The Dairy Edge

Teagasc Kerry Dairy Ireland Joint Programme Demonstration Farm Advisor, Claire McAuliffe, and Programme Demonstration Farmer, Pa O’Hanlon, join Stuart Childs on this week’s Dairy Edge to discuss pre breeding management to drive submission rate and ultimately 6 week calving rate for the next calving season.   Pa first explains how calving has gone on the farm in 2025 and how he has delayed his calv...

For this week’s Grass10 grazing management update, Joseph Dunphy discusses key grazing targets throughout April and he has a grazing update from Matthew Draper, Co. Cork.   Link to this week’s Grass10 newsletter: https://bit.ly/Grass10-15thApril   For more episodes from the Dairy Edge podcast go to the show page at: https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/dairy/the-dairy-edge-podcast/   The Dairy Edge is a...

Mike Dineen, a Teagasc researcher whose work focuses on animal nutrition, and Chris Heffernan, who recently completed his PhD in Teagasc Moorepark, join James Dunne on this week’s Dairy Edge to discuss the factors affecting milk fat production in dairy cows under pasture-based management systems.     Mike and Chris explain the typical reduction in milk fat during late spring and early summer and o...

For this week’s Grass10 grazing management update, Joseph Dunphy discusses beginning the 2nd rotation and has information on upcoming reseeding events countrywide, plus he gets a grazing update from Oisin Gallen, Co. Donegal.   Link to this week’s Grass10 newsletter: https://bit.ly/Grass10-April8th   For more episodes from the Dairy Edge podcast go to the show page at: https://www.teagasc.ie/anima...

For this week’s Grass10 grazing management update, as excellent grazing conditions prevail, Joseph Dunphy discusses managing supply and he has a grazing update from David French, Co. Wexford.   Link to this week’s Grass10 newsletter: https://bit.ly/Grass10-1stApril   For more episodes from the Dairy Edge podcast go to the show page at: https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/dairy/the-dairy-edge-podcast/  ...

Michael O’Donovan, Head of the Grassland Science Department at Teagasc Moorepark joins James Dunne on this week’s Dairy Edge.   Michael discusses the grassland performance on Irish dairy farms over the last number of years, how farmers can increase the amount of pasture grown on farm and outlines key decisions that need to be made over the coming weeks to ensure high levels of animal performance o...

For this week’s Grass10 grazing management update, as AFC drops with the excellent grazing conditions, Joseph Dunphy discusses feeding the cow appropriately, plus he has a grazing update from Eoin Corrigan, Co. Meath.   Link to this week’s Grass10 newsletter:  https://bit.ly/Grass10-25thMarch     For more episodes from the Dairy Edge podcast go to the show page at: https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/d...

Sean Coughlan, CEO of the Irish Cattle Breeding Federation (ICBF), joins Stuart Childs on this week’s Dairy Edge to discuss Irish dairy, dairy beef breeding and everything in between.   Sean discusses the National Genotyping Programme, the changes that they have made to improve for 2025 and how they have even more herds taken into the programme and will be looking to recruit more later on this yea...

For this week’s Grass10 grazing management update, Joseph Dunphy discusses managing the remaining grazing area on the 1st rotation and he has a grazing update from Shane Seymour, Co. Tipperary.   Link to this week’s Grass10 newsletter: https://bit.ly/Grass10-18thMarch     For more episodes from the Dairy Edge podcast go to the show page at: https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/dairy/the-dairy-edge-podca...

For this week’s Grass10 grazing management update, and with the great grazing conditions, Joseph Dunphy discusses reviewing grazing progress throughout March and he has a grazing update from Dara Killeen, Co. Galway.   Link to this week’s Grass10 newsletter:  https://bit.ly/Grass10-11thMarch     For more episodes from the Dairy Edge podcast go to the show page at: https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/da...

Teagasc/Tírlan Future Farm programme farmer, David Fennelly, joins James Dunne on this week’s Dairy Edge to discuss how the busy calving period is progressing, and he outlines his grazing management to date.    David also explains how he will manage the coming weeks to ensure success as the herd heads towards peak production.     Plus, programme advisor, Sandra Hayes, highlights where the programm...

For this week’s Grass10 grazing management update, Joseph Dunphy discusses reviewing your AFC in early March and he has a grazing update from the O’Callaghan family in Cork.   Link to this week’s Grass10 newsletter:  https://bit.ly/Grass10-4thMarch   For more episodes from the Dairy Edge podcast go to the show page at: https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/dairy/the-dairy-edge-podcast/   The Dairy Edge i...

