Over 4,600 deer hunting licences issued to date

To date this year, 4,610 deer hunting licences __have been issued by the Department of Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs.

The hunting season commenced on September 1.

As of Friday, October 21, a total of 4,577 deer hunting applications were made to the Department. In addition, it said that around 80-90 licences were carried over from last year.

Under the law, deer can only be hunted in Ireland with a licence and the penalties for hunting deer without a licence can include fines and/or imprisonment, or both.

Deer hunting licences are on par with last year, when the Department issued over 4,600 licences.

Speaking earlier this year, Wicklow IFA Chairman Tom Short said that deer population of Ireland has reached unacceptable and intolerable levels as they encroach further every year onto farmland.

Short said that as they continue to encroach they are damaging crops, farm infrastructure, jeopardising the health of cattle and becoming an ever-increasing health and safety threat for motorists.

Earlier this year, a report on Bovine TB by the Department of Agriculture found that incidences of TB in cattle herds last year fell on 2014 levels.

In 2015, there were 15,317 reactor cattle, down 828 head on 2014.

The highest number of reactor cattle was in Co. Clare with 1,383, followed by Co. Wicklow with a total of 1,184 reactors and Cork South with 1,127.

The lowest number of reactor cattle in 2015 was in Co. Dublin with 63 reactors, followed by Co. Louth with 120 reactors and Co. Kildare which had 138.

Bord Bia to host Farmers’ Market skills training workshops this November

Andrew Doyle, Minister of State for Food, Forestry and Horticulture, Margaret Hoctor, Kilcullen Farm Wicklow and Mary Morrissey, Senior Manager Food and Beverage at Bord Bia

Bord Bia is set to host a series of Farmers’ Market skills training workshops around the country this November to support new and existing members of the food market network.

The ‘Skills Training for Selling at Farmers’ workshops, specifically designed by Bord Bia, will provide practical solutions to the challenges most frequently faced by market sellers.

Local food producer, farmer and successful stallholder Margaret Hoctor from Kilmullen Farm, Co. Wicklow will deliver the workshops.

Hoctor, a regular at the Marley Park food market in Dublin, will share her own knowledge and wide experience of she developed the family business through this channel.

Food and Farmers’ Markets __have experienced considerable growth in recent years.

Bord Bia research (2014) identified over 150 food markets in Ireland, including community markets, farmers markets, lunch-time markets, weekend city markets, co-operatives and country markets.

They largely share the same common aim, which is to allow producers to sell their produce directly to consumers in a traditional market environment.

The Minister of State for Food, Forestry and Horticulture Andrew Doyle visited the Kilruddery Food Market in Co. Wicklow to launch the new initiative.

Speaking at the event Minister Doyle said that farmers markets are a great opportunity for food producers and entrepreneurs to tell their story and to understand what captures consumers’ interest – what consumers regard as local, authentic and unique, what would encourage them to purchase on a regular basis.

“These Bord Bia training workshops are a great opportunity to ‘get market-fit’ and I’d encourage anyone thinking of starting or developing sales in a farmers market to attend.”

Bord Bia is planning four practical and interactive half day workshops starting with Limerick on November 8 (The Castletroy Park Hotel), Cork (The Lee Hotel) on November 9, Galway (Hotel Meyrick) on November 15 and finally Wicklow (Tinakilly House) on November 16.

A €15 charge per person applies and you must register in advance.

According to Bord Bia, the workshops will provide as a refresher course for existing stall holders and a helping guide for those starting to trade at farmers’ markets.

Mary Morrissey, Senior Manager, Food and Beverages, Bord Bia commented that Bord Bia is delighted to support producers to build and grow their business in the farmers’ market channel with these workshops.

“Farmers’ markets continue to play a vital role to companies in the start-up phase and beyond.

“These workshops will assist food sellers and producers to further develop skills and gain expertise in the areas of stall management, selling and marketing tips, building customer loyalty and budgeting.

“The workshops also offer an invaluable opportunity for existing and prospective producers to network and share their ideas and experiences.”

Numbers are limited, so interested parties are encouraged to register now to avoid disappointment. For registration and further information see www.bordbia.ie/FarmersMarketsTraining or email [email protected]

Beef factories continue to work off lower base quotes

Early quotes for this week suggest that beef buyers are continuing to operate off lower base quotes.

Last week, a number of the main processors dropped the quoted steer and heifer price to 360c/kg and 370c/kg respectively – a fall of 5c/kg on the week before.

