Cathal O'Shea

Cathal O
Ensuring the correct BCS is achieved this winter
Ensuring the correct BCS is achieved this winter

Body condition scoring (BCS) the herd now and throughout the winter is crucial for a successful dry period and to...

Winter milking: Finding the ‘sweet spot’ with concentrates
Winter milking: Finding the ‘sweet spot’ with concentrates

With winter milking being a costly system, ensuring you formulate the appropriate diet is essential in boosting margins. Concentrates play...

Dairy advice: Correcting cow flow this winter
Dairy advice: Correcting cow flow this winter

With cows now in for winter housing and farm roadways quieting down, it is time to address any issues with...

How important is a good winter diet in terms of calf health?
How important is a good winter diet in terms of calf health?

Ahead of spring calving, farmers need to remember that an inadequate pre-calving diet during the dry period can have a...

Reasons to keep silage waste to a minimum this winter
Reasons to keep silage waste to a minimum this winter

As grass availability continues to fall, the majority of farmers will be feeding silage whether cows are housed or not....

Keeping thermoduric bacteria levels low in late lactation
Keeping thermoduric bacteria levels low in late lactation

Thermoduric bacteria levels often climb at this time of the year, as environmental conditions change and the herd’s routine changes...

Watch: Shipping 1,600 cows from Waterford to Algeria
Watch: Shipping 1,600 cows from Waterford to Algeria

Agriland got an exclusive look inside the MV Alondra livestock-carrier, where 1,600 purebred Friesian heifers are currently on board en...

Autumn calving: Keeping SCC below 100
Autumn calving: Keeping SCC below 100

As winter milking is already a costly system, keeping the somatic cell count (SCC) down is crucial in order to...

Is it worth moving to once-a-day milking?
Is it worth moving to once-a-day milking?

Many farmers may be wondering whether it is worth considering the move to once-a-day (OAD) milking for some time before...

Ensuring the last of the autumn calves get adequate colostrum
Ensuring the last of the autumn calves get adequate colostrum

With the vast majority of the calves on the ground from October, farmers need to ensure November calves are still...

Controlling lameness before the housed period
Controlling lameness before the housed period

Lameness is a scourge seen in over 10% of the national dairy herd, which becomes even harder to control at...

Prevent calf pneumonia now to boost long-term performance
Prevent calf pneumonia now to boost long-term performance

With the autumn calving season well underway and pens quickly filling with calves, farmers must keep a keen eye out...

Dairy advice: Time to focus on cows that need an early dry-off
Dairy advice: Time to focus on cows that need an early dry-off

Over the coming weeks, farmers will be using milk recording data to decide which cows to need to be dried...

Dairy advice: Tail clipping needs to be carried out ahead of dry-off
Dairy advice: Tail clipping needs to be carried out ahead of dry-off

As the days count down to the housing season and farmers prepare to dry off the herd, it is time...

Dairy advice: Time to test the winter milking herd’s silage
Dairy advice: Time to test the winter milking herd’s silage

As we gear up for the end of the final rotation, farmers must be testing their silage to ensure they...

Dosing the herd ahead of winter housing
Dosing the herd ahead of winter housing

As farmers prepare to bring the herd in for winter, they must be assessing their parasite control plan and dosing...

Dairy advice: Foot bath cows to protect against winter lameness
Dairy advice: Foot bath cows to protect against winter lameness

As the end of the grazing season approaches, farmers should be considering foot bathing their cows to protect against winter...

Achieving target weights for spring-calving heifers
Achieving target weights for spring-calving heifers

As we approach the winter housing period, farmers must make spring-calving heifers a priority in an effort to achieve the...