Tommy Cox, Teagasc Dairy Beef500 Programme Advisor, joins Stuart Childs on this week’s Dairy Edge to discuss calf sales this spring.   Tommy outlines what farmers should do from the moment the calf hits the ground in order to have them as fit and healthy as they can when it comes to sale time.   He discusses the important relationships that farmers are forging around the sale of calves in the last...

For this week’s Grass10 grazing management update, and with the challenging week's weather, Joseph Dunphy discusses getting one grazing per day and he has a grazing update from Ben and Robin Mooney, Co. Wicklow.   Link to this week’s Grass10 newsletter: https://bit.ly/Grass10-25thFebruary   For more episodes from the Dairy Edge podcast go to the show page at: https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/dairy/t...

Shane Leane, technical sales manager with Progressive Genetics, joins James Dunne on this week’s Dairy Edge to discuss the importance of milk recording.  He also outlines how to ensure efficiency and accuracy throughout the process.    Plus, Shane discusses how to use to data to maximise the benefit to your herd.    For more episodes from the Dairy Edge podcast go to the show page at: https://www....

For this week’s Grass10 grazing management update, with the challenging weather, Joseph Dunphy discusses getting one grazing per day and he has a grazing update from John Finucane, Co. Limerick.   Link to this week’s Grass10 newsletter: https://bit.ly/Grass10-18thFeb   For more episodes from the Dairy Edge podcast go to the show page at: https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/dairy/the-dairy-edge-podcast/...

John McCabe, Teagasc/Aurivo Joint Programme Advisor, joins Stuart Childs on this week’s Dairy Edge to cover tips on grazing in spring.   John first gives a range of scenarios that he has heard from across the country.  He encourages people to get grazing if not already. For those who are, they need to manage their grazing to ensure they don’t leave themselves short of grass at the end of the 1st r...

For this week’s Grass10 grazing management update, Joseph Dunphy discusses getting grazing allocations correct and he has a grazing update from Lauren Kinsella, Co. Carlow.   Link to this week’s Grass10 newsletter: https://bit.ly/Grass10-11thFeb   For more episodes from the Dairy Edge podcast go to the show page at: https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/dairy/the-dairy-edge-podcast/ The Dairy Edge is a c...

David Wall, Teagasc Researcher at Johnstown Castle, joins James Dunne on this week’s Dairy Edge to discuss correct nutrient management use on dairy farms this spring.    David outlines how the correct timing, rate and type of fertiliser is key to ensure efficient use of the nutrients available on farm.    He makes the point that when conditions are correct, it would be an opportunity lost not to a...

For this week’s Grass10 grazing management update, Joseph Dunphy discusses attending a spring pasture morning near you and asks can you start grazing on your farm?   Link to this week’s Grass10 newsletter: https://bit.ly/Grass10-4thFebruary   For more episodes from the Dairy Edge podcast go to the show page at: https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/dairy/the-dairy-edge-podcast/   The Dairy Edge is a co-p...

Raymond Ryan of Dairygold’s Milk Quality Advisory team joins Stuart Childs on this week’s Dairy Edge with tips on preparing for commencing supply and ensuring milk quality standards are maintained.   Raymond recommends washing the bulk tank and the plant in advance of putting milk in the tank as it has been idle for a number of weeks now.   He also suggests checking the level of uptake of chemical...

On this week’s Grass10 grazing management update, Joseph Dunphy discusses completing your opening AFC on PastureBase Ireland and previews the upcoming Spring Pasture Morning events throughout the country.   Link to this week’s Grass10 newsletter:  https://bit.ly/Grass10-28thJanuary     For more episodes from the Dairy Edge podcast go to the show page at: https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/dairy/the-da...

Teagasc ruminant nutritionist, Dr Aisling Claffey, joins James Dunne on this week's Dairy Edge podcast to discuss how to best meet the nutritional needs of the calved dairy cow throughout early lactation.    Aisling outlines the energy requirements required to minimise body condition loss and optimise animal performance over the spring period and how these can be met with a simple diet of grazed g...

On this week’s Grass10 grazing management update, Joseph Dunphy discusses all things Nutrient Management Week which is across all Grass10 social media accounts this week and he encourages farmers to get out and complete an opening AFC on PastureBase Ireland.   Link to this week’s Grass10 newsletter: https://bit.ly/Grass10-21stJanuary   For more episodes from the Dairy Edge podcast go to the show p...

Cathal Somers, Water Quality Specialist with Teagasc, joins Stuart Childs on this week’s Dairy Edge to discuss spreading organic fertilisers.   Cathal gives a summary of the factors that need to be considered before spreading slurry or manure even though the closed period has ended.   Cathal sympathises with the challenges farmers face trying to make this decision as it can be a challenge.  In an...