Silage analysis
on 12 Jan 2022
How to take an accurate silage sample
Taking an accurate sample when testing silage is very important. Here’s a quick guide on sampling silage.
Kieran Mailey on 12 Jan 2022
Silage sampling – do you know what you are feeding your ewes?
The programme farmers have all had their silage sampled, helping to make best use of concentrates in the runup to lambing.
Siobhán Walsh on 12 Jan 2022
Footprint Farmers: silage quality in need of attention
Silage testing is an important job on farm. Here are the average silage test results from the Footprint Farmers’ Programme.
Darren Carty on 01 Dec 2021
Sheep Management: silage quality, ewe condition and Sheep Welfare Scheme
This week's notes discuss the importance of getting silage tested and also clears up confusion about payment rates under the Sheep Welfare Scheme.
Matt Dempsey on 24 Nov 2021
Home Farm: happy with silage analysis
The real question now is how much can we utilise the fertility that is in the soil.
Derek Robinson on 20 Jan 2021
Farmer Writes: lesson learned from my sheep BDG
Given the variability across farms, no one system suits everyone writes Co Down sheep farmer Derek Robinson
James Strain on 19 Jan 2021
Farmer Writes: cow camera makes for unpopular viewing at Netflix time
Donegal suckler farmer James Strain muses over the potential to cut out meal in his calved cows' diet.
Contributor on 22 Dec 2020
Dairylink Ireland: reviewing winter feed plans in Monaghan
Dairylink Ireland adviser Aidan Cushnahan gives an update from the Goodman farm near Carrickmacross.
Peter McCann on 16 Dec 2020
Breeding the ideal cow in Armagh
James Martin is breeding cows to yield over 10,000l. Peter McCann writes
Declan Marren on 11 Nov 2020
Watch: housing for 2020-born calves on Thrive demo farm
Declan Marren provides an update from the Thrive demonstration farm, where housing is due to take place for this year’s calves later this week.
Peter McCann on 21 Oct 2020
Winter feed plans on Dairylink farms
Dairylink farmers are aiming to produce as much milk from grass silage as possible. Peter McCann reports
Peter McCann on 20 Oct 2020
Dairylink: feed space critical for silage intake
Feed space is a key factor that can influence winter feed intakes on dairy farms.
Peter McCann on 14 Oct 2020
Analysing the forgotten fodder
Dry cow silage has been analysed on Dairylink Ireland farms. Peter McCann reports
Declan Marren on 27 Sep 2020
Time to assess silage quality on beef farms
Declan Marren outlines why silage sampling is so important this winter in order to optimise animal performance on beef farms.
Kieran Mailey on 09 Sep 2020
BETTER Farm NI: analysing feed value in first-cut silage
Analysis has been completed for first-cut silage on the programme farms and feed quality is higher year-on-year.
Kieran Mailey on 18 Jul 2020
Beef management: five tips for second-cut silage
Silage ground closed off in early June will be ready to harvest over the next fortnight. Kieran Mailey outlines some tips for managing second-cut silage.
The Dealer on 27 May 2020
A different sort of wrap in Leitrim
With club and county GAA panels unable to train due to COVID-19, The Dealer was amused to see first cut silage being taken off a GAA pitch.
David Wright on 22 Apr 2020
Consolidation key to avoiding slippage in silage clamp
Where clamp slippage occurs it increases losses and reduces quality of silage
Derek Robinson on 15 Apr 2020
Watch: Angus bullocks ready to be transformed
After performing below target over the winter, Derek Robinson’s cattle should benefit from compensatory growth this spring
Darren Carty on 19 Feb 2020
Tailoring feeding levels to ewe nutritional requirements
Programme advisor Senan White says lowland flocks are focused on late pregnancy feeding, while out-wintered hill flocks are planning feeding programmes based on recent scanning results.