UCD dairy lecturer Karina Pierce joins us on the Dairy Edge to give an insight into the rationale behind the high input-high output research herd at UCD Lyons Farm. 

Some of the key factors that have prompted the study are limitations to dairy production such as land availability, labour and environmental constraints. 

Karina explains the ambitious targets set out including high EBI cows and a high level of fertility performance in a spring-calving grass based production systems as well as achieving high milk output. 

She acknowledges the adverse relationship between high milk yield and fertility in the past but explains while fertility in the first two years has been disappointing, practices such as pre-breeding heat detection and scanning, a move to twice-a-day AI and the use of scratch cards in conjunction with the MooMonitor has helped improve conception and pregnancy rates during the 2018 breeding season. 

Karina estimated the cows in the Lyons study consume 6 tonnes DM of feed to maintain themselves and fuel high milk productivity, of which concentrates is 1.5 tonne (25%). The cows are producing 590 kg MS over a 305 day lactation, just 5% off the target of 625 kg. 

She emphasises the importance of achieving high output where you are feeding high levels of concentrate.  

For more information: https://www.ucd.ie/agfood/about/lyonsresearchfarm/lyonsdairyherd/https://www.ucd.ie/agfood/about/lyonsresearchfarm/lyonssystemsresearchherdnotes/

There has been an increase in forage crops as a means to bridge the forage deficit on farms in Ireland as forage crops can grow large quantities of feed over a short time period and Teagasc's Research Officer, Nicky Byrne, gives an insight into the management of forage crops ahead of the winter period. 

Nicky discusses the feed quality of popular forage crops and advises farmers to consider providing a bolus to stock in order to ensure mineral requirements are met. 

Plus, get practical tips on daily feed out, including how to manage the transition period and the use of double fencing to prevent gorging and illness. 

Finally, Nicky looks ahead to 2019 and suggests an appropriate date to commence reseeding to get paddocks into grass production.

For more information go to:

https://www.teagasc.ie/publications/2018/managing-a-forage-crop-this-autumn.php

And visit The Dairy Edge show page here:

https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/dairy/the-dairy-edge-podcast/

Ahead of the Dry Cow events that will take place across Ireland this Autumn, Mastitis expert Don Crowley speaks about the importance of the dry period and its impact on future production and profit potential. 

Don looks at the key management factors leading up to dry off, the treatment process and after dry cow therapy. He also explains good preparation, hygiene and making sure you have enough help are key factors for successful dry cow treatment, all within farmers control! 

Finally, Don gives an insight into selective dry cow therapy, and suggests what cows it would work for in your herd.

For more information:

https://www.teagasc.ie/news--events/news/2018/get-ready-to-maximise-you.php

https://www.teagasc.ie/media/website/news/2018/cell-check-events.JPG

On this week's episode of The Dairy Edge podcast, Joe Patton gives an overview of the scale of winter fodder deficit on farms across the country.

Joe explains that the fodder deficit is greatest in the south and south west of the country.

He suggests that options such as wintering groups of stock off farm and increased levels of supplementary feeds can reduce feed deficits on farms for the winter ahead.

Joe also advises all farmers to take action right now to prepare for the winter - assess the quantity of feed in the yard (measure pit and get silage tested), get rid non-production stock from the farm and measure feed space.

For more information:

https://www.teagasc.ie/media/website/publications/2018/Fodder-Plan-18.pdf

https://www.teagasc.ie/media/website/publications/2018/Feeding-tips-when-forage-is-short.pdf

Ed Payne continues his interview with Emma-Louise Coffey on this week’s Dairy Edge to discuss all things labour. 

Ed explains how a team in excess of ten labour units including family labour, full-time labour, relief milkers and seasonal staff manages the 470 cows with Ed crediting the team as the driver of high technical performance, work satisfaction and work-life balance. 

The backing of such a strong team has also given Ed the opportunity to pursue a Nuffield Scholarship including international travel for up to six weeks at a time.

For more information on Ed Payne's success go to:

https://www.teagasc.ie/media/website/publications/2018/Payne-farm-walk-booklet-18th-May.pdf

Connacht/Ulster Grass 10 champion Ed Payne joins Emma-Louise Coffey on this week’s Dairy Edge to discuss the decision to convert to dairy farming and the practices that helped attain the regional grassland award.

Ed gives an insight into the production system, emphasising the importance of grazed grass and cow. He also discusses how he's achieving 10 grazings per year, high stocking rate and being mentally prepared to get out grazing early in the spring helps achieve high levels of grass utilisation.

For more information https://www.teagasc.ie/media/website/publications/2018/Payne-farm-walk-booklet-18th-May.pdf

Teagasc’s Farm Business Specialist Tom Curran joins Emma-Louise Coffey on this week’s Dairy Edge podcast to discuss the various collaborative farming structures operating in Ireland.

Tom gives examples of case studies of farm structures including as partnerships, cow leasing and contract rearing identifying important criteria to consider and typical costings per animal. Tom also explains the considerable benefits these structures can offer to farm business such as improved lifestyle, ability to build cow numbers and increasing profitability.

For more information https://www.teagasc.ie/rural-economy/farm-management/collaborative-farming/

Is collaborative farming for you? Teagasc’s Paidi Kelly joins Emma-Louise Coffey on this week’s Dairy Edge podcast to discuss the opportunities and benefits from collaborative farming.

He explains how and why it works for those interested in farming as a career while for established farmers who don’t have a successor, the next best thing is to work with younger people who want to get into farming.

For more information:

https://www.teagasc.ie/rural-economy/farm-management/collaborative-farming/

A secondary drought has hit the east and south of the country and on this week's episode of The Dairy Edge podcast, Grass10 campaign manager, John Maher, explains best management of this drought.

Where growth rates are low at 20-40 kg farmers must maintain a 30 day grazing rotation, using supplementary feed to fill the gap in the cows diet. John explains that there is still Nitrogen in the ground but there is value in spreading Nitrogen between now and the extended closing deadlines.

Where growth is normal, John advices to follow the standard recommended autumn grazing guidelines  - farm cover/cow of 300 kg by the end of August and continue to build cover into September in order to extend grazing. For farms growing in excess of 100 kg, farmers should take advantage of the opportunity of making surplus silage as well as building autumn grass.

For more information https://www.teagasc.ie/media/website/publications/2018/Grass10-Newsletter_21-August-2018.pdf

Andre van Barneveld of Graise Consultancy, draws on his experience of dealing with frequent summer droughts in New Zealand and has some key lessons that Irish farmers can learn from the summer of 2018.

"Irish farmers should not have a kneejerk reaction," van Barneveld cautions. "But they should be a lot more pro-active, especially when it comes to problem cows."

Andre explains the importance of identifying ‘passenger cows’ who should leave the herd ASAP. Where grass production is restricted, these cows are being fed solely from supplement feed. Andres emphases the importance of calculating the winter feed requirements of your whole herd, including young stock. In order to reduce winter requirements, farmers should maximise grass production late summer/autumn grazing period.

For more from Andre: 

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1872532926131384&id=1161444260573591