On a farm visit outside Templemore, Co. Tipperary, a dairy farmer expressed concern at the Single Farm Payment Scheme. It was leaving him in a situation where he could not access land to rent. With the present system farmers can take a single cut of silage, sell it and keep a few dry cattle […]
Read MoreScanned 53 cows for a client in Co. Limerick. The scan revealed 8 sets of twins which is exceptionally high. The client acknowledged the identification of those cows carrying twins would assist him with their management.
Read More1.Freshly calved autumn cows need diets which do not impair dry matter intakes. Grazed grass will result in excessive fluctuations in DMI and milk production. 2. Cows are more efficient in live weight gain in late lactation than similar dry cow. Therefore, feed thin cows now while pregnant until 200 to 220 days pregnant. […]
Read MoreOn a farm visit today outside Dungarvan, Co. Waterford a client has 100 cows on a once a day milking system. This client is now selecting sires which suit once a day milking.
Read MoreOn calls in Midleton, Co. Cork farmers wanted accurate ageing, sexing and identification of empty cows. These will be sold shortly because of feed shortages and the dramatic increase in the cost of concentrate.
Read MoreOn farm visits in the Antrim hills where autumn calving cows will be housed in a full time basis for the winter months. This can in reality last for 8 months, while the profitability of this high input high output system is non-profitable at the present time.
Read MoreWe visited a suckler farmer in Co. Longford. The Reproductive performance in the herd was excellent. However previous reproductive history was extremely poor. An investigation revealed that IBR infection caused severe health problems and associated impairment of reproductive performance. A vaccination programme was put in place five months ago, and the overall health of the […]
Read More1.Weanling heifers need to be gaining weight to achieve breeding size next Spring. Grass quality is not sufficient. Concentrate supplementation with 18 to 20% C.P. 2.Condition score your cows. Dry off in-calf cows which are BCS of 2.0 and feed them to gain BCS. 3.Identify empty cows by scanning and plan on culling strategy. […]
Read MoreA client outside Ballingarry, Co. Limerick, was telling me that he had planned to sell a group of in calf Holstein heifers. However, he was informed by a buyer for the Russian market that the heifers meet all the criteria, except milk recording records for their cows. In calf heifers for this market are currently […]
Read MoreOn a farm visit in Co Offaly, a client complained about mould contamination in purchased bales of silage. He had to purchase baled silage for his herd of Brown Swiss cows due to feed shortages. He claimed that he had no problems with mould contamination when he ensured that 22 wraps of silage encased his […]
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