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.

Dairy advice: Farm roadways a worthwhile investment
Dairy advice: Farm roadways a worthwhile investment

Farm roadways play a vital part in our grass-based dairy production model, and continue to be a worthwhile investment for...

Dealing with mortellaro within your herd
Dealing with mortellaro within your herd

Mortellaro is an issue that many cattle farmers have to deal with; it is a stubborn hoof disease that can...

Focus: A look at the street food of Manila
Focus: A look at the street food of Manila

Street food is a significant part of the culture in Southeast Asia, with Agriland getting the opportunity to experience some...

Dairy advice: Lime during housed period
Dairy advice: Lime during housed period

Hydrated lime has an important role to play on dairy farms over the winter months in the prevention of mastitis...

Dairy advice: Getting organised for drying-off cows
Dairy advice: Getting organised for drying-off cows

As we move into November, planning must get underway for drying-off cows and ensuring that you have all of the...

Time to start looking for staff ahead of calving on farms
Time to start looking for staff ahead of calving on farms

As we enter into November, now is a good time of year for dairy farmers to start looking for staff...

Drying-off: Selecting the correct dates for cows
Drying-off: Selecting the correct dates for cows

Drying-off is going to be the next major event to occur on most dairy farms. There are a number of...

Drying-off: Getting to know the bacteria on your farm
Drying-off: Getting to know the bacteria on your farm

Ahead of drying-off cows, which on many farms will begin later this month, it is a good idea to determine...

Dairy advice: Time for tail clipping to take place
Dairy advice: Time for tail clipping to take place

As cows enter the shed and preparation for drying-off is getting underway, a job that should be completed over the...

Dairy advice: Time to get your calf shed in order
Dairy advice: Time to get your calf shed in order

Ensuring that the calf shed is ready for the arrival of calves should be a focus over the coming weeks...

Keep a close eye on BCS of autumn-calving cows
Keep a close eye on BCS of autumn-calving cows

Monitoring of body condition score (BCS) in winter milk cows is important at this stage of lactation, to ensure excess...

Dairy advice: Time to review herbage production
Dairy advice: Time to review herbage production

Late autumn / early winter is a good time to develop a plan to improve or maintain herbage production on...

Controlling heifer mastitis on dairy farms this winter
Controlling heifer mastitis on dairy farms this winter

Heifer mastitis can be an issue on some farms, with heifers often calving down with cases or developing them shortly...

Dairy advice: Areas to improve calf health on your farm
Dairy advice: Areas to improve calf health on your farm

Getting calf health right on farm is a key pillar to having a successful calving season, with it having a...

Challenging grazing conditions for those still at grass
Challenging grazing conditions for those still at grass

Grazing on many dairy farms has come to an end for the year. Although challenging at times on some farms,...

Autumn-calving: Dealing with milk fever cases
Autumn-calving: Dealing with milk fever cases

Milk fever is unfortunately an issue that will likely have to be dealt with on farms calving cows this autumn....

Time for cull cows to go as housing begins on farms
Time for cull cows to go as housing begins on farms

For the most part, dairy cows are now housed as weather conditions have made land too wet to graze, so...

Dairy advice: Drying-off preparation
Dairy advice: Drying-off preparation

The next major event to occur on most dairy farms after housing will be the drying-off of cows for the...