Many years ago, a man told me 'If you wrong a calf, you wrong yourself'. He was right then, and he is still right now, writes independent ruminant nutritionist Brian Reidy

As it does inevitably every year, growth will take off, and you need to identify when that occurs and act on it rapidly, and consider baling surplus grass as soon as possible, writes ruminant nutritionist Brian Reidy

Alternative forages such as maize, whole crop and beet provide a much more consistent quality product from year to year than grass silage, writes ruminant nutritionist Brian Reidy

Maximise beef profits: navigate fluctuating mart and factory prices, optimise finishing diets, and make smart decisions on when to sell your cattle, writes ruminant nutritionist Brian Reidy

It is never the cow’s fault if we get bad weather at the wrong time. She has no influence on input costs, nor does she set the milk price, warns independent ruminant nutritionist Brian Reidy

Your weekly reminder of the things that should be at the top of your farm to-do list. Published every Monday on the Irish Examiner digital Farming hub.

Act quickly when one or two cases appear, as the issue is unlikely to resolve without intervention, writes independent ruminant nutritionist Brian Reidy

Maintaining fresh-cow dry matter intake is one of the secrets to keeping cows healthy and productive throughout lactation, writes independent ruminant nutritionist Brian Reidy

The first half of 2026 looks like being a difficult period for milk price and as a result, optimising milk quantity and quality is a must.

Irish livestock producers face significant economic uncertainty in 2026 from trade deals and rising costs, alongside managing crucial farm preparations for spring.