Dairy
As we come into back end of the year, grazing infrastructure should be analysed to ensure it is allowing for efficient and cost-effective...
Dairy farmer Eugene Lawler is farming alongside his son Eoin and his family in Ballitore, Co. Kildare where a simple grazing system is...
Dairy Technical
Although most dairy farms will not be able to make significant investments in infrastructure on their farm this years, some should be made.
The 2022 grazing season will for most be remembered for the challenges it posed to dairy farmers at different times of the year.
Grass growth is predicted to drop significantly this coming week, but that was also the prediction for last week.
Heavily rainfall over the recent days has seen grass growth rates greatly reduce on farms for the coming days.
The heavy rain experienced by many parts of the country over the weekend has made grazing management this autumn more challenging.
Grazing infrastructure plays a key role on dairy farms as it allows farmers to maximise the benefits of grazed grass in their cows' diets.
In a year with record-high input costs for farms, but also good dairy margins, what investments should farmers make?
Most dairy farmers have begun setting up their farms for autumn grazing, after a year of challenging grazing conditions on farms.
This time of year offers farmers the chance to get some jobs on their farm to-do list started - or completed. Here are some to consider.
Lameness issues on farms are likely influenced by the wet weather conditions experienced across the country.
Buildings
With the calving season in full swing on many farms, it can be hard to get time to do other jobs on the farm.
Prevention is always better than cure; but, today we will be taking a look back at a dairy farmer who believes prevention is the only cure.
While dairy cow numbers have increased on some farms, drinking troughs in many cases have not - resulting in inadequate water supplies.
Insufficient farm infrastructure (poor roadway surfaces, sharp turns, etc.) is one of the main causes of lameness in dairy herds.
Grass
Profitable beef production in Ireland is based on the use of high quantities of quality grass to produce beef at a low cost. Central to this, however, is good grazing infrastructure.
Beef
Crowds descended on Teagasc Grange for this year's Beef 2018 open day; one of the key focuses on the day was grazing infrastructure.
Each additional tonne of grass eaten by the grazing animal will add €180/ha additional profit to a dairy farm.
Paddock systems do not have to be expensive; the cheapest system will work the finest. This was a key message from a recent Irish Grassland Association farm walk.
A paddock system is key to grass growth. In Ireland, the national average grass growth on drystock farms stands at 4.5t/ha.
Following the feedback received, it was decided to run an event focused on grazing infrastructure; this event will take place on April 25.
Farming just outside Mullingar, Co. Westmeath, GD Young has developed a thriving enterprise of 350 dairy cows in a relatively short space of time.
