Specialist: calving
Kieran Mailey on 05 May 2021
10 steps to tightening the calving period
Tightening the calving period can remove cows that consistently calve late every year. Kieran Mailey outlines 10 steps to shortening the calving period.
Kieran Mailey on 27 Apr 2021
Don't lose focus on later-calving cows as fieldwork increases
With farmers spending more time getting fieldwork up to date, it is easy to take your eye off the later-calving cows in the herd. This greatly increases the risk of losing calves at birth.
Declan Marren on 14 Mar 2021
Poor weather putting pressure on housing facilities
With spring calving in full flow on many farms at this stage, housing facilities can come under pressure where cows and calves are not able to get to grass.
Kieran Mailey on 24 Feb 2021
10 tips for resuscitating calves
Kieran Mailey outlines some tips for getting calves on their feet following a difficult labour.
Kieran Mailey on 23 Feb 2021
Beef Management: feeding cows at night pre-calving
Feeding silage late in the evening can help to reduce the number of cows that calve during the night.
Kieran Mailey on 20 Feb 2021
Beef management: Five tips for managing cows post-calving
Keeping cows well fed after calving is important for driving milk production and maintaining body condition. Outlined are five tips to post calving management for suckler cows.
Darren Carty on 17 Feb 2021
Calving facilities and Department of Agriculture specifications
Calving facilities and isolation boxes are currently eligible for grant aid under TAMS II but they must be built to Department of Agriculture specification.
Kieran Mailey on 17 Feb 2021
Ten tips for dealing with calving problems
While most cows will calve unassisted, it is important farmers know how to deal with problems that arise when a cow is calving. Kieran Mailey writes.
Kieran Mailey on 13 Feb 2021
Five tips for reducing the risk of calf scour in suckler herds
Suckler cows calving in early spring are likely to remain housed for a period, increasing the risk of calf scour. Outlined are five tips to reducing the risk posed to calves.
Contributor on 10 Feb 2021
Expert advice on calving the cow
Michelle McGrath from Animal Health Ireland gives an overview of the calving process and outlines the best practice to achieve good outcomes.
Aidan Brennan on 10 Feb 2021
Dairy Management: grazing, milk fever and storing milk
With a poor weather forecast, Aidan Brennan has some advice for farmers trying to graze freshly calved cows.
Kieran Mailey on 09 Feb 2021
Beef management: five tips for resuscitating calves
Calves born after a difficult labour often need assistance with breathing and taking their first feed. Outlined are some tips to getting calves on their feet.
Aidan Brennan on 08 Feb 2021
Dairy management: preventing milk fever in cows
Aidan Brennan looks at the causes, treatment and prevention of milk fever in dairy cows.
Kieran Mailey on 06 Feb 2021
Five tips for using calving aids
Knowing how to use calving aids properly will increase the number of live calves born this spring. Outlined are five tips to using calving aids.
Adam Woods on 05 Feb 2021
Watch: calm before calving kicks off on Tullamore Farm
Adam Woods checks in with Shaun Diver ahead of a busy calving season on Tullamore Farm.
Adam Woods on 04 Feb 2021
Watch: calving webinar – your questions answered
Adam Woods goes through some of the questions that came up at this week’s Irish Farmers Journal calving webinar.
Declan Marren on 03 Feb 2021
When to intervene when calving the cow
Knowing when, and when not, to intervene with a calving cow can be a difficult judgement to make. Declan Marren writes
Aidan Brennan on 03 Feb 2021
Dairy management: grazing, fertiliser and measuring grass
In this week's management notes, Aidan Brennan looks at the benefits of an improvement in the weather over the coming weeks.
Declan Marren on 03 Feb 2021
Watch back: Spring Livestock Series
Watch back: both sessions of the Irish Farmers Journal spring livestock series.
Kieran Mailey on 02 Feb 2021
Five safety tips when assisting cows at calving time
Cows can become extremely temperamental at calving time, so always keep safety in mind when giving animals assistance. Outlined are five tips to improve safety when calving cows.