The number of herds in the North of Ireland on 3 times a day milking system has increased dramatically. Farmers state that they are getting an extra 15% more milk from the cows. However, research has shown that there is a pressing effect on reproductive performance. To my amazement we encountered 1 farmer in Co. […]
Read MoreVisited a client in Co. Cork, who is well informed of the impact of the Schlumberger virus. He informed us that over 85% of samples being tested in the regional laboratory were positive for the Schlumberger virus. A noted feature of calves born was the presence of an undershot mouth. It is expected that a […]
Read MoreOn a farm visit I visited a client in Co. Derry who had 4 isolation pens with cubicles in each, which enabled them to isolate cows which were in a standing heat. This avoids injury and the associated risks with mastitis.
Read MoreI spent the past week in Switzerland, visiting farms and milk processing units. The primary dairy breed is the Brown Swiss. 80% of dairy herds range in size between 10 to 50 cows. Milk price is currently 47 cents a litre. Government subsidies account for 50% of farm income. This form of supports enabled farms […]
Read MoreOn a farm visit in Co. Dublin a client presented a herd of suckler cows. He synchronized estrus in a batch of 20 cows and proceeded to use fixed time insemination. The whole programme cost him €1,200 including V.A.T. Only 3 of the cows were pregnant the remainder of the cows were not cycling or […]
Read More1. Ensure you have adequate supplies of disinfectant for calving boxes as the spring calving programme begins. 2. Scan cows now not detected in heat for autumn calving programmes. 3. Avoid dry cows losing body condition score (BCS) prior to calving. This will increase the calving interval and empty rate in next year’s breeding programme. […]
Read MoreOn farm visits around Dungiven and Eglinton Co. Derry, a number of rotary parlours have been installed. One client is discussing the option of a rotary parlour where the cows are milked from the centre of the platform. This allows better observation of the cows being milked, but is a more expensive option.
Read MoreWe visited a farmer outside Kiltegan, Co. Wicklow, who presented maiden dairy heifers, for pregnancy assessment. Pregnancy rate to first service was close to 90% in a group of 40 heifers. The heifers were fed poor quality baled silage with a DMD of 52 to 59. The heifers were also fed 4k.g of a 21% […]
Read MoreVisited a farmer in Co. Limerick who milks 50 cows in the spring months and 100 cows in the autumn months. He buys empty cows from dairy herds in the autumn. We scan the herd at this time of the year to assess reproductive status using U.S.A.R.T. Any cow with a reproductive problem is earmarked […]
Read MoreOn two farm visits in Co. Limerick, I scanned the herds prior to the starting of an embryo transfer program. The herds had previously undergone U.S.A.R.T. prior to the program. In the first farm visited 8 out of 10 cows were confirmed pregnant, while on the second farm 1 out of 7 cows were confirmed […]
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