Daire Cregg

dcregg@farmersjournal.ie

Cover per cow needs close attention

As we get into periods of high growth, cover per cow needs close attention on farms. The optimum figure is between 170kg DM/ha to 180kg DM/ha.

GRASS & FEEDING 6 May 2026

Cover per cow needs close attention

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Growth rates starting to take off

Growth rates starting to take off

GRASS & FEEDING 29 April 2026

Father-and-son duo making waves on the Atlantic coast

Father-and-son duo making waves on the Atlantic coast

GRASS & FEEDING 29 April 2026

A good week of weather at last

A good week of weather at last

A good week of weather at last

GRASS & FEEDING 22 April 2026

Getting the grazing infrastructure right on farms

Getting the grazing infrastructure right on farms

Getting the grazing infrastructure right on farms

INFRASTRUCTURE 22 April 2026

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Dairy Management: spring reseeds kicking off this week

Dairy Management: spring reseeds kicking off this week

With a spell of good weather having finally arrived, farmers are making the most of it with spring reseeds starting to go in this week, writes Daire Cregg.

MANAGEMENT 8 April 2026

Cow reduction scheme being offered in the Netherlands

Cow reduction scheme being offered in the Netherlands

A voluntary cow reduction scheme is being offered by the Dutch government this year, in a bid to reduce emissions produced by dairy farms, writes Daire Cregg

NEWS 8 April 2026

More rain is affecting grazing progress

More rain is affecting grazing progress

After a week of heavy rain in most areas, grazing conditions have become challenging, particularly for those on heavier land.

GRASS & FEEDING 8 April 2026

Management: is delaying breeding an option?

Management: is delaying breeding an option?

With breeding just around the corner for dairy farms, what’s the right date to start? Daire Cregg looks at some of the factors in whether or not to delay.

MANAGEMENT 8 April 2026

Comparing automatic heat detection systems

Comparing automatic heat detection systems

There’s been a growing appetite amongst farmers for automated heat detection in recent years. Daire Cregg looks at some of the options and the costs.

BREEDING 8 April 2026

Farm cover needs assessing this week

Farm cover needs assessing this week

After another mixed week of grass growth, predictions for the next seven days are showing a lift across the country. Walking the farm is important to assess the farm cover situation.

GRASS & FEEDING 8 April 2026

Managing heifers in the run-up to breeding

Managing heifers in the run-up to breeding

The heifers on the farm are the future of the business. The next month can be a critical period for getting them in the best shape possible for breeding.

BREEDING 8 April 2026

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Bigger is better for Armagh farmer and his 52-foot rake

Michael Donnelly has been lifting grass since 2003. Based near Coagh, Co Tyrone, he milks 800 cows on his home farm and produces around 3,000 acres of grass silage annually.

Bigger is better for Armagh farmer and his 52-foot rake

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