The Dairy Edge

Latest Episodes:

Returning from Dublin to Kerry - Karol Kissane's Dairy Farming Story Dec 16, 2019

Show notes

Karol Kissane joins Emma-Louise Coffey to discuss his farming business and how he was drawn back to agriculture after a successful career in finance.

Karol left school at a young age to pursue a career in farming but after a short time farming at home with his father, he acknowledged that the farm was not sufficient to support two incomes so Karol returned to education, completing the Leaving Certificate and a business degree at UCC.

After working for several years in the financial sector, Karol felt drawn back to farming as a career and a way of life for him and his wife and he explains the process of converting the farm to a dairy farm and the high performance he is achieving annually. Karol also gives tips on returning home and dealing with the dynamics of a family farm.

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

How do Irish dairy farmers perform when it comes to calf welfare? Dec 09, 2019

Show notes

Padraig French joins Emma-Louise Coffey to measure the welfare of calves on Irish Dairy Farms.

Padraig explains that calf mortality at birth and at one month old is a key metric to measure calf welfare. Comparing the performance in Ireland over the last 10 years, calf mortality has fallen on farms, despite an additional 300,000 calves being born annually.

Mortality at birth declined from 1.95% to 1.30% and mortality at 28 days declined from 3.71% to 3.20% comparing 2011 with 2019 figures.

Additionally, Padraig explained that the births were equal across males and female calves. Total calf in the 1st month of life at 4.5% in Ireland is half that of our international counterparts.

Furthermore, he briefly reviews a trial carried out by researchers John Barry and Emer Kennedy. They measured the level of Immunoglobulin levels in the blood of calves which indicates whether a calf received adequate colostrum. Padraig explains that both male and female calves received adequate colostrum.

Padraig also encourages farmers to take a look at their facilities and available labour to ensure dairy farmers continue to maintain a high calf welfare status within their own herd.

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

Top tips for successful farm planning Dec 02, 2019

Show notes

Dairy expansion specialist Patrick Gowing joins Emma-Louise Coffey to discuss his top tips for successful planning for expansion and new entrants to dairy.

Patrick emphasises the importance of purchasing the best stock possible in new entrant or expanding herds, explaining that €100 extra for high genetic merit in-calf heifers will pay for itself in the long term in terms of superior performance.

When deciding between heifers and cows, Patrick explained that heifers have the potential to survive in the herd longer than cows. Additionally, where a farm is existing dairy production, Patrick would consider the potential of high quality stock in such a herd.

Patrick also estimates the cost of milking facilities, buildings and grazing infrastructure as well as a contingency budget to ensure all aspects of the farm plan can be achieved.

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

The methods to increase calf rearing facilities Nov 25, 2019

Show notes

Dairy advisor, Trevor Dunwoody, joins Emma-Louise Coffey to discuss alternative calf rearing facilities.

Trevor explains examples of use of calf hutches on silage slabs, rearing calves outdoors from 3-4 weeks of age, contract rearing, sale of non-replacement stock from 2 weeks of age and construction of a new calf shed or modifying existing sheds.

With calf hutches, calves are typically housed in groups of 3 to 8 and Trevor explains it is important that run off can be collected.

When rearing calves outdoor, it is important to identify a sheltered paddock or provide an artificial shelter. Calves are generally fed with a mobile feeder and therefore, can be managed in larger groups.

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

Are your calf rearing facilities adequate ahead of spring 2020? Nov 18, 2019

Show notes

Dairy specialist Martina Gormley joins Emma-Louise Coffey to help identify the proper requirements for calf housing facilities on dairy farms in Ireland.

She explains that 1.5 million dairy cows will calve down in Ireland in 2020, with almost 1 million of those calving in the first 3 months of the year.

Martina guides farmers on how they can calculate their calf rearing requirements based on their calving pattern. Where a dairy farmer has an 80% 6 week calving rate will have a peak of 70 calves on farm in early March. Each calf requires a space allowance of 1.7㎡.

She also emphasises the importance of calculating requirements compared with current facilities and ensures that where there is a shortfall in current facilities, it is not too late to make a plan to create alternative options.
For more episodes and information from the Dairy Edge podcast go to:
https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/dairy/the-dairy-edge-podcast/

The current grassland situation on farms across the country Nov 11, 2019

Show notes

John Maher, Grass 10 Campaign Manager, joins Emma-Louise Coffey to discuss the current grassland situation on farms across the country.

