Alan O'Connor

Alan O

Alan is from a farming background in Co. Meath. He has recently completed a ruminant nutrition PhD researching protein metabolism in grass-fed beef cattle, having previously studied Animal Science in UCD. He has a particular interest in the dairy, beef and sheep sectors.

Gross margins on sheep farms predicted to increase in 2019

Sheep

Gross margins on sheep farms predicted to increase in 2019

According to Teagasc’s Annual Review and Outlook 2019 report for the sheep sector, the outlook for 2019 is more positive...
‘Welfare is important for dairy cow productivity’

Dairy

‘Welfare is important for dairy cow productivity’

“If a dairy cow produced a lot of milk, then it had to feel very good”, this is how Ceva’s...
Housed your flock yet? Here are some points to consider for the lambing shed

Sheep

Housed your flock yet? Here are some points to consider for the lambing shed

Lambing on all farms is different, some farmers choose to lamb their flock outdoors while others will house and lamb...
Volac: More than just silage wrap and dairy calf milk replacer

Dairy

Volac: More than just silage wrap and dairy calf milk replacer

Speaking at the European Dairy Association Conference last month, Volac CEO James Neville explained how his company has developed since...
Late-pregnancy nutrition: Check your protein levels when supplementing ewes

Sheep

Late-pregnancy nutrition: Check your protein levels when supplementing ewes

Late-pregnancy nutrition is an important stage in the lamb production system on many sheep farms as it affects the subsequent...
Sheep focus: ‘I thought he was the best ram lamb I ever had’

Sheep

Sheep focus: ‘I thought he was the best ram lamb I ever had’

Farming in Tara, Co. Meath, Pat Farrell and his son Barry run a flock of 60 pedigree Texel ewes. Their...
Dairy focus: Producing milk all year round with a pedigree Holstein herd in Co. Galway

Dairy

Dairy focus: Producing milk all year round with a pedigree Holstein herd in Co. Galway

Farming in Oranmore, Co. Galway, Michael Freeney runs an autumn and spring-calving herd of pedigree Holstein cows. Currently, Michael is...
Sheep trade: No lift in lamb quotes ahead of Christmas

Sheep

Sheep trade: No lift in lamb quotes ahead of Christmas

Once again this week, there has been no movement in factory lamb quotes, with most agents quoting the same prices...
Mart trade: Prices steady as marts prepare to close up for Christmas

Beef

Mart trade: Prices steady as marts prepare to close up for Christmas

While some marts have held their last sale of 2018 already, the remainder are expected to follow suit this week....
Diary date: IGA conference to focus on sustainable dairy farming

Dairy

Diary date: IGA conference to focus on sustainable dairy farming

The 2019 Irish Grassland Association (IGA) Dairy Conference, sponsored by Yara, takes place on Wednesday, January 9, at the Charleville...
Thinking of winter shearing your ewe flock? Here are some points to note

Sheep

Thinking of winter shearing your ewe flock? Here are some points to note

As the grazing season comes to an end on many lowland sheep farms across the country, thoughts are now turning...
‘Genetics is a key tool to help improve fertility’

Dairy

‘Genetics is a key tool to help improve fertility’

Speaking at the Irish Cattle Breeding Federation’s (ICBF’s) Genetics Conference on December 5, the ICBF’s Francis Kearney highlighted that “we...
Why do some cattle escape TB or liver fluke infection?

Dairy

Why do some cattle escape TB or liver fluke infection?

Opening her presentation at the Irish Cattle Breeding Federation’s (ICBF’s) Genetics Conference, Siobhan Ryan of Teagasc asked the audience: “Why...
Beef heifers from the dairy herd make the grade

Beef

Beef heifers from the dairy herd make the grade

After a 59-day finishing period 50 dairy origin beef heifers from the Gene Ireland Progeny test centre at Tully, Co....
Sheep trade: Lamb price holding steady as supplies tighten

Sheep

Sheep trade: Lamb price holding steady as supplies tighten

This week most factories have held quotes for lambs at last week’s figures. Some factory agents are suggesting that lamb...
Mart trade: Slight increase in price for forward store cattle

Beef

Mart trade: Slight increase in price for forward store cattle

As has been the case over the past number of weeks, the number of cattle being presented for sale has...
Teagasc reports that Sheep Welfare Scheme helped 2018 gross margins

Sheep

Teagasc reports that Sheep Welfare Scheme helped 2018 gross margins

According to Teagasc’s Annual Review and Outlook 2019 report for the sheep sector, the average gross margin earned by mid-season...
North East Texel Club to host annual in-lamb sale

Sheep

North East Texel Club to host annual in-lamb sale

The 2018 Texel Twilight in-lamb ewe sale will take place on December 29, at Station Road Mart, Cootehill, Co. Cavan....