 5t of CAN they replace with the protected urea, they are also reducing the emissions from their farms by the equivalent of nearly 1 dairy cow.

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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: The Last Rotation Oct 14, 2022

Show notes

For this week’s podcast version of the Let’s Talk Dairy webinar series, Stuart Childs, Teagasc Dairy Specialist, discusses the last rotation and closing up the farm to leave it in a good situation for 2023.

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/

Autumn Closing Strategy Oct 12, 2022

Show notes

John McCabe, Teagasc Aurivo Joint Programme Group Facilitator and Monitor Farm Advisor, joins Stuart Childs on the latest episode of the Dairy Edge podcast to discuss how Autumn grass build-up has gone this year as well as the Autumn closing strategy.

John explains that if farms want to build cover, it is imperative that they use some supplement in August to actively build cover and that good growth through September has baled many out of a scenario where they would have a lot less grass on the farm under more normal conditions.

John also says that farms in the west have started to close up paddocks now but that the actual closing date will be driven by the average farm cover later in the rotation. Farms in the region are targeting 60-70% grazed in October and possibly even 80% on some of the trickier soil types where November grazing is often a bonus.

Finally, John encourages people to target to graze paddocks that they will be able to access in February next year from the 20th of October to have the cover correct on those paddocks to facilitate good graze out and also facilitate getting through area next spring which will be critical to having sufficient grass available at the start of the 2nd round next April.

Podcast survey:

https://forms.office.com/r/mDZTE9zPy4

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: Managing Somatic Cell Count in late lactation Oct 07, 2022

Show notes

For this week’s podcast version of the Let’s Talk Dairy webinar series, Stuart Childs, Teagasc Dairy Specialist, discusses managing somatic cell count (SCC) in late lactation.

Stuart emphasises the importance of the use of milk recording information, acting on it and the follow through that is required around that.

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/

What the changes coming in January mean for dry cow treatment Oct 03, 2022

Show notes

Willie Buckley, Veterinary Surgeon at Riverview Veterinary Group in Bandon and Animal Health Ireland, Cellcheck Technical Working Group member, joins Stuart Childs on this week’s Dairy Edge podcast to discuss the January change in legislation that now means that blanket dry cow antibiotic use is a thing of the past.

Willie explains why the legislation has changed and what it means for farmers. In short, dry cow treatment has moved from a whole herd approach to an individual cow approach.

If farmers want to administer an antibiotic at drying off, they will need a justifiable reason, be that milk recording info, or individual cow sample info to access that antibiotic.

Willie has clients that are in year 5 and 6 of using sealer only on cows and has clients that have 4th and 5th lactation cows that have never gotten an antibiotic at drying off.

Records and hygiene at drying off are critical to success as well as not trying to dry off too many cows at one time. Willie says that there is a high level of focus required to seal cows hygienically and while it takes effort, it is worth it.

Finally, Willie encourages dairy farmers to monitor and look out for any rise in SCC next Spring to allow them to act early to find the root cause of the rise and to allow them to stay on top of SCC from early lactation.

This however, is the same advice that Willie would have given to his clients last year, so in reality while things are changing, the principles remain the same: good records, good technique and hygiene when completing the job.

Podcast survey:

https://forms.office.com/r/mDZTE9zPy4

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: Changes to Closed Periods - Slurry Sep 30, 2022

Show notes

For this week’s podcast version of the Let’s Talk Dairy webinar series, Stuart Childs, Teagasc Dairy Specialist, discusses the changes to the closed periods, specifically for slurry.

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 Make Contract Rearing a Success Sep 26, 2022

Show notes

Teagasc Drystock advisor in Moorepark, Michael Bourke, joins Stuart Childs on this week’s Dairy Edge podcast to discuss how he views contract rearing from a drystock and dairy farmer’s point of view. Michael has nearly 15 years’ experience in setting up contract rearing arrangements.

Michael first explains that while getting the price right in terms of what is paid per head per day is important, the success of contract rearing arrangements is very much about the relationship between both parties which needs to be based on trust from the start.

Both parties have a role to play in the relationship, with dairy farmers needing to deliver a healthy, on-target weight animal on day one and the contract rearer taking on the baton at this stage until they return the animal at whatever stage is agreed in the condition and weight expected.

Michael says that dairy farmers know the rise in costs in 2022 and that they need to be aware that their contract rearers’ costs have increased also and that they may need to factor that into the price being paid currently.

But equally, drystock farmers need also to be flexible so that if costs drop, the charge reflects that too with the return being maintained being the ultimate objective.

Good relationships between the dairy farmer and the rearer are important to having these conversations.

Finally, Michael encourages dairy farmers to work out their own costs of rearing their heifers and suggests that following this exercise, they will truly see the value in contract rearing.

Podcast survey:

https://forms.office.com/r/mDZTE9zPy4

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

Bonus Ep: The Dairy Edge Reaches Half a Million Listens – highlights from some of its most popular episodes Sep 23, 2022

Show notes

Since The Dairy Edge launched in January 2018 as Ireland’s first dairy-focused podcast, there have been 245 episodes released weekly as well as additional bonus content from the Let’s Talk Dairy webinars presented by Stuart Childs.

The Dairy Edge has now reached the remarkable milestone of half a million listens and to celebrate that incredible achievement, we have compiled clips from some of our most popular episodes.

Hear from Grass 10 manager John Maher outlining the principles of grassland management as identified in the Grass 10 initiative; dairy advisor Grainne Hurley explains the importance of achieving graze outs and its impact on sward and cow performance; Teagasc’s Laurence Shalloo rationalises the seasonal production profile of Irish milk production and why we don’t operate a flat milk curve; looking to profitability and areas to invest money and see the greatest return on investment on dairy farms, Signpost advisor Seamus Kearney quantifies the substantial returns from improving soil fertility.

Plus, dairy farmer Mike Bermingham explained the move to reduce cow numbers having identified a proportion of cows in the herd that were being fully fed from purchased feed; Head of Dairy Knowledge Transfer Joe Patton outlined how to create a fodder reserve to reduce the risk to dairy farm businesses; Siobhan Kavanagh & Tom O’Dwyer from the Signpost Programme provided context for the environmental policy that will inform how we farm and they pose the question have we adopted proven technologies in order to take on the challenge of reducing the impact of farming on the environment.

Finally, to renowned Agri-consultant, Matt Ryan, who has worked in the dairy industry for over five decades and Matt highlighted the strides that have been made in labour studies that can promote work-life balance before reflecting on dairy farmers’ ability to cope with the various challenges that exist today.

Podcast survey:

https://forms.office.com/r/mDZTE9zPy4

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 keep improving your soil fertility Sep 19, 2022

Show notes

Dairygold Joint Programme Group Facilitator, William Burchill, joins Stuart Childs on this week’s Dairy Edge podcast to discuss further work that can be done to improve soil fertility even though the date has passed for the spreading of chemical nitrogen and Phosphorus.

William outlines the offtakes of Potassium (K) associated with grazing and the impact that even one cut of bales can have on a paddock in terms of K required to maintain the correct index from one year to the next as well as the significant impact of multiple cut silage systems on soil K levels.

William also talks about analysing slurry to know the nutrient content of it and how it can vary depending on the method of storage employed. Knowing the nutrient content will allow for more accurate fertilisation strategies to be implemented.

Finally, William talks about chemical fertiliser options available to people to address K and Sulphur requirements on their farms and given that some fertiliser is currently being purchased now for 2023, he advises that people ensure they purchase the right products for their farm especially K which is not subject to limits like N and P.

Podcast survey:

https://forms.office.com/r/mDZTE9zPy4

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

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