Firstly, John reflects on the 2019 grazing season and he advises farmers to look at some key figures such as total grass production, number of grazings achieved and pre-grazing herbage cover.

John looks to the current situation on farms and explains that while overall annual rainfall is normal, above average rainfall has been observed in late August, September and October.

He urges farmers to be flexible with grazing using on/off grazing, multiple access points to enter and exit the paddock and ensure cows are keen to graze for a grazing bout.

John refers to the current average farm cover of over 700 Kg DM/ha recorded on PastureBase Ireland but warns that individual farmers must ensure their farm does not fall below a cover of 500 kg DM/ha. A low average farm cover will limit the ability of farm to grow grass across the winter and compromise grass supply in spring.

For more information:
https://www.teagasc.ie/media/website/publications/2019/73rd-Edition-Grass10-Newsletter-05-11-19.pdf

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

Is my herd suitable for selective dry cow therapy? Nov 04, 2019

Show notes

Milk quality specialist Don Crowley joins Emma-Louise Coffey to discuss the role of selective dry cow therapy in Irish Dairy herds.

Don explains the essential criteria farmers must review to identify suitable cows for selective DCT including milk recording results for the full lactation and 30 days in advance of dry-off, evidence of cows mastitis cases and treatment, culture and sensitivity analysis for the herd.

Importantly, Don emphasises the importance of selective DCT explaining that regulation will enforce this practice from January 2022.

He guides farmers through the dry cow procedure, giving simple tips and reminding us of the importance of hygiene. Where operators clothing, the parlour and the cow herself are dirty, there is a risk of introducing mastitis infection to the cow’s udder.

For more information:

http://animalhealthireland.ie/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/CellCheck-On-Farm-Events-2019-Booklet-Web-Version.pdf

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

Getting the heifer rearing process right Oct 25, 2019

Show notes

Researchers Emer Kennedy and Hazel Costigan join Emma-Louise Coffey on this week's Dairy Edge to discuss the importance of getting the heifer rearing process right.

Emer explains that there are target growth rates throughout the heifer rearing period: 30% of mature BW at 6 months, 60% of mature BW at 15 months and 90% of mature BW at 24 months. Regular weighing will ensure that heifers are on target.

Hazel adds that the target will vary across herds depending on the cow type and to identify the exact target for your herd, you should weigh lactation 3 cows or older in month of May or June.

Emer explains that for heifers that fail to reach target weight or are too heavy, evident negative effects include delayed cyclicity, extended calving interval, lower milk solids production and reduced longevity.

For more information:

https://www.teagasc.ie/media/website/animals/dairy/ReplacmentHeiferManagement.pdf

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

The Future of Nitrates Derogation Oct 21, 2019

Show notes

Environmental specialist Tim Hyde joins Emma-Louise Coffey to discuss the future of Nitrates Derogation for Irish farmers.

Tim explains that 7,000 farmers (5%) are currently in derogation, accounting for 10% of farm land and 20% of livestock. Dairy farms account for 90% of farms in derogation, making up the majority of farmers engaging derogation.

The most recent Nitrates review, Nitrates Action Programme 2018-2021, has issued many recommendations to improve farm sustainability. Tim takes us through the recommendations including low emission slurry spreading, liming programme, improved grassland management, protected urea, white clover, ration type, biodiversity and farm infrastructure such as layout of roadways and access to watercourses.

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

Budget 2020 for Dairy Farmers Oct 14, 2019

Show notes

Financial Specialist Kevin Connolly joins Emma-Louise Coffey to discuss Budget 2020.

Kevin explains the key budget measures that effect farmers including income tax, stock relief for young trained farmers, Capital Gains Tax and Capital Acquisitions Tax.

He explains that the budget has established provisions of €110m for Agriculture in the event of a no deal Brexit. Although there is little detail on specific allocation of funds, €85m has been allocated for beef farmers accounting for the greatest proportion of the fund.

Carbon related measures have seen an immediate increase in the cost of petrol and car diesel with tractor diesel and home heating oil increasing from May 2020.

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

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