The fodder shortage has asked many questions about systems of milk production for spring calving systems. There is no discussion of expansion on any farm visits. Farmers are optimistic that a mild autumn will enable the harvest of third cuts of silage and enable cows to be kept outdoors later in the autumn. The challenges […]
Read MoreThe impact of the drought still pertains on many dairy farms in the South East and Midlands. The contrasts in challenges experienced by farmers in different parts of the country are phenomenal. Dairy farmers in the North and West coast have seen an excellent recovery with land set aside for second and third cuts of […]
Read MoreWater is an integral element of our daily industry. The current drought is having enormous adverse effects on both welfare of our livestock and stress placed on farm families. Milk production has dropped dramatically and the incidence of later foetal death has increased. This will ultimately increase the number of empty cows at the end […]
Read MoreThe improvement in weather for the past three weeks has provided an excellent opportunity to preserve top quality silage and get slurry spread in preparation for second cuts of silage. Farmers are now heeding the need to have extra reserves of silage to address the risk of an extended indoor feeding period. Milk proteins are […]
Read MoreThis has been an extremely difficult season to date. Grazing conditions and indeed the opportunity for zero grazing have been challenging. However those farmers who have maintained supplemental concentrates to avoid a continuity of negative energy balance and in turn maintain optimal body condition scores are reaping the rewards of high submission rates and pregnancy […]
Read MoreAn improvement in soil temperatures has brought relief to most dairy farmers as they see an opportunity to get cows outdoors by day and night. Many farmers are still faced with keeping cows indoors at night until grass covers sustain a normal grazing rotation. Supplemental concentrates with forage extenders have been the key to maintain […]
Read MoreThis will be a challenging year for breeding programmes for spring calving in 2019. The seeds have already been set which dictate both egg quality and uterine environment for development of the early stage embryo after breeding in 3 to 5 weeks time. The challenges of a late spring abound inside the farm gate. Farmers […]
Read MoreThe workload on spring calving dairy herds has now stepped up into “sixth gear” as we approach week 5 of the calving season on most farms. Pressure points have increased because of restricted opportunities to get freshly calved cows out to grass, slurry storage facilities are full on most farms and it has not been […]
Read MoreSpring calving programmes will begin now for grass based milk production systems. The target is to have 90% of cows calved in a six week period. However, the reality is that this figure will be closer to 70% on the majority of dairy farms. Thankfully, calving patterns are not as tight as target of 90%. […]
Read MoreThe morning and evening hum of milking parlours harvesting milk from daily herds has ceased for a six week period. There are exceptions to this scenario but unfortunately they are akin to locating the corncrake in many areas of Southern Ireland. Winter milk production systems are now primarily based in Northern Ireland with small pockets […]
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