The Dairy Trail

Fleckvieh cows and once-a-day milking in Co. Clare

In the latest episode of Agriland's limited podcast series "The Dairy Trail", technical dairy specialist, Cathal O'Shea visited the farm of Paul and Judith Davoren in the Burren in Co. Clare. The Davoren family are milking a herd of Fleckvieh-cross cows on a once-a-day milking system. The farm is based in a unique area of the Burren, bringing its own challenges when it comes to grassland management, conservation and farming alongside an important part of Ireland’s natural landscape. Paul and Judith talk us through their decision to move away from British Friesian cows, the benefits of Fleckvieh breeding, the move to once-a-day milking, the difficulties of a tough grazing season, and supplying milk for locally made Burren cheese.

Farming over 700 buffalo in Co. Cork

In the latest episode of Agriland's limited podcast series "the Dairy Trail", technical dairy specialist, Cathal O'Shea visited the farm of Kieran Lynch in Macroom Co. Cork.   The Lynch family is a milking just over 300 water buffalos as well as rearing all replacements and stock bulls themselves.   The farm does not supply any milk co-op, with all the milk processed into cheese and yogurt on farm.   Kieran talks us through the decision of ditching the cows for buffalo, as well as explaining the what is involved in farming a herd of buffalo, from breeding and calving, to grassland management and cheese making.

Dual robots delivering over 520kg/MS in Tullamore

In the latest episode of Agriland's limited podcast series "the Dairy Trail", technical dairy specialist, Cathal O'Shea visited the farm of Michael Guinan in Co. Offaly.   Michael is milking 118 Montbéliarde cows through two robotic milking machines just outside of Tullamore alongside his wife Concepta, and his son Kevin.   He talks us through the decision of moving to robotic units back in 2021, and how they have integrated in to the farm system since.    We hear about the upcoming breeding season, and the criteria used to deliver optimum calves that suit the system.   Michael also talks us through his grazing season so far and how he has got on with spreading nutrients beside the Grand Canal.

From patrol cars to parlours: Two Gardaí dairying in Clare

In the latest episode of Agriland's podcast series "the Dairy Trail", technical dairy specialist, Cathal O'Shea visited the farm of Edel and Domnic Curtin in Co. Clare.   The Curtins run a busy operation, balancing the dairy herd alongside shift work, with both Domnic and Edel active members of An Garda Síochána   We chat to the duo about their farm system, navigating a tough grazing season, planning for the upcoming breeding season, as well as reflecting on the recent calving season.    And with three children on the farm, we hear about the farms desire for top notch safety, which has led them to their recent decision to install an underpass.

Chasing cell counts: How a Waterford farmer keeps SCC below 60

In the final episode of this season of Agriland's limited podcast series "the Dairy Trail", technical dairy specialist, Cathal O'Shea visited the farm of John Byrne in Co. Waterford.    John is milking 220 cows just below the Comeragh Mountains in Dungarvan.  He tells us what protocols are place for his to maintain his exceptionally low somatic cell count levels (SCC), in which he has won awards for.   John also talks us through the farms system, the infrastructure in place, breeding, grazing, and herd health. We hear about the winter feeding system, the farm's dry off routine and what he is doing to push the herd to 560kg milk solids a year.