The Dairy Edge

Latest Episodes:

Sun Smart Tips for Dairy Farmers Jul 26, 2021

Show notes

Barbara McGrogan from the Irish Cancer Society joins Emma-Louise Coffey on this week’s Dairy Edge with tips and advice on how to be Sun Smart and protect ourselves against skin cancers. Barbara provides some statistics about skin cancer, including the fact that skin cancer accounts for 1 in every 3 cancers diagnosed in Ireland each year, with outdoor workers having a 2-3 times greater risk compared with indoor workers. Most importantly, it is the most preventable cancer where correct steps are taken to protect yourself. UV rays cause skin cancer, Barbara explains, particularly when the UV score is at 3 or greater, and UV rays are strongest in the months of April to September and from 11am to 3pm in the day. The UV ray scoring index is available on the Met Eireann website and is reported on the news. Barbara recommends that all farmers use the 5S of Sun Smart: · Slip on clothing · Slop on sunscreen (at least factor 30 for adults and factor 50 for children, reapply regularly throughout the day, ensure it’s water resistant if necessary) · Slap on a wide brimmed hat · Seek shade (where possible) · Slide on sunglasses For more information on UV awareness and the sunsmart message for outdoor workers https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-B77rRN1nKY. https://www.met.ie/uv-index https://www.hse.ie/sunsmart 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: Setting up your Fertiliser Spreader Jul 23, 2021

Show notes

Teagasc is running a weekly Let's Talk Dairy webinar series which is also being made available as a bonus podcast episode. In this webinar, Stuart Childs, Teagasc Dairy Specialist, discusses setting up your fertiliser spreader. He was joined by guest speaker Francis Quigley, Machinery Specialist at Kildalton College, Teagasc. They spoke about protected urea, how it spreads and problems with fertiliser spreaders. Francis also gave a demonstration on maintenance of the spreader and how to set it up correctly. 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 potential risks on Irish dairy farms during the summer months Jul 19, 2021

Show notes

It’s Farm Safety Week and on this week’s Dairy Edge podcast, Francis Bligh joins Emma-Louise Coffey to discuss the potential risks on Irish dairy farms during the summer months. Francis points to autumn herds calving outdoors, 2nd cut silage, agitating and spreading slurry and children on the farm as some of the activities that present risk as well as day to day farming activities. Francis recommends that farmers and farm staff take the opportunity to all aspects of the farm to consider potential risks to themselves and the wider public to make your farm a safer workplace. He emphasises the importance for dairy farmers in taking ownership of their health and well-being by getting the basics of food, sleep and exercise and he encourages all farmers to go to the GP where there is any health concern and that all farmers should be scheduling some time off from the farm following a busy 6 months on farm to avoid burnout. For more information: https://www.teagasc.ie/rural-economy/farm-management/farm-health--safety/farm-safety-week-/ 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: Smarter Milking Jul 16, 2021

Show notes

Teagasc is running a weekly Let's Talk Dairy webinar series which is also being made available as a bonus podcast episode. In this webinar, Stuart Childs, Teagasc Dairy Specialist, and guests discuss smarter milking. Andrew Hogan, FRS Training, speaks about the cow flow process, which can have a significant impact on how quickly cows can be milked. Padraig O’Connor, Teagasc, gave a demonstration on cluster attachment, how to do it efficiently and its positives. While Michelle McGrath, Assistant CellCheck Programme Manager with AHI, gave an overview of mid-season mastitis control and the approaches that can be taken to minimise cell count spread during the 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/

Can the Irish Agri sector achieve emission reduction targets? Jul 12, 2021

Show notes

Tom O’Dwyer and Siobhán Kavanagh join Emma-Louise Coffey on this week’s Dairy Edge podcast to consider whether the agri sector can achieve emission reduction targets. Siobhán first outlines national, European and international climate action policy that will dictate the need to reduce total emissions from agriculture to the tune of 15%. When considering new and emerging technologies that have the potential to reduce environmental footprint, Tom explains that research is ongoing in areas such as methane inhibitors while Tom urges farmers to embrace and adopt proven solutions such as protected Urea, LESS and inclusion of white clover. Siobhán gives details about the fifty-four dairy Signpost farms dotted across the country which represent different farm scale, soil type and farm system (spring calving/autumn calving/organic). The Signpost farms aim to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 10-15% by implementing grassland management practices such as increased grass utilisation, reseeding and inclusion of white clover. For more information: https://www.teagasc.ie/environment/climate-change--air-quality/signpost-programme/ 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: Roadways and Water Systems Jul 09, 2021

