Cathal McAleer

Cathal McAleer Profile Picture
Cathal McAleer

Cathal McAleer - Author - Agriland.ie

Cathal McAleer is a grassland consultant working with individual farmers and facilitating discussion groups throughout Ireland. 087 160 2491 / 0044 7749 531679

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Grass advice: Where to now?

Grass advice: Where to now?

As dairy farmers, we are great at knowing our targets: 90% submission rate within 21 days of breeding start date;...
Dairy advice: Taking stock and gearing up for 2018

Dairy advice: Taking stock and gearing up for 2018

2017 is drawing to a close and – for spring-calving herds – the majority of cows are now dried off....
Grass advice: Cleaning final heavy covers and keeping your cows healthy

Grass advice: Cleaning final heavy covers and keeping your cows healthy

What a difference a week makes. Although weather has got a lot cooler, ground conditions have improved greatly – allowing...
Grass advice: Don’t generalise your closing cover targets

Grass advice: Don’t generalise your closing cover targets

As we plan to extend the grazing season, increasing the average farm cover (AFC) is now on most of our...
Grass advice: Managing surplus grass and rotation length

Grass advice: Managing surplus grass and rotation length

The nights are getting slightly longer as we have passed summer’s peak. However, grass growth rates are excellent on most...
Grass advice: Managing grass quality while the sun shines

Grass advice: Managing grass quality while the sun shines

With the sun on your back – and on the cows’ – dairy farming has to be one of the...
Grass advice: Key breeding and management decisions for May

Grass advice: Key breeding and management decisions for May

The first round of breeding has kicked off to a flying start, with excellent weather over the past few weeks....
Grass advice: Making the most of your ‘cover’

Grass advice: Making the most of your ‘cover’

A warm weather forecast for this week is going to drive up grass growth rates; it is much needed on some...
Grass advice: Reaping the rewards of April grass and choosing fertilisers

Grass advice: Reaping the rewards of April grass and choosing fertilisers

It’s mid-April and the sun is shining. Temperatures are varying quite a bit throughout the country but farms that got the...
Grass advice: If the grass account runs out your bank account will suffer

Grass advice: If the grass account runs out your bank account will suffer

A welcome stretch in the evenings is helping to dry things up a bit. There has been a lot of...
Grass advice: How to balance intake, utilisation and soil damage

Grass advice: How to balance intake, utilisation and soil damage

It is incredible how much people’s moods improve when there are a few hours of sunshine and dry concrete. We’ve had...
‘Fertiliser application in January is not a one size fits all decision’

‘Fertiliser application in January is not a one size fits all decision’

There has been plenty of discussion around fertiliser application in January and it is not a once size fits all...
Grass advice: Nearing the end of the green stuff

Grass advice: Nearing the end of the green stuff

North of the border most herds are now fully housed or on their last few days at grass. With frosty...
Finding the perfect balance between grazing and condition score

Finding the perfect balance between grazing and condition score

As we enter into the second week of closing, the effect of grazing heavier covers becomes apparent; cows are working...
Grass advice: Wet weather takes its toll, but conditions starting to improve

Grass advice: Wet weather takes its toll, but conditions starting to improve

Ground conditions in the north and west of the country has made grazing extremely difficult over the past two weeks....
Plenty of planning to do for the remainder of the grazing season

Plenty of planning to do for the remainder of the grazing season

As autumn draws in, there is plenty of planning to do for the remainder of the grazing season and indeed...
The day slurry goes from being a nuisance to a huge resource

The day slurry goes from being a nuisance to a huge resource

From February 1 (on farms in Northern Ireland) or January 16 on farms in the Republic of Ireland, slurry goes...
Grass advice: Closing up grass for spring 2016 has begun on some farms

Grass advice: Closing up grass for spring 2016 has begun on some farms

Early October is upon us and closing up grass for spring 2016 has begun on some farms. The ‘start of...