The Dairy Trail

In the latest episode of Agriland's limited podcast series "The Dairy Trail", technical dairy specialist, Cathal O'Shea visited the farm of Paul and Judith Davoren in the Burren in Co. Clare. The Davoren family are milking a herd of Fleckvieh-cross cows on a once-a-day milking system. The farm is based in a unique area of the Burren, bringing its own challenges when it comes to grassland managemen...

In the latest episode of Agriland's limited podcast series "the Dairy Trail", technical dairy specialist, Cathal O'Shea visited the farm of Kieran Lynch in Macroom Co. Cork.   The Lynch family is a milking just over 300 water buffalos as well as rearing all replacements and stock bulls themselves.   The farm does not supply any milk co-op, with all the milk processed into cheese and yogurt on farm...

In the latest episode of Agriland's limited podcast series "the Dairy Trail", technical dairy specialist, Cathal O'Shea visited the farm of Michael Guinan in Co. Offaly.   Michael is milking 118 Montbéliarde cows through two robotic milking machines just outside of Tullamore alongside his wife Concepta, and his son Kevin.   He talks us through the decision of moving to robotic units back in 2021,...

In the latest episode of Agriland's podcast series "the Dairy Trail", technical dairy specialist, Cathal O'Shea visited the farm of Edel and Domnic Curtin in Co. Clare.   The Curtins run a busy operation, balancing the dairy herd alongside shift work, with both Domnic and Edel active members of An Garda Síochána   We chat to the duo about their farm system, navigating a tough grazing season, plann...

In the final episode of this season of Agriland's limited podcast series "the Dairy Trail", technical dairy specialist, Cathal O'Shea visited the farm of John Byrne in Co. Waterford.    John is milking 220 cows just below the Comeragh Mountains in Dungarvan.  He tells us what protocols are place for his to maintain his exceptionally low somatic cell count levels (SCC), in which he has won awards f...

In the latest episode of Agriland's limited podcast series "The Dairy Trail", technical dairy specialist, Cathal O'Shea visited the farm of Dan and Danny Somers in Co, Wicklow.   The father and son partnership are milking 230 Montbéliarde's in a split calving system, with 40-50 cows calving down in autumn.   Dan talks on how they got into Montbéliarde's and how the herd is working out for them on...

In the latest episode of 'The Dairy Trail', technical dairy specialist, Cathal O'Shea visited the farm of John Wynne in Co, Wicklow.   John is in a liquid milk contract, with 45% of the 320 head herd milking through the winter. John talks about the feeding and breeding routines in place on the farm that allow them to achieve their 580kg of milk solids target.   John also speaks on calf management,...

In the first episode of season three of Agriland's limited podcast series 'The Dairy Trail', we caught up with the 2025 NDC & Kerrygold Milk Quality Award winner, Michael Ryan. The Tipperary man spoke on the end of the grazing rotation, preparations for a successful dry-off, breeding and much more. Agriland's limited podcast series 'The Dairy Trail' takes listeners inside the yard of dairy far...

As part of Agriland's official Ploughing 2025 livestream, technical dairy specialist Hugh Harney hosted a special live edition of The Dairy Trail podcast.

In the fourth and final episode of season two of Agriland's limited series 'The Dairy Trail', technical dairy journalist, Hugh Harney takes a trip to dairy farmer Joe Healy's farm in Athboy, Co. Meath. Joe Healy is milking 97 pedigree Holstein Friesian cows, where the use of American Holstein genetics, embryo transfers and intensive breeding selection is driving his herd towards 700kg of milk soli...

Mike Clohessy is milking 75 black and white cows in Fedamore, Co. Limerick where one Lely A4 robot and a strict breeding routine is paving the way for high solids and good work/life balance. Mike also has a full-time job off farm as the director of the genetic company, Bullwise CRV and is able to manage dairy farming with his job with the help of the robot.  Mike talks about his breeding programme...

In the second episode of season two of Agriland's limited series 'The Dairy Trail', technical dairy journalist, Hugh Harney takes a trip to dairy farmer Sam and Henry Dudley's farm in Co. Tipperary. Sam Dudley is a third year agricultural science student in UCC, currently doing his work placement in Dovea Genetics and working away on the farm with his father Henry at every chance he gets. The fath...

In the first episode of season two of Agriland's limited series 'The Dairy Trail', technical dairy journalist, Hugh Harney takes a trip to dairy farmer Eugene Lawler's farm in Co. Kildare. Eugene is farming alongside his son Eoin and his family in Ballitore, Co. Kildare where a simple grazing system is proving very effective for them. Eugene Lawler was a new entrant into dairy in 2015 after moving...

In the fourth episode of Agriland’s latest limited podcast series ‘The Dairy Trail’, technical dairy journalist, Hugh Harney takes a trip to Hanbidge’s dairy farm in Kiltegan, Co. Wicklow. Linda Hanbidge is farming in partnership with her brother Gordon, her mother, Rosemary, and her father, Alan, where they all together seamlessly. The Hanbidges are aiming to milk 130 m ontbeliarde cows at peak t...

In the second episode of Agriland's latest limited podcast series 'The Dairy Trail', technical dairy journalist, Hugh Harney takes a trip to Larry Hannon's dairy farm in Ballitore, Co. Kildare. Larry Hannon has 235 cows to calve down this spring and has over 70% of the herd calved. The aim is to have 220 cows milking strong at the peak of the lactation. The focus on the farm is to get the cows out...

In the second episode of Agriland’s latest limited podcast series ‘The Dairy Trail’, technical dairy journalist, Hugh Harney takes a trip to Eoin Kennedy’s dairy farm in Callan, Co. Kilkenny. Eoin Kennedy has 170 Jersey-cross cows to calve down this spring where his focus is top get them out grass at every given opportunity. In the episode, Eoin explains how he has been managing his calving season...

In the first episode of Agriland's latest limited series 'The Dairy Trail', technical dairy journalist, Hugh Harney takes a trip to Brian Rushe’s dairy farm in Derrinturn, Co. Kildare. Brian Rushe who is also the former deputy president of the Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA) is set to be milking over 360 cows on two milking platforms in 2025. In the episode, Brian explains how he is managing his...