The Dairy Edge

Pat Tuohy, Programme Coordinator of the Heavy Soils Programme, joins Stuart Childs on this week’s episode of The Dairy Edge podcast, to speak about the findings from the last ten years that have helped to develop a blueprint for resilient dairy farms on heavy soils across the country.   Pat started by revisiting the wet years of 2009 and 2012 which were the catalyst for the commencement of the pro...

For this week’s podcast version of the Let’s Talk Dairy webinar series, Stuart Childs, Teagasc Dairy Specialist, discusses on-off grazing.   On-off grazing is often associated with the springtime but it's also part of the grazing repertoire at this time of the year. If ground conditions are gone tricky, on-off grazing may be the solution. To register for future Let’s Talk Dairy webinars go to: htt...

Michelle McGrath, a vet working with Animal Health Ireland, tells Stuart Childs on this week’s Dairy Edge podcast about a number of Department of Agriculture funded animal health consultations that farmers can avail of through their vets.   Michelle says that, for farmers struggling with their bulk SCC, there is an in-lactation consult available to help farmers take the first steps towards getting...

For this week’s podcast version of the Let’s Talk Dairy webinar series, Stuart Childs, Teagasc Dairy Specialist, discusses milk sensitivity analysis and its increasing importance for drying-off cows. To register for future Let’s Talk Dairy webinars go to: https://www.teagasc.ie/corporate-events/lets-talk-dairy/   For more episodes from the Dairy Edge podcast go to the show page at: https://www.tea...

Seamus Kearney, Teagasc Training and Development Specialist on the Signpost Programme, joins Stuart Childs on this week’s episode of The Dairy Edge to discuss some of the ways that farmers can reduce greenhouse gas and ammonia emissions from their farms.   Seamus explains that 65% of farm emissions are coming from methane and approximately 30% are coming from nitrous oxide which is derived mainly...

For this week’s podcast version of the Let’s Talk Dairy webinar series, Stuart Childs, Teagasc Dairy Specialist, discusses the last rotation and closing up the farm to leave it in a good situation for 2023. To register for future Let’s Talk Dairy webinars go to: https://www.teagasc.ie/corporate-events/lets-talk-dairy/   For more episodes from the Dairy Edge podcast go to the show page at: https://...

John McCabe, Teagasc Aurivo Joint Programme Group Facilitator and Monitor Farm Advisor, joins Stuart Childs on the latest episode of the Dairy Edge podcast to discuss how Autumn grass build-up has gone this year as well as the Autumn closing strategy.   John explains that if farms want to build cover, it is imperative that they use some supplement in August to actively build cover and that good gr...

For this week’s podcast version of the Let’s Talk Dairy webinar series, Stuart Childs, Teagasc Dairy Specialist, discusses managing somatic cell count (SCC) in late lactation.    Stuart emphasises the importance of the use of milk recording information, acting on it and the follow through that is required around that. To register for future Let’s Talk Dairy webinars go to: https://www.teagasc.ie/c...

Willie Buckley, Veterinary Surgeon at Riverview Veterinary Group in Bandon and Animal Health Ireland, Cellcheck Technical Working Group member, joins Stuart Childs on this week’s Dairy Edge podcast to discuss the January change in legislation that now means that blanket dry cow antibiotic use is a thing of the past.   Willie explains why the legislation has changed and what it means for farmers. I...

For this week’s podcast version of the Let’s Talk Dairy webinar series, Stuart Childs, Teagasc Dairy Specialist, discusses the changes to the closed periods, specifically for slurry.   To register for future Let’s Talk Dairy webinars go to: https://www.teagasc.ie/corporate-events/lets-talk-dairy/   For more episodes from the Dairy Edge podcast go to the show page at: https://www.teagasc.ie/animals...

Teagasc Drystock advisor in Moorepark, Michael Bourke, joins Stuart Childs on this week’s Dairy Edge podcast to discuss how he views contract rearing from a drystock and dairy farmer’s point of view. Michael has nearly 15 years’ experience in setting up contract rearing arrangements.   Michael first explains that while getting the price right in terms of what is paid per head per day is important,...

Since The Dairy Edge launched in January 2018 as Ireland’s first dairy-focused podcast, there have been 245 episodes released weekly as well as additional bonus content from the Let’s Talk Dairy webinars presented by Stuart Childs.   The Dairy Edge has now reached the remarkable milestone of half a million listens and to celebrate that incredible achievement, we have compiled clips from some of ou...

Dairygold Joint Programme Group Facilitator, William Burchill, joins Stuart Childs on this week’s Dairy Edge podcast to discuss further work that can be done to improve soil fertility even though the date has passed for the spreading of chemical nitrogen and Phosphorus.   William outlines the offtakes of Potassium (K) associated with grazing and the impact that even one cut of bales can have on a...

