Brian McDonnell

Brian McDonnell Profile Picture

Technical Dairy Specialist

Brian McDonnell is from Raheny, Co. Dublin. He has an honours degree in Sustainable Agriculture from Dundalk IT. He has worked on dairy and beef farms in both Ireland and the UK, including Teagasc Grange and a large-scale 650-cow dairy farm which also had a 1,200 animal youngstock-rearing farm in Scotland. He has a keen interest in agriculture and particularly the dairy sector and in his spare time is active in local rugby and golf.

Grass growth: Big drop predicted for the coming days

Dairy Technical

Grass growth: Big drop predicted for the coming days

Despite the weather conditions in recent weeks, grass growth rates have continued to be quite positive for the time of...
Caution required as maize harvest gets underway

Dairy Technical

Caution required as maize harvest gets underway

The harvesting of maize crops is underway on farms, but caution is advised with sticky conditions leading to muck being...
Market weakening for dairy in-calf heifers

Dairy Technical

Market weakening for dairy in-calf heifers

Prices being achieved by dairy in-calf heifers have fallen €200-400/head compared to this time last year, with prices from around...
Milk Price Tracker: Price pressure continues

Dairy News

Milk Price Tracker: Price pressure continues

The latest Milk Price Tracker – brought to you by Agriland and the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers’ Association (ICMSA) – details milk prices from the most...
Winter milk: Has your silage been tested yet?

Dairy Technical

Winter milk: Has your silage been tested yet?

Knowing the quality of the silage on your farm is vital to ensure that maximum herd performance is achieved through...
Weather woes mean it is time to move cull cows on

Dairy Technical

Weather woes mean it is time to move cull cows on

The weather conditions over the last few weeks are now really impacting on farms and it may be time to...
Autumn calving: Don’t forget the importance of colostrum

Dairy Technical

Autumn calving: Don’t forget the importance of colostrum

The importance of young calves receiving high-quality colostrum cannot be underestimated during the calving season. The autumn-calving season is underway...
Dairy advice: Managing clover swards

Dairy Technical

Dairy advice: Managing clover swards

Clover has been a major focus on most farms for the last number of years, with a particular focus placed...
Autumn calving: Management of freshly calved cows

Dairy Technical

Autumn calving: Management of freshly calved cows

The autumn-calving season is underway on dairy farms and the management of freshly calved cows during these first few weeks...
Options for feeding calves in spring 2024

Dairy Technical

Options for feeding calves in spring 2024

Feeding calves on dairy farms takes a lot of work, especially on spring-calving farms where a lot of calves are...
Dairy advice: Mastitis prevention at housing

Dairy Technical

Dairy advice: Mastitis prevention at housing

The recent heavy rainfall has forced some farmers to house cows, at least on a part-time basis, which means mastitis...
Grass growth: Grazing management now key

Dairy Technical

Grass growth: Grazing management now key

Grass growth is no longer the primary focus for farm, with a bigger focus now being placed on whether it...
Dairy advice: Keep an eye of signs of lungworm

Dairy Technical

Dairy advice: Keep an eye of signs of lungworm

The wet weather conditions experienced in most parts of the country for most of year mean that the lungworm burden...
John Deere and DeLaval create joint Milk Sustainability Center

Dairy News

John Deere and DeLaval create joint Milk Sustainability Center

John Deere and DeLaval have joined efforts to create the Milk Sustainability Center (MSC), a digital ecosystem to help dairy...
Farmers should still focus on setting up the farm for spring grazing

Dairy Technical

Farmers should still focus on setting up the farm for spring grazing

The last couple of weeks have created a challenge on farms for keeping cows grazing, with some farmers even being...
Time to completed a BCS assessment of your cows

Dairy Technical

Time to completed a BCS assessment of your cows

As many farmers are heading into the final couple of months of the lactation with 2023 spring-calving herds, now is...
Could cow flow be improved on your farm?

Dairy Technical

Could cow flow be improved on your farm?

Having good cow flow on dairy farms is vital to ensure that lameness issues are avoided and cows move more...
Autumn calving: Getting transition cow management right is vital

Dairy Technical

Autumn calving: Getting transition cow management right is vital

Getting the transition cow period right on farms is vital to cows having a successful calving period and subsequent lactation....