Teagasc Dairy Manual proves big hit
A 320-page weather-proof road map with advice on everything from animal health to project management, farmers snapped up 165 copies at Teagasc’s recent dairy conference in Cork, and another 150 in Athlone, with another 20 people putting their names on a list when the copies ran out.
The manual is available from local Teagasc offices.
Teagasc publications manager and editor of the manual, Mark Moore, said: “The response has been great. People like the fact that it brings a whole range of topics together in one place, topics that are not covered elsewhere, like managing expansion, taxation, farm management, retirement and succession.
“The timing is also very good in that it is still three or four years before the post-quota expansion takes off. People can take that time and use the manual to help them plan ahead for 2015.”
The manual addresses topics such as business management, dairy facilities, the environment, milk quality, feeding dairy animals, dairy breeding and animal health, etc.
The manual also contains checklists, key risks and ‘How to’ sections increase the ‘ease-of-use’ for the reader. Ease of ‘navigation’ was one of the key requests from leading dairy farmers consulted about what the TDM should contain and how it should be laid out.
Formally launched last week by Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney, the manual also brings together input from frontline Teagasc dairy advisers, Teagasc dairy specialists, Teagasc college dairy lecturers and also Teagasc research scientists, vets and economists.
The TDM also includes material from the Department of Agriculture, Food, and the Marine and Animal Health Ireland. A total of more than 200 questions are addressed within the 49 chapters.
Valued at €50, the TDM is available to Teagasc clients for €25 plus p&p of €7.50.
To order call Teagasc on 059-9170200 and pay by credit card, or send a cheque and your name and address to cover the full cost to: Alison Maloney , Publications, Teagasc, Oak Park, Carlow.
