The Dairy Edge

Latest Episodes:

Let's Talk Dairy Bonus Episode: The Marginal Cow Jun 24, 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 Patrick Gowing to discuss the marginal cow.

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/

Olin Greenan on his production system to match grass grown & coping with the prolonged NZ summer drought Jun 20, 2022

Show notes

Olin Greenan joins Emma-Louise Coffey for the second part of his interview on this week’s Dairy Edge podcast to give further insights into his production system.

Olin first explains what his lactation looks like: calving from early July to mid-September, mating starts in early October with dry off at the end of April.

However, he explains that the 2021/22 lactation proved challenging owing to a prolonged dry spell during the summer hitting in New Zealand at Christmas.

Previously the summer drought lasted for 6 weeks but Olin says that this has increased to 10 weeks in recent years which has prompted him to revisit his feeding strategy.

To counteract drought conditions, he reduces milking frequency to OAD or 3 in 2 as well as supplementing in order to preserve body condition and support milk production into late 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

Olin Greenan on developing his dairy farming career in New Zealand over the last 20 years Jun 13, 2022

Show notes

Irishman Olin Greenan joins Emma-Louise Coffey on this week’s Dairy Edge podcast to discuss how his dairy farming career has developed in New Zealand.

Olin recalls the decision to travel to New Zealand for one year after he finished his degree in agriculture and how that developed into a twenty-year farming career from farm assistant to farm manager, contract milker and now 50:50 share milker.

Olin explains that early on in New Zealand he was struck by the clear progression pathway for someone interested in dairy farming and the access to finance required to own your own cows.

He also outlines the challenges he has faced including periods of low milk pay out and managing people. During low milk pay out, business growth was stagnant.

When managing people, he says, there is a balance in creating a good working relationship but also providing a clear boundary and line of command on the farm.

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: Sustainability & Irish dairy farming Jun 10, 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 Liam McCabe, dairy specialist with Bord Bia, to discuss sustainability around Irish dairy farming.

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 50 year evolution of the dairy herd at Kildalton College Jun 06, 2022

Show notes

This week’s Dairy Edge celebrates the evolution of the Kildalton dairy herd over the last 50 years with contributions from past and present staff at the college.

James Ryan and Zerlina Pratt as well as John Connolly and Norman Storey join Emma-Louise Coffey with their insights and memories.

In fifty years, the dairy herd has grown from 40 pedigree British Friesian cows producing ~3,500 litres of milk at 3.5% fat and 3.0% protein (260 kg MS) in 1971 to 120 high EBI Holstein-Friesian and crossbred cows in 2021 producing 530 kg MS.

The dairy herd has also contended with animal health challenges such as depopulation due to two Brucellosis in the 1970s and Mycoplasma Bovis in 20% of the herd in the 2000s.

The dairy herd aims to achieve high productivity per cow and per ha through sustainable farming practices while also facilitating skills training for agriculture students who attend the college to help put theory into practice.

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: the best beef bulls to select for the breeding season Jun 03, 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 Stephen Connolly from ABP and John Tobin from Munster Bovine to discuss the best beef bulls to select for the breeding season. 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/

Feed quality and genetics delivering for the winter milk herd at Johnstown May 30, 2022

Show notes

Johnstown Castle farm manager, Aidan Lawless, joins Emma-Louise Coffey on this week’s Dairy Edge podcast to discuss the performance of the Winter Milk Herd. Aidan quantifies the production performance of the winter milk herd at 630 kg MS from 7,000 litres, which is driven by a right calving season of 10 weeks, high EBI genetics and high quality base winter forage in the form of grass silage. Aidan explains that MS have increased by approximately 10 kg year on year owing predominantly to improved genetics as grassland management and fertility performance is relatively consistent. In relation to winter feed, the winter milk cow is generally fed 1/3 grass silage, 1/3 maize and 1/3 concentrates. Grass silage quality is fundamental to maintaining high performance at moderate concentrate input and preventing stomach upset in cows such as acidosis. To achieve 74-75 DMD silage, Aidan explains they need to cut silage in mid-May. 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: The Steps to Make Quality Silage May 27, 2022

Show notes

For this week’s podcast version of the Let’s Talk Dairy webinar series, Stuart Childs, Teagasc Dairy Specialist, outlines the steps to make quality silage. 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 milk solids per ha from grazed grass at Shinagh Farm May 23, 2022

Show notes

Dairy advisor, John McNamara, and Shinagh dairy manager, Kevin Ahern, join Emma-Louise Coffey on this week’s Dairy Edge podcast to discuss the system of pushing milk solids per hectare from grazed grass and low levels of supplementary feeds. John explains that since cows started milking on farm in 2012, the focus has been on converting grazed grass to milk solids with a low reliance on purchased feed. Over the last number of years, milk solids has been 420-440 kg milk solids per cow from less than 500 kg concentrate and milk solids per ha of 1,100 kg. Kevin suggests small tweaks such as the addition of more clover to grazing swards as well as being more selective with culling poorer yielding cows can lift milk solids per cow. John explains that chemical Nitrogen has reduced from the traditional 250 kg to 178 kg in 2021, and a target of 150 kg in 2022. Kevin quantifies what this looks like practically: all paddocks get 60 kg N by April and subsequently, paddocks with >15% clover will get 8-9 kg Nitrogen and paddocks with >20% clover no further Nitrogen is spread. Both John and Kevin explain their cautious approach to reducing chemical Nitrogen as grass needs Nitrogen to grow and, unless clover content is sufficient, Nitrogen application is essential. For more information: https://www.teagasc.ie/about/farm-advisory/advisory-regions/cork-west/shinagh-farm/ 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: Breeding Season Progress May 20, 2022

Show notes

For this week’s podcast version of the Let’s Talk Dairy webinar series, Stuart Childs, Teagasc Dairy Specialist, does some checks and balances in relation to breeding. Stuart discusses the need to run a weekly fertility report to track progress and identify the cows not yet bred. It is also important to make sure that you AI for long enough before releasing bulls and use high DBI bulls to generate high quality beef. 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/

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