For this week’s podcast version of the Let’s Talk Dairy webinar series, Stuart Childs, Teagasc Dairy Specialist, was joined by Teagasc’s John McCabe and John Douglas, Teagasc Grass10 Advisor to get an update on the current grazing conditions as well as an insight into the latest advice for farmers.   To register for future Let’s Talk Dairy webinars go to: https://www.teagasc.ie/corporate-events/le...

Grass10 advisor, Joseph Dunphy, joins Emma-Louise Coffey on this week’s Dairy Edge podcast to review the grassland situation on dairy farms and provides advice for the remainder of the grazing season.   Joseph explains that, depending on the level of rainfall during July and August, the average farm cover and consequently, grass availability, is completely variable; some farms are on a predominant...

Dairy specialist, George Ramsbottom, joins Emma-Louise Coffey on this week’s episode of The Dairy Edge podcast to consider whether to cull empty cows early or milk them until December.   George estimates that there are 80-100 days left in lactation for spring calving dairy herds; at on average 15 litres per day this will return an income of €700-900 per cow.   George explains where grass growth an...

For this week’s podcast version of the Let’s Talk Dairy webinar series, Stuart Childs, Teagasc Dairy Specialist, gives an update on grass supply on farms using data available from PastureBase Ireland.   To register for future Let’s Talk Dairy webinars go to: https://www.teagasc.ie/corporate-events/lets-talk-dairy/   For more episodes from the Dairy Edge podcast go to the show page at: https://www....

Dairy Farmer, Joe Leonard, and Seed Merchant, Tom McGuinness, join Emma-Louise Coffey on this week’s Dairy Edge podcast to discuss the integration of multi-species swards into dairy farm systems.   During a trip to South Africa in 2016, Joe observed multi-species swards in practice and his interest was piqued.  From 2017, Joe set about incorporating multi-species into his reseeding plans.   Tom Mc...

For this week’s podcast version of the Let’s Talk Dairy webinar series, Stuart Childs, Teagasc Dairy Specialist, speaks to John McNamara to get advice about farmer respiratory health.   To register for future Let’s Talk Dairy webinars go to: https://www.teagasc.ie/corporate-events/lets-talk-dairy/   For more episodes from the Dairy Edge podcast go to the show page at: https://www.teagasc.ie/animal...

Grass 10 champion, Colin Doherty, joins Emma-Louise Coffey on this week’s Dairy Edge to explain how he and his father have developed their dairy farm and built a repeatable grass-based system.   Colin says that, while the farm was in winter milk until 2005, grazed grass was always the core feed that drove their milk production.    This has continued since they transitioned to spring milk productio...

Teagasc’s, David Wall, joins Emma-Louise Coffey on the latest Dairy Edge podcast with strategies to tackle and lift soil fertility.   David explains that while fertiliser cost and uncertainty of supply has worried farmers during the year, some positive trends such as better use of slurry and increased use of lime were observed.    However, David warns that if you have taken a break from spreading...

Ger Cusack and Ned Dunphy join Emma-Louise Coffey on this week’s Dairy Edge podcast to discuss common lameness conditions, its cause and appropriate treatment strategies.   Ger explains that white line disease and sole bruising are the most common lameness conditions in grazing dairy cows which are generally caused by poor walking surfaces and cows being rushed on roadways.   Ned documents the int...

For this week’s podcast version of the Let’s Talk Dairy webinar series, Stuart Childs, Teagasc Dairy Specialist, looked at winter fodder   To register for future Let’s Talk Dairy webinars go to: https://www.teagasc.ie/corporate-events/lets-talk-dairy/   For more episodes from the Dairy Edge podcast go to the show page at: https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/dairy/the-dairy-edge-podcast/

Dairy farmer and AI technician, Colm O’Connor, joins Emma-Louise Coffey on this week’s Dairy Edge podcast to discuss the early indications of the success of the 2022 breeding season.   On his farm Colm achieved an 80% 21 day submission rate, reaching 90% at 25/26 days and conception rate to first service of 65%. He explained that breeding performance was exceptional in his heifers, achieving a 100...

For this week’s podcast version of the Let’s Talk Dairy webinar series, Stuart Childs, Teagasc Dairy Specialist, covered tips for building autumn grass cover.   To register for future Let’s Talk Dairy webinars go to: https://www.teagasc.ie/corporate-events/lets-talk-dairy/   For more episodes from the Dairy Edge podcast go to the show page at: https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/dairy/the-dairy-edge-po...