Dairy
The amount of positive bovine viral diarrhoea (BVD) cases is continuing to follow a downward trajectory in Ireland.
This time last year, there was plenty of chatter around the consequences of a dairy heifer shortage, but is that risk still looming?
Machinery
Agriland recently visited Grieskirchen, Austria, the home of Pottinger, to witness the machinery giant's innovations first-hand.
N.Ireland
The prestigious award-winning animal, Eedy Doorman Fame, has just become Ireland's highest classified cow.
The majority of farms will have wrapped up breeding or will be finishing during the week, meaning it may be time to 'pull the bull'.
There is never too much dairy stock at marts at this time of the year, but the few that are seem to be making relatively strong prices.
First cut silage is fully wrapped up with many farmers now eyeing up second cuts, if it has not been done already.
The average farmer begins calving down on February 1 and finishes up within nine weeks, that means...
The current focus is on finishing out breeding and grassland management, but should farmers be looking at mastitis control?
With rain forecast once again after the warm weekend, parasites will be thriving and putting young calves at risk.
Reseeds were late getting done this year given the poor spring, however there are a few drier places ready to graze now.
Farms that start breeding May 1 may be wrapping up with artificial insemination (AI) and letting stock bulls out to finish the job.
Figures from the Central Statistics Office (CSO) show that the Irish dairy herd grew last year, but it is a different story in Britain.
When spreading nutrients this summer, it is easy to just throw out slurry and chemical fertiliser, but it vital to remember sulphur.
Beef
After such a dry and warm week, the rainfall this week may create the perfect environment for lungworm development.
As we drift away from peak milk production, it is important to remember the role of hygiene and efficiency in the parlour.
Pathogens that cause infectious diseases are usually the biggest burden during the housing season, but the risk could be rising again.
With warm weather forecast for the week ahead, fly control must be prioritised to keep the herd in healthy condition.
The poor spring has lead to a lot of farms still having calves housed despite weaning taking place a number of weeks ago.
It is easy to get so caught up in statistics and what is being bred to what, so much so that we forget about embryo survival.
Breeding is well underway now, yet not too many fields you look into will have stocks bulls out yet, as most farmers go with AI first.
With growth rates taking off and cows thriving, it may be time to consider reducing the amount of concentrates fed in the diet.
Grass growth has taken off, leaving many farms with an abundance of grass, but fertiliser application must be kept up to date.
With the breeding season officially kicking off for many farmers this week, it is important to stay on top of heat detection.
