Keep Up To Date with the Latest News & Blogs
The main aim on farm during autumn should be to maximise grass utilisation, while supplementing the herd with the correct feed during late lactation; while also starting to plan ahead where grassland management. Body Condition during late lactation Late lactation is the optimum time to manipulate body condition. Cows should be in a positive energy […]
Find Out More
Milks yields in ideal conditions will drop off 2.0-2.5% per week or no more than 10% per month. Anything above this indicates an energy deficit or the cows dry matter intake capacity is not being met. To ensure adequate energy intake pay particular attention to both grass quality and quantity. During the key mid-lactation months […]
Here is some timely advice on calf management and rearing. Think CALVES when you’re managing your your young stock. Calving time is the busiest time of the year on a dairy farm. The calves’ management in the first weeks and months of life will have a significant impact on both their lifetime production and on […]
Grazed grass is the cheapest feedstuff available to Irish farmers. Good grassland management for beef cattle can significantly improve profitability. Better utilisation of grazed grass coupled with strategic use of concentrate supplementation can maximise animal performance, increase output and result in higher margins. Feed costs account for 75% of variable costs in Irish beef production. […]
Re-iterating the importance of providing a healthy transition period from last week’s article around nutrition at calving, key factors when achieving high output, good reproduction and freedom from metabolic issues include; good pre-calving mineral programmes, excellent husbandry in the week before and after calving, careful transition diet planning and a steady build-up of concentrate input […]
Decisions made in the next number of weeks can and will have such significant effects on the calving season, but also the subsequent breeding season. One of the single biggest challenges on a dairy farm is to have a calving season free from metabolic issues such as milk fever, ketosis, displaced abomasum, retained placenta, fatty […]
PJ Ryan farms with his brother Matt between Templemore and Borrisoleigh in Co. Tipperary. His well-known Pedigree Charolais herd are run along-side his dairy herd and together with some contracting work there is little time for summer shows. ‘Our primary focus is on Pedigree Charolais sales and the Kilvilcorris herd has plenty of success in […]
Teagasc report that one missed heat can cost € 250 per cow; this cost arising from lost milk in the next lactation and an extended calving interval. Commence pre-breeding heat detection on April 1st. Implement a simple form of heat monitoring (e.g., tail paint with twice weekly checks) to identify non-cycling cows, giving the opportunity […]
Increasing the number of days at grass and boosting animal performance are both key in autumn grazing management on farm. Currently we should still be using mid-season targets and it is important to remain focused on grass quality, however we also need to start planning to build grass for the autumn. Farmers should not be […]
Keep up to date with the latest products, offers and news from GAIN Animal Nutrition