Dairy Technical
As mastitis is one of the most costly diseases in dairy, farmers are advised that lime and sawdust can greatly improve cubicle hygiene.
Dairy
At a recent Teagasc farmyard design event held on Denis Hearne's farm in Bunmahon, Co. Waterford, it was discussed in detail how Denis...
We are only days away until calving starts which means many cows are in transition periods where the risk of mastitis increases drastically.
We are approaching the winter housing period and farmers must be mindful of keeping lameness to a minimum through good practices and...
We are now entering into the final few weeks of the grazing season, and hygiene must be front and centre as many cows are in by night...
We are now into the month of September where it is easy to get caught up in other jobs that may seem like a priority, but preparing sheds...
Ensuring that there is adequate feed space and cubicles is going to be vital over the next few weeks on dairy farms...
Opinion
I am sure that we have all longed for a certain Christmas present that never materialised. So here’s my story.
Your in-calf heifer are just a over a month away from calving, but they are now in a high risk period for potential cases of heifer mastitis.
Hydrated lime has an important role to play on dairy farms over the winter months in the prevention of mastitis cases.
It is now time to start looking at the sheds that will be used for housing livestock over the winter months to ensure they are ready.
The vast majority of dairy cows, both dry and milking, will spend the winter months housed in sheds on cubicles.
Lime is an important product to control mastitis during the housed period, it increases the pH and suppresses bacteria.
The dry period can be a high-risk time for picking up mastitis-causing infections, which often present early in the subsequent lactation.
The end of August is in sight, which means that we are now moving into autumn and the build-up to housing on farms is beginning.
Property
Hailed as a "top class dairy farm" this property at Breska, Clarina, Co. Limerick, comprises 148ac of rolling grazing land.
Heifer mastitis can be an issue on some farms, with heifer calving down with mastitis or a case developing early in lactation.
A brisket board is a useful way to control the position of a cow on cubicles, thus reducing the amount of dunging on cubicles.
