Dairy

Fertiliser for Silage Ground

    when is the best time to spread fertiliser for 1st cut? With silage fertiliser it’s very important that all the nitrogen you spread is used by the crop. …

We must act now to maintain good yields and proteins

  YTD on the back of dry grass we’ve seen good yields and proteins.  However, currently grass growth is low compared to the 5-year average and AFC is below the…

Feeding your stock this winter

By EDMOND CURTIN, B.Arg.Sc Dry cow: Cows in the wrong body condition score (BCS) need to have this rectified 2-3 weeks before calving starts. From then on a greater proportion…

To continue to milk or not to milk that may very well become the question?

Inevitably a time will come when grass runs out but before we consider the economics of continuing to milk, we must firstly recognise that it will cost the same to…

Why use DIGEST-IT?

DIGEST-IT: increases nutrient recovery, improving the fertiliser value of slurry, reduces ammonia emissions and odours, breaks down solids, reducing the time required to agitate and pump slurry, grows more, better…

The importance of knowing your silage quality

Silage quality is key to good animal performance, reducing winter feed costs and increasing profitability during the housing period. Right now, you cannot change the quality of your silage but…

Maximise your Late Lactation Milk Revenue with Autumn Extend

Nutrition Matters

Important supports available to Members

 12th August 2024 2024 has been very challenging, particularly from a weather perspective, resulting in reduced grass growth rates, milk volumes and fodder reserves on farm. Dairygold Board and Management…

August Advice

      As we enter the month of August there are a number of key areas that need to be reviewed on dairy farms and decisions that are taken…

Take Action Now on Winter Fodder Stocks

  Key Takeaways   Do a fodder budget – Assess whether you need to take extra bales or third cut to fill your winter fodder stocks – Grass growth is…

Low Milk Protein

    Milk proteins at farm level are currently approaching the yearly low point for milk protein.   Every 0.1% increase in milk protein annually is worth c.€5000 for the…

Grassland Weed Control

Liam Stack, M.Sc.Ag Weeds within your pasture compete with grass for nutrients.  A field of grass infested with 20% docks may produce the same tns DM as a field of…

Act Now to Maximise the Length of your Grazing Season

Right down we have 14% less grass on farms than we should have. If we do not act now we will run out of grass earlier than planned. We need…

Spread Nitrogen Now to Maximise Grazing Season

Pasturebase data has shown us that its not uncommon for many dairy farmers to end up with a lower supply of grass than they would like entering into the autumn….

Replenish Land After Taking Out Surplus Bales

Liam Stack, M.Agr.Sc, Ruminant Technical Manager After taking out surplus grass as bales, it’s important to replace what we’ve taken out in terms of N, P + K to ensure…

How to Make Good Quality Bales

The principles of making baled silage are the same as pit silage: 1) Remove all air and maintain air-free through to feedout 2) Reduce silage pH (level determined by the…

Why Farmers Should Include Selenium in their Fertiliser Program

Why use Selenium? Selenium is an essential trace element for Vitamin E function and reproduction in animals. Selenium deficiency symptoms include: Fertility problems Retained placenta White muscle disease Poor thrive…

How to get the most from feeding concentrates at grass

Liam Stack, M.Agr.Sc Ruminant Technical Manager   There is a balancing act that must be done by farmers when feeding concentrates at grass to the dairy herd. Farmers need to…

Now that the closed period is over… should I spread?

Our fertiliser world is a changing. We now need to focus more on nitrogen use efficiency, ammonia and nitrous oxide emissions. As part of their marginal abatement curve Teagasc have…

The Importance of Autumn Fertiliser

In August soils release their own organic N naturally. On lowly stocked farms (< 170kg organic N/Ha) that have enough winter forage this may provide sufficient N to build grass…

Why silage ground often has the poorest level of soil fertility and how to fix it

Catherine Hurley Recent grass silage tests that have been carried out have shown poor protein levels in the winter fodder in many cases, so much so that the feed may…

Kerva for Grain Enhanced Feed

Benefits of Kerva treated grain for feed ✓Treating grain with KERVA produces nutritionally enhanced feed (increased protein content by 30% approx.), reducing the need for additional protein in the diet…

Dairygold Joint Program Monitor

Dairy Sustainability Day

Dairy Sustainability Day was held on the farm of Trevor and Olive Crowley this year, winners of the Reduce Carbon footprint category at Bord Bía’s Origin Green Farmer Awards in…

Gold Assure Grass Seed Brochure

Dairygold Grass Seed Brochure_.

How higher DMD silage can save you money

Catherine Hurley, B.Ag.Sc. What is the country’s largest and most important harvest? Tillage farmers might disagree, but the answer is grass, the crop that is the staple diet for the…

Guide to Catch Crops

James Bourke B.Agr.Sc has given a breakdown of the most popular catch crops this 2018, Westerwolds and Forage Brassicas. Click Read More to see more information.

Spring Fertiliser Advice by John Maher, Teagasc Grass 10 Manager

John Maher, Teagasc Grass 10 Manager, Moorepark has given fertiliser advice for application of N, P and K fertiliser this challenging spring.

Chemical Control of Ragwort in Grassland

Shane Cotter, Dairygold Grassland Specialist gives some key pointers on controlling Ragwort in grassland this Spring. For more information contact Shane on 087-0671246.