The Dairy Edge

Latest Episodes:

Early milk recording for health and profit gains Feb 24, 2020

Show notes

Dairy Specialist Stuart Childs joins Emma-Louise Coffey to discuss the benefits to dairy cow health and overall farm profits through milk recording.

Stuart explains that the level of milk recording remains low, with 35% of herds representing 50% of dairy cows nationally.

Teagasc recommends milk recording within 60 days of calving in order to detect early infection as well as calculate cure rate and new infection rate following the dry period.

Stuart recommends that farmers complete 6 milk recordings per year at a cost of approximately €12 per cow.

He also describes the financial benefits to milk recording, explaining that research has shown that milk recorded cows produce 400 litres more milk given additional profit of €120 per cow.

For more information:

https://www.teagasc.ie/media/website/publications/2020/Dairy-February-2020-web.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/

Getting grazed grass into the dairy cow diet through challenging weather conditions Feb 14, 2020

Show notes

Micheál O’Leary and Fergus Bogue join Emma-Louise Coffey to advise on managing grazing during challenging weather conditions.

Firstly, Micheál quantifies the over-winter growth and the opening farm cover from PastureBase Ireland records. Micheál explains that over-winter growth was approximately 4-5 kg DM/day but varied widely; where farms were closed high in the autumn, higher growth rates were achieved at up to 7-8 kg DM/day.

Micheál recommends that farmers must target an opening farm cover of 900 kg DM/ha to support a milking platform stocking rate of 3 cows/ha and a tight calving pattern.

Importantly, many farmers are not at the target farm cover so Micheál asks the question, have you gotten the fertiliser out? If not, it is important to do so to kick-start grass production.

Fergus describes the grazing season to date, explaining that the spring rotation got off to a good start with many farmers out grazing from early February until the storm and snow hit farms in the last week.

He encourages farmers to use all of the tools and technologies available to get cows out, even if only for 2-3 hours after milking.

Fergus also recommends that farmers should target dry paddocks with a cover of 700-1,000 kg DM/ha and use the strip wire to back fence ground that has already been grazed.

For more episodes and information from the Dairy Edge podcast go to:
https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/dairy/the-dairy-edge-podcast/

Managing energy balance and metabolic disorders in early lactation Feb 10, 2020

Show notes

Stephen Butler joins Emma-Louise Coffey to advise on how to manage energy balance and metabolic disorders in early lactation.

Firstly, Stephen emphasises the importance of dry cow management to ensure cows are in the correct BCS and received adequate minerals.

Stephen explains that cows undergo significant change post-calving, moving from dry cow status with low intake and low energy demand to lactating status with low intake and high energy demand. He also reminds us that in addition to lactation cow require energy to resume cyclicity.

Cows are susceptible to metabolic diseases in early lactation and Stephen encourages farmers to be vigilant and act promptly to treat symptoms.

For more episodes and information from the Dairy Edge podcast go to:
https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/dairy/the-dairy-edge-podcast/

Short-term OAD milking to reduce peak labour demand Feb 03, 2020

Show notes

Emer Kennedy joins Emma-Louise Coffey to discuss the Once-A-Day milking experiment at Teagasc Moorepark.

Emer explains the different variations of OAD milking, including OAD milking short term in early lactation (from 2-8 weeks) and long term for the full lactation.

She documents the various measurements that were carried out including milk production, mastitis, SCC, udder firmness, udder leakage, body weight, BCS and locomotion.

Emer acknowledges individual farmers concerns in relation to reduced milk yield. Short term OAD will reduce daily milk yield by 22-24% but is shown to recover immediately once returned to twice-a-day milking, with a small impact on annual milk yield.

Emer also emphasised the merit of short term OAD milking in early lactation when the labour demand on dairy farms is at peak.

For more information:

https://www.teagasc.ie/media/website/publications/2020/Emer-Kennedy---Once-a-Day-Milking-Conference-2020.pdf

For more episodes and information from the Dairy Edge podcast go to:
https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/dairy/the-dairy-edge-podcast/

The Profitability on Dairy Farms in 2019 Jan 27, 2020

Show notes

Dairy specialist, George Ramsbottom, joins Emma-Louise Coffey to give an early indication of profitability on dairy farms in 2019.

George explains that his analysis contains 400 dairy farms to date - 20% of the 2,000 farmers that complete the profit monitor annually.

Overall profitability on farms has improved, resulting from increasing milk yield and milk solids, despite a reduction in milk price and concentrate fed. George speculates that 2019 as being a good grass growing year with farmers employing good grassland management skills, including high grass utilisation.

George acknowledges that top farmers are achieving high profits, achieving greater milk quality and milk price as well as higher stocking rate and lower meal feeding.

