Johnstown Castle farm manager Aidan Lawless joins Emma-Louise Coffey to discuss full lactation performance for the winter milk herd and current milk and grass production.

40% of the winter herd are still milking and will be dried off this week, currently on a restricted diet with the view to depress milk yield. Aidan is extremely happy with fertility performance recording just 8% empty this year.  The spring herd are currently milking 23 litres or 1.8 kg MS, declining from peak of 32 litres.
 

Grass production was a challenge in July with a substantial soil moisture deficit and growth rates half of projected growth based on the Johnstown Castle average. Heavy rainfall in late July/early August has helped recovery to normal growth.
 

Finally, Aidan highlights the upcoming Winter Milk event at Johnstown Castle on the 4th September, covering a range of topics from feed management, genetics, fertility to soil fertility.

https://www.teagasc.ie/news--events/national-events/events/winter-milk-event.php

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