Show notes

Teagasc is running a weekly Let's Talk Dairy webinar series which is also being made available as a bonus podcast episode. In this webinar, Stuart Childs, Teagasc Dairy Specialist, discusses roadways and water systems. Stuart explains that this time of the year is a good opportunity to examine roadways as it is easier to assess the quality of the surface layers compared to the winter period. He then goes through different examples of poor and good quality roadways. Finally, Stuart discusses the importance of ensuring that cows have adequate water supply and gives an overview of the key water specifications. 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/

Jason Melbourne on taking his herd from average to top performance in three short years Jul 05, 2021

Show notes

Jason Melbourne joins Emma-Louise Coffey on this week’s Dairy Edge podcast to give an insight into how built his career in dairy farming and how he has implemented learnings from the Agricultural College to take his herd from average to top performance in a short period of time. Jason explains that he first gained an interest in agriculture in his early years while spending time milking and feeding calves on his uncle’s farm. Wanting to pursue a career in dairy, Jason completed the Level 5 Cert in Agriculture and Level 6 Advanced Cert in Dairy Herd Management at Gurteen College. Subsequently, he then enrolled in the Level 7 Professional Diploma in Dairy Farm Management to further develop his technical knowledge and skills. Jason highlights the significant experience gained during course placements particularly in the area of grassland management, achieving efficiency and working within large scale dairy operations. The knowledge and experience has helped Jason manage a large dairy herd of 280 cows in East Cork where he has lifted milk solids from 390 kg in 2018 to a predicted 470 kg in 2021 while 6 week calving rate has increased from 60% in 2018 to 83% in 2021 through improved management of cows in the weeks prior to mating start date such as BCS, OAD milking, scanning and a second herd with bulls for later calvers and thin cows. Additionally, Jason emphasises the focus on growing and utilising high levels of grazed grass and identifying the appropriate stocking rate in order to balance grass supply and demand. Growing 17tonne DM in 2020 means the milking platform is comfortable at carrying a stocking rate of 3.2 cows/ha with supplementation of 600 kg concentrate per cow per 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 Bonus Episode: Milking Machine Maintenance Jul 02, 2021

Show notes

Teagasc is running a weekly Let's Talk Dairy webinar series which is also being made available as a bonus podcast episode. In this webinar, Stuart Childs, Teagasc Dairy Specialist, discusses the process of liner changes and the advantages that come with it. He also talks about the disadvantages that come with not changing the liners. Stuart emphasises we have to be aware that over the past few years we have increased our livestock numbers and also the rows we're milking which has resulted in a change in our practices. For more episodes from the Dairy Edge podcast go to the show page at: https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/dairy/the-dairy-edge-podcast/

George Ramsbottom and the factors to consider for when to pull the bull Jun 28, 2021

Show notes

Teagasc Dairy Specialist, George Ramsbottom, joins Emma-Louise Coffey on this week’s Dairy Edge podcast to provide context on the appropriate time to finishing the breeding season in order to facilitate compact calving next spring. George quantifies the average 6 week calving rate being achieved nationally at 65%, owing the 10% increase in the last decade to a combination of improved management, genetics and reduced disease burden. He acknowledges that despite gains being made, there is significant progress required to meet the target 6 week calving rate of 90%. In spring calving herds where all cows are dried in December, later calvers have lower milk production (April 900 litres less, May 1,200 litres less and June 1,800 less) compared with a February calved cow producing 6,500 litres. George recommends a 10 week breeding season to facilitate a 10-11 week calving spread, allowing farmers a 2-3 week break between calving 2022 and mating start date. 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 Jun 25, 2021

Show notes

Teagasc is running a weekly Let's Talk Dairy webinar series which is also being made available as a bonus podcast episode. In this webinar, Stuart Childs, Teagasc Dairy Specialist, discusses the fact that we are coming to the end of the breeding season. It's now time to assess what has happened in the time gone by and also to plan for the rest of the year. Stuart also takes us through silage pits and also touches on the issue of how to reduce nutrient and sediment run off into the water. 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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