The Dairy Edge

Latest Episodes:

Early indications of the success of the 2022 breeding season Aug 01, 2022

Show notes

Dairy farmer and AI technician, Colm O’Connor, joins Emma-Louise Coffey on this week’s Dairy Edge podcast to discuss the early indications of the success of the 2022 breeding season.

On his farm Colm achieved an 80% 21 day submission rate, reaching 90% at 25/26 days and conception rate to first service of 65%. He explained that breeding performance was exceptional in his heifers, achieving a 100% 21 day submission rate and 89% conception rate to first service.

Colm credits attention to ensure there are no issues such as held cleanings or infections after calving and cows are on a consistent plain of nutrition have helped him achieve such high performance during the breeding season.

Colm also discussed the trends he has observed among his farmer clients. As AI technician, he has noted a shift to beef AI from the outset of the breeding season for 10-25% of herds, owing to farmers’ increased awareness to add value to the surplus calf and the lower requirement for replacement heifers as farms have reached optimum cow numbers.

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 Bonus Episode: Building Autumn Grass Cover Jul 29, 2022

Show notes

For this week’s podcast version of the Let’s Talk Dairy webinar series, Stuart Childs, Teagasc Dairy Specialist, covered tips for building autumn grass cover.

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 optimum feeding rates to complement grass supply Jul 25, 2022

Show notes

Head of Dairy Knowledge Transfer, Joe Patton, joins Emma-Louise Coffey on this week’s Dairy Edge podcast to discuss optimum feeding rates to complement grass supply.

Joe reviews the feed supply situation on farm and while average farm cover and growth rate looks healthy at 219 kg per cow and 60 kg DM/day, respectively, the scenario on individual farms is variable due to localised soil moisture deficit and resulting restricted growth rates.

Where growth rate and grass supply are restricted, Joe explains that meal is being fed to replace grass that is unavailable and therefore there is no increase in feed intake and milk production.

Where grass supply is equal to or exceeds demand, Joe explains that meal is being fed in addition to grass which is plentiful.

In this scenario, the first 2 kg meal fed achieve a good response of 0.8-0.9 kg milk per kg meal. However, feeding 3-5 kg the response falls to 0.5 kg milk per kg meal.

Financially, milk price is at 60 c/kg and concentrate is 0.41-0.42 c/kg. Taking milk price and the cost of concentrate into account, a response of 0.5 kg of milk is not sufficient to justify higher meal feeding levels where grass is in plentiful supply on farm.

For more information:

https://www.teagasc.ie/media/website/publications/2022/Fodder-Survey-Results-July-2022.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

Minister McConalogue’s Vision for the Future of Dairy Jul 18, 2022

Show notes

Minister for Agriculture Charlie McConalogue joins Emma-Louise Coffey on this week’s Dairy Edge podcast to discuss his vision for the future of Dairy Farming in Ireland.

Minister McConalogue shares his positivity for the future of the Irish dairy industry with scope for new entrant dairy farms as well as growth for viability on existing dairy farms which he justifies by acknowledging that dairy has provided the value growth to the agriculture sector.

Notwithstanding this, Minister McConalogue emphasises the necessity for all farmers to implement emission reduction measures on dairy farms and as well as future technologies such as feed additives.

He also recognises a shift in the conversation around food security and its balance with environmental targets within the EU and internationally arising from the disruption to supply chains from Ukraine and Russia following the outbreak of war in Ukraine.

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 Bonus Episode: An Overview of the Ballyhaise Open Day Jul 15, 2022

Show notes

For this week’s podcast version of the Let’s Talk Dairy webinar series, Stuart Childs, Teagasc Dairy Specialist, is joined by James Dunne with an overview of the Ballyhaise 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/

Examining Farm Incomes Jul 11, 2022

Show notes

Economist Emma Dillon joins Emma-Louise Coffey on this week’s Dairy Edge podcast to discuss farm incomes from 2021.

Emma explained that farms experienced an increase input prices to the tune of 11% for dairy systems primarily from fertiliser, feed and fuel in 2021. This was coupled with a significant rise in milk price and output. Consequently dairy farm income rose by 23% compared with 2020 to €97,350.

Dairy farms remain viable with 85% of Irish dairy farms defined as either viable or sustainable given their ability to be profitable annually, remunerate labour and provide return on investment.

Emma concludes by speculating on dairy farm income for 2022 with the healthy farm gate prices set to continue which provides a buffer between input costs and milk price received.

For more information:

https://www.teagasc.ie/publications/2022/Teagasc-National-Farm-Survey-2021-Preliminary-Results.php

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 Bonus Episode: Laurence Feeney and the role of the IHFA in Irish dairy breeding Jul 08, 2022

Show notes

For this week’s podcast version of the Let’s Talk Dairy webinar series, Stuart Childs, Teagasc Dairy Specialist, is joined by Laurence Feeney the new CEO of the Irish Holstein Friesian Association to discuss the role of the IHFA in Irish dairy breeding.

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/

Matching stocking rate and feed supply to annual grass growth profile Jul 04, 2022

Show notes

Donal Patton and Barry Reilly join Emma-Louise Coffey on this week’s Dairy Edge podcast to identify the optimum stocking rate based on feed supply and the profile of annual grass growth.

Barry explains that the long term average grass production at Ballyhaise is 14 tonne DM/ha. Donal outlines the profile of growth: magic day of ~40 kg DM/day achieved in late April while grass growth of ~80 kg DM/day.

This growth represents a challenge in the balance of grass supply, a deficit of grass grown during the shoulders of the year and surplus during the mid-season.

An optimum overall stocking rate of 2.3 LU/ha and a milking platform stocking rate of 3.0 cows/ha was identified for the Ballyhaise dairy herd based on consistent 14 tonnes DM/ha.

Barry explains that cows get out to grass for 270 days in the year but when taking into account the number of cows calved during the spring and cows housed during inclement weather, cow grazing days are 235 days.

Donal quantifies the level of supplement required by cows above grazed grass: 700-800 kg concentrate and 1,400 kg silage, half of which is required during 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

Let's Talk Dairy Bonus Episode: Preliminary Results from the 2021 National Farm Survey Jul 01, 2022

Show notes

For this week’s podcast version of the Let’s Talk Dairy webinar series, Stuart Childs, Teagasc Dairy Specialist, is joined by Trevor Donnellan to discuss the preliminary results from the 2021 National Farm Survey.

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/

Pushing the boundaries on dairy farm performance in the BMW region Jun 27, 2022

Show notes

Donal Patton and Barry Reilly joined Emma-Louise Coffey on this week’s Dairy Edge podcast to discuss building robust milk production systems in the border, midlands and western region.

Barry outlined current annual performance from the Ballyhaise herd: 470 kg MS at 4.62% fat and 3.65% protein, 80-83% average 6 week calving rate and 361 day calving interval.

Donal explained that the current research involves establishing white clover into grazing swards in an effort to reduce the chemical Nitrogen required to support grass productivity. Donal says that this will examine the issue of persistence of clover in heavy clay drumlin soils.

Barry acknowledged that the strategy of front loading clover establishment at Ballyhaise is not realistic at farm level. It involved a full reseed on 25% and oversown clover on 15% of the milking platform.

Feeding levels of 600 kg or 1,200 kg are being fed per cow to compare lower reliance on feed input to the standard feeding rate in the region. The economic and environmental impact of higher feed levels will be examined across 4 lactations.

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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