The Indian summer experienced in the first week of September brought all types of farm machinery out of the silence caused by the wet summer. It is now a case of salvaging forages, which should have been harvested in June. Unfortunately, the feed value of these silages will be poor. It required the full week […]
Read MoreOn farm visits around the country one can not believe the amount of ragworth that is prevalent in the Countryside especially in the past month. Ragworth is a noxious weed/species. It is hard to believe that it is an illegal act to have this weed growing in pasture.
Read MoreOn a farm visit outside Dingle, Co. Kerry where the pregnancy rate was 90% for a 14 week breeding period. This was in stark contrast to last years results with only 70% pregnant for the same period. Milk analysis revealed a high infestation of stomach and liver fluke with routine drenching taking place.
Read MoreOn a farm call outside Castleisland, Co. Kerry. Where fodder shortage is a major issue. I visited 1 farmer who is feeding 3kg\’s of an 18% protein ration + ad lib straw. The Holstein Friesian heifers are currently achieving their target growth rates on this diet.
Read MoreOn calls in counties Cork and Limerick, a major focus is the cutting of grass for silage production. It is a case that this should have been cut at least 6 weeks previously. The quality of this forage will be very poor and fed to dry cows they will in many cases lose body condition […]
Read MoreWe scanned a cow outside Cappoquin, Co. Waterford. We scanned a 22 year old cow carrying a bull calf at 53 days. The client could not believe it as he had wished to cull her because of age.
Read MoreVisited a client outside Tallow, Co. Waterford who presented a herd of 100 cows for scanning. Stock bulls had been used with the herd – a friesian bull initially and then a limousin bull for the last eight weeks. We identified one cow carrying a set of identical twins. The client was trilled and more […]
Read MoreClients in Co. Derry informed me that over 400 dairy cows are going through the abattoir on a daily basis, because of feed shortages.
Read MoreCurrent costs of milk production average 26.8 pence per litre on dairy farms in Northern Ireland. Whereas milk price is 26.2 pence, at these levels there will be a large exodus from the dairy industry in Northern Ireland.
Read MoreVisited a short-horn breeder outside Tipperary town where short-horn cows were presented for scanning. These animals had been previously presented and had reproductive problems. In a number of cases the same problems arose with embryonic death in the same animals. These were pedigree short horns and an analysis of their pedigrees revealed in-breeding. This may […]
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