The Cost Check calculator to estimate the cost of Somatic Cell Count on your dairy farm was launched at the recent Teagasc National Dairy Conference.

Teagasc dairy specialist George Ramsbottom says the first step for livestock farmers is to establish the size of any winter feed deficit.

THE €10,000 first prize in the Economic Breeding Index Discussion Group Competition, which promotes better breeding on dairy farms, was jointly won this year by two groups from the midlands and the south-west.

TEAGASC experts, who are predicting a dramatic decline in milk price this year, are urging producers with a high cost structure to cut spending.

LATER calving in dairy herds could be costing more than 25% losses of potential milk yield.

SIX out of ten inadequately fed cows failed to go in calf to the first service in a Teagasc Moorepark trial which showed that infertility in dairy cows is a continuing major drain on high yielding herds.

HIGHER production costs for winter milk are stealing the ‘cream’ in this previously much sought after sector of dairy farming.

TEAGASC has warned dairy and suckler farmers that one stock bull in every 20 is completely infertile, and one in three has below average fertility.