The Dairy Edge

Colman Purcell, Nutritionist with Dairygold Agri Business, joins Stuart Childs to discuss managing stock in drought or near drought conditions.

Colman praises the farmers in the Dairygold catchment who have been affected by the dry weather for how they have dealt with it up to now, maintaining milk and protein performance, a response that he credits to their knowledge of how to react in these situations due to their experience of them in the last decade. 

Colman says that it is important to maintain cow performance by avoiding feed shortages with the priority being to maintain dry matter intake and milk production by supplementing early. Monitor milk yield and milk proteins and react quickly if performance drops as these are good indicators of nutritional status.

Filling the gap created by the lack of grass will depend on how severe the grass deficit is and what the help and facilities on the farm are like. In some cases, feeding will be pushed as high as 9kg in the parlour feed due to an inability to feed outside of the parlour. People will need to see what will work best for their farm. 

Concentrate protein should be ok at 16% but an 18% protein ration may be appropriate, particularly where cows are receiving significant forage. Again, monitoring the performance of the herd will help decisions here.

Young stock while appearing content in the current conditions will still need to be fed in order to keep them growing, so supplementation will be necessary where there is grass shortage for these animals. 

Forward beef cattle that are based on weight are forward enough to start on finishing diet and should be started on this to reduce stocking rates and avoid these animals slipping back which would delay their finishing later in the year.

Furthermore with demand increasing, delivery logistics may become more challenging. Farmers should calculate feed requirements and order well in advance to avoid running out.

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-production with LastCastMedia.com

For this week’s Grass10 grazing management update, John Maher discusses: 
Assessing grass supply on farm
Reducing demand on farm
Nutrient application during reduced growth
Water supply
And the featured farm update comes from Cathal Nash, Co. Clare.

Plus, Pat Tuohy of Teagasc joins John for a land drainage discussion and Q&A.
 
Read more from this week’s Grass10 newsletter and subscribe for weekly updates at:
https://bit.ly/Grass10-21stJuly
 
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-production with LastCastMedia.com

Pádraig French from Teagasc, who is closely involved in dairy-beef research, including the Ballyvadin Calf-to-Beef Demonstration Farm, joins James Dunne on this week’s Dairy Edge. 

They discuss the key management practices that drive performance, the role of Commercial Beef Value (CBV), what makes these systems financially successful, and what the latest research is telling us about the future of dairy calf to beef production.

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-production with LastCastMedia.com

For this week’s Grass10 grazing management update, John Maher discusses: 
Managing reduced growth
Making a grazing plan for the coming 10 days (no rain forecast)
How can farms reduce demand?
Plus the featured farm update comes from Paul Bowden, Urlingford, Co. Kilkenny.
 
Read more from this week’s Grass10 newsletter and subscribe for weekly updates at:
https://bit.ly/Grass10-14thJuly
 
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-production with LastCastMedia.com

John O’Loughlin, Head of Sustainability at Grassland Agro, joins Stuart Childs to discuss the impact of CBAM, fertiliser advice in dry conditions and two upcoming farm walks that will be worth attending this July.
 
John first explains the EU's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) which is adding approximately €50/t to urea in 2026, with the potential to rise significantly in future years. While there has been discussion about suspending the charge during periods of high fertiliser prices, he believes this now looks unlikely, meaning farmers should expect CBAM to remain a factor in fertiliser costs.
 
John recommends that farmers measure grass regularly and make decisions based on their own farm’s situation, as drought conditions are varying widely across the country from his perspective and one size won’t fit all in terms of advice. 
 
Where soil moisture deficits become severe, nitrogen applications should be reduced or paused, but where growth remains good, protected urea is still a good choice as it will absorb water from the atmosphere.
 
John stresses that potassium (K) and lime are essential for helping grass cope with drought and recover quickly afterwards. John describes K as the "engine oil" of the plant because of the role it plays in the movement of water and nutrients, and he says that correcting K and lime deficiencies are among the biggest, most cost-effective improvements farmers can make to maximise grass growth and resilience.
 
Finally, John says listeners should consider attending two good days later this month in the Clonmel area with the Irish Grassland Dairy Summer Tour taking place on the farms of Michael and Ollie O’Gorman on the 21st and then the Tipperary Dairy Calf to Beef Open Day the following day at the Ballyvadin Farm near Fethard.
 
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-production with LastCastMedia.com