Brian McDonnell

Brian McDonnell Profile Picture

Brian McDonnell is from Raheny, Co. Dublin. He has an honours degree in Sustainable Agriculture from Dundalk IT. He has worked on dairy and beef farms in both Ireland and the UK, including Teagasc Grange and a large-scale 650-cow dairy farm which also had a 1,200 animal youngstock-rearing farm in Scotland. He has a keen interest in agriculture and particularly the dairy sector and in his spare time is active in local rugby and golf.

Pneumonia in calf sheds now becoming a risk
Pneumonia in calf sheds now becoming a risk

As calf sheds begin to fill on farms this spring, pneumonia can begin to become an issue on many dairy...

Dairy advice: Time to complete a calibration of your feeders
Dairy advice: Time to complete a calibration of your feeders

Most dairy farms are now well into calving. With a good number of cows calved, an important job to now...

Are the days of early spring grazing over?
Are the days of early spring grazing over?

In recent years, the weather in February and March has had many farmers questioning whether early spring grazing is worth...

Dairy advice: Moving calves to OAD feeding
Dairy advice: Moving calves to OAD feeding

Calves on many farms are now old enough to transition to once-a-day (OAD) feeding, which can reduce the workload considerably...

Dairy advice: Treating a calf with scour
Dairy advice: Treating a calf with scour

During the calving rearing period, there is an increased risk of disease or sickness, with scour being the biggest risk...

Dairy advice: Collecting, storing and reheating colostrum
Dairy advice: Collecting, storing and reheating colostrum

The collecting, storing and reheating of colostrum or beestings will take place on the majority of dairy farms during the...

Focus on silage quality for better milk margins – dairy expert
Focus on silage quality for better milk margins – dairy expert

Harvesting high quality silage is vital for farms that will be milking cows in the shed next winter, and now...

Milk recording: Is it time to complete the first of 2024?
Milk recording: Is it time to complete the first of 2024?

Milk recordings are a useful tool used by dairy farmers for understanding and keeping control of cell counts on farms....

Dairy advice: Identifying sick calves this spring
Dairy advice: Identifying sick calves this spring

Early identification of sick calves is key to getting them treatment and preventing the spread to other calves in the...

Dairy advice: Monitor fat cows closely ahead of calving
Dairy advice: Monitor fat cows closely ahead of calving

Fat cows need to be closely monitored, as they are high risk for issues around calving. Over conditioned or ‘fat’...

How can farmers prevent lameness within a herd?
How can farmers prevent lameness within a herd?

Lameness is often an issue that is overlooked during the calving period, and affected calves can go undetected for quite...

Keep an eye on the signs of a displaced abomasum
Keep an eye on the signs of a displaced abomasum

A displaced abomasum is not an uncommon occurrence during the calving season on dairy farms, and will present itself in...

Supplementation key to overcoming negative energy balance
Supplementation key to overcoming negative energy balance

A challenged faced by all dairy cows after calving is negative energy balance (NEB), where energy demands are not being...

Preventing abomasal bloat in young calves
Preventing abomasal bloat in young calves

Occasionally, abomasal bloat will be an issue on farms – with clostridium bacteria or lactic acid usually to blame for...

Keeping cell counts under control during early lactation
Keeping cell counts under control during early lactation

The majority of dairy farms are now in the depths of the calving season, but a focus needs to be...

What do your calves need for rumen development?
What do your calves need for rumen development?

Three key things are needed to aid rumen development in calves during the rearing period: water, concentrates and a source...

Keeping E. coli mastitis at bay in freshly-calved cows
Keeping E. coli mastitis at bay in freshly-calved cows

Shortly after calving is a high risk period for Eacherichia coli (E. coli) mastitis, which is commonly associated with severe toxic...

Dairy advice: Feed space and cubicle beds standards
Dairy advice: Feed space and cubicle beds standards

Ensuring that there is adequate feed space and cubicles is going to be vital over the next few weeks on...