For more episodes and information from the Dairy Edge podcast go to:
https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/dairy/the-dairy-edge-podcast/

Milking 800 cows once a day in two herds Jan 20, 2020

Show notes

Keith Davis joined Emma-Louise Coffey to discuss the role of once-a-day milking in his large scale herd in Gloucestershire.

Keith was speaking at Teagasc’s recent Once a Day Milking conference and he gave an insight into the evolution of the farm from a mixed farm with 350-cow dairy operating an indoor system and tillage to a solely grass-based dairy system.

When dairy cow numbers began to climb, both facility and labour began to come under pressure. The estate was unwilling to invest in upgrading the milk facilities (i.e. 32 point rotary) and therefore, the decision was taken milk once-a-day.

Keith also explains his approach to overcoming the challenge of the national labour shortage by being flexible with rosters and recruitment.

For more information:

https://www.teagasc.ie/media/website/publications/2020/Keith-Davis---Once-a-Day-Milking-Conference-2020.pdf

For more episodes and information from the Dairy Edge podcast go to:
https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/dairy/the-dairy-edge-podcast/

Tackling the growing disconnect between kids and farming Jan 13, 2020

Show notes

On this week’s episode of The Dairy Edge, dairy farmer, Karol Kissane, joins Emma-Louise Coffey to discuss his Nuffield studies about school students perceptions of agriculture.

Karol discusses the growing disconnect in the understanding of agriculture and the basics of where food comes from with kids in urban environments. He explains some of the ways this can be overcome using modern technology and social media.

Karol also has advice for all farmers on how we can promote our farming life, careers and the agriculture industry in Ireland in general.

You can read Karol’s Nuffield research report here:

https://nuffield.ie/karol-kissane-review-of-perceptions-of-agriculture-in-primary-school-students-and-opportunities-for-developments/

For more episodes and information from the Dairy Edge podcast go to:
https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/dairy/the-dairy-edge-podcast/

Succession Planning for Family Farms Jan 06, 2020

Show notes

Farm Structure specialist Gordon Peppard joins Emma-Louise Coffey to discuss opportunities in dairy farming for family farms.

Gordon identified the key players that are important for any partnership, including an agricultural consultant, accountant and solicitor.

Importantly, Gordon explains that it is vital that farm families start the conversation on the succession plan with all family members so there is clear understanding on the transfer of the farm to the next generation.

Gordon acknowledges that this conversation might not be easy to initiate but adequate discussion and planning will alleviate stress and conflict in the long-term.

For more episodes and information from the Dairy Edge podcast go to:
https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/dairy/the-dairy-edge-podcast/

The Dairy Farming Year in Review Part 2 Dec 30, 2019

Show notes

Continuing the Dairy Edge Review of the Year, Emma-Louise Coffey was joined by Teagasc Director Gerry Boyle, Teagasc specialist Abigail Ryan, and Head of Animal & Grassland Research Pat Dillon.

Gerry, Abigail and Pat took the opportunity to review the Greenfield Project following its conclusion this year with Abigail reviewing the lessons learned from the project, acknowledging its strengths and weaknesses. The Greenfield Project has proven valuable to dairy farmers across the country who have entered dairy farming in the last six years.

As we take stock of the farming year of 2019 and look forward to 2020, the panel consider areas farmers must focus on including maintaining our high calf-care standards and the importance of looking after yourself throughout the year.

For more episodes and information from the Dairy Edge podcast go to:
https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/dairy/the-dairy-edge-podcast/

The Dairy Farming Year in Review Part 1 Dec 23, 2019

Show notes

A Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all our listeners for a special 100th episode of the Dairy Edge this week when we review the dairy farming year with Teagasc Director Gerry Boyle, Teagasc specialist Abigail Ryan, and Head of Animal & Grassland Research Pat Dillon, join Emma-Louise Coffey to review the dairy farming year.

Firstly, Pat and Abigail reflect on the indications of recovery on dairy farms in 2019 following the challenging weather conditions in 2018. Pat explains that dairy farmers are improving key performance indicators including achieving record high fat and protein % in 2019.

Gerry reviewed the Climate Action Plan and key practices such as Low Emission Slurry Spreading, clover inclusion in grazing swards and protected Urea fertiliser products that farmers can adopt to reduce emissions from their farms.

The panel also reviewed 20 years of the Economic Breeding Index and measured the many improvements in the performance of the dairy cow of today compared with the dairy cows in Ireland 20 years ago including fertility, milk and profitability. Furthermore, more genetic gains are attainable to benefit dairy herds to benefit dairy farmers.

For more episodes and information from the Dairy Edge podcast go to:
https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/dairy/the-dairy-edge-podcast/

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected