Concentrates
Darren Carty on 03 Apr 2021
Early lactation ewe supplementation rates for every scenario
The grass supply situation is hugely variable across farms, while next week’s sharp drop in temperatures is likely to require freshly lambed ewes and their lambs to be retained indoors for a period.
Kieran Mailey on 31 Mar 2021
Top tips for managing cows and spring-born calves until turnout
With unsettled weather is delaying suckler farmers from slipping cows and spring-born calves out to grass, Kieran Mailey outlines some management tips until cows can get to grass.
Kieran Mailey on 27 Mar 2021
Beef management: five tips for indoor management of cows and calves
Wet weather is delaying spring-calving cows getting out to grass. With housing space filling up from a late turnout, Kieran Mailey outlines some tips to managing cows and calves indoors.
Kieran Mailey on 17 Mar 2021
Ten tips to start the grazing season
With rising feed costs, suckler farmers will look to get as many cattle out to grass as soon as possible over the coming weeks. Kieran Mailey outlines some tips to getting spring grazing under way.
Peter McCann on 17 Mar 2021
Yields approach 10,000l in Armagh
Milk yields and butterfat levels have moved upwards on the Martin family farm. Peter McCann reports
Kieran Mailey on 16 Mar 2021
Beef management: weaning stores off meal before turnout
Phasing concentrates from store cattle diets will help smooth the transition to a grass-only diet at turnout time.
Declan Marren on 03 Mar 2021
Thrive: strong performance cannot mask a poor beef price
Despite the strong production performance of the Thrive cattle, poor financial performance saw the system struggle to return a margin. Declan Marren writes.
Kieran Mailey on 24 Feb 2021
BETTER farm NI: £518 increase in GM/ha on bull finishing farms
This week, programme adviser Darryl Boyd analyses the profitability of the five farms finishing male cattle as young bulls.
Kieran Mailey on 24 Feb 2021
NI Sheep Programme: driving ewe output from grass
For Co Down sheep farmer Crosby Cleland, maximising output per hectare from a grass system is the driver of profitability. Kieran Mailey writes.
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.
Kieran Mailey on 17 Feb 2021
BETTER farm NI: £233/ha gross margin increase for steer systems
Programme farms have been benchmarked for 2020, with the results to be featured over the coming weeks, starting with the four farms operating store or steer finishing systems. Kieran Mailey reports.
Contributor on 17 Feb 2021
Dairylink farms focus on feed efficiency
The recent rise in meal prices has made efficient feeding more important than ever, writes Aidan Cushnahan
Adam Woods on 12 Feb 2021
Hitting two-year-old calving targets on Tullamore Farm
Adam Woods takes a look at the 2020 weanling heifer performance on Tullamore Farm.
Darren Carty on 10 Feb 2021
Stick to tried-and-tested feeding programmes
There is much talk about the price of soya bean meal being significantly more expensive of late but the feed cannot be beaten on performance and should remain the number one protein source.
Peter McCann on 10 Feb 2021
Dairylink: planning for first cut in Armagh
Plans for first cut silage are already under way on the Martin farm in Dromintee. Aidan Cushnahan reports.
Kieran Mailey on 10 Feb 2021
NI Sheep Programme: positive scanning results for mid-season lambing
With scanning completed on the mid-season lambing flocks, ewes are now being housed for pre-lambing management.
Kieran Mailey on 03 Feb 2021
BETTER farm NI: 10 steps to finishing spring-born bulls
Where spring-born bulls will be finished at 16 months of age, Kieran Mailey outlines 10 steps to transition animals through the final intensive feeding period.
Darren Carty on 03 Feb 2021
Meal prices face further upward pressure
A number of suppliers added another €10/t to the cost of concentrates as of 1 February, with others notifying farmers they will be shortly following suite. Darren Carthy and Andy Doyle report.
Peter McCann on 27 Jan 2021
Calving pattern tightens in Omagh
The calving spread on Richard Marshall’s farm has become more compact. Peter McCann reports
Peter McCann on 20 Jan 2021
Dairylink: calving nearing completion in Derry
A few late cows and a group of purchased heifers are left to calve on the Oliver farm. Peter McCann and Aidan Cushnahan report