And, following on from last week’s drop, procurement managers are continuing to operate off the lower base quotes again this week.

A number of processors are planning to offer 360c/kg and 370c/kg for steers and heifers bought tomorrow morning, while farmers supplying in-spec cattle can expected to be offered an additional 5c/kg for suitable lots.

Like price cattle prices, beef buyers __have also indicated that cow prices will remain unchanged from last week, with prices ranging from 270-315c/kg.

Procurement managers are offering 270c/kg for P grade cows, 280c/kg for O grades and 310-315c/kg for the better quality R grade lots.

Cattle supplies

The number of cattle slaughtered in beef export plants has passed the 36,000 head mark for the second time this month.

Figures from the Department of Agriculture show that the total kill for the week ending October 23 stood at 36,199 head, an 1.4% increase on the previous week’s total.

This follows on from the week ending October 9, when the weekly beef kill passed the 36,000 head mark for the first time this year.

This week’s rise was driven by increases in the numbers of young bulls, up 19.9% (437 head), and cows, up 5.6% (443 head), while all other categories of cattle supplies for slaughter fell.

Aged bulls, steers and heifers all posted falls in throughput during the week ending October 23, with supplies down by 41 head (7.7%), 199 head (1.1%) and 102 head (1.3%) respectively.

Week-on-week beef kill changes:

• Young bulls: +437 head or +19.9%
• Aged bulls: -41 head or -7.7%
• Steers: -199 head or -1.1%
• Cows: +443 head or +5.6%
• Heifers: -102 head or -1.3%
• Total: +516 head or +1.45%

Main markets

According to Bord Bia, the UK beef trade is stagnant with demand staying firm and prices relatively unchanged.

Demand for most cuts was steady last week, it says, but retail prices were showing some decline compared to the same period last year.

Prices from the AHDB (the organisation for British beef and lamb) for the week ending October 23 show that British R4L steers made the equivalent of 411.3c/kg, while Northern Irish steers made in the region of 401c/kg.

Bord Bia also reports that the French beef trade remains poor for imported product as domestically produced beef continues to dominate the market.

Demand for most cuts of beef was steady, it says, with offal showing the highest demand, but it is hoped that consumption will improve over the bank holiday weekend.

Retail promotions were centered on mainly domestically produced beef such as steaks, ribs, burgers and mince with some offal promotions taking place on imported product.

Meanwhile, Bord Bia also reports that the Italian beef market remains steady with little change reported in wholesale prices, while some decreases in retail prices were reported.

3 alternative options to straw for livestock bedding this winter

Farmers __have alternative options to straw when it comes to bedding livestock this winter, according to Agricultural Consultant Jimmie Forbes.

However, Forbes did advise that barley straw is one of the best options out there for farmers bedding livestock this winter, especially with regards to fertiliser value.

Sawdust, mulch or bark and peat can all be used as bedding, he said, but each of these options provides their own positives and negatives.

1.Peat

Forbes, from Mullingar in Co. Westmeath, has seen a number of his own clients using peat as a bedding option due to its significant absorption rate, but he warned that this method can be labour intensive.

“If the peat is not bone dry going in then it will not work properly. If the peat is damp it will compact much faster and anaerobic infections may arise.

The peat must also be rotovated in the shed every couple of days to improve drainage, while the shed must be cleared every six or seven weeks.

If not maintained properly young calves may suffer from infections contracted through their naval, he said.

As an option for bedding, peat is also not environmentally sustainable for the future as the peat has to be harvested from the bog, Forbes added.

2.Bark or Mulch

Products such as bark, mulch and sawdust all provide their own challenges for farmers using them as winter bedding, the Agricultural Consultant said.

With regards to bark and mulch, farmers are faced with difficulties when disposing of it as it takes much longer to break down than traditional farmyard manure, he said.

Ploughing bark and mulch into the ground is one option for farmers looking to spread the manure, Forbes advised.

3.Sawdust

Sawdust can be mixed with other dung and spread on the land the same as traditional farmyard manure, usually at the back end of the year, he said.

To reduce your carbon footprint farmers are now being advised to spread all the manure and slurry as early as possible in the year to get the most out of it.

Meanwhile, some farmers are using a combination of products for bedding, according to Forbes, with one example being using straw on top of a layer of mulch or bark.

However, difficulties can arise when the mulch or bark becomes saturated forcing farmers to dig channels to relieve the run-off, he said.

Forbes works in the Co. Westmeath area working with farmers across all sectors while also running a farm himself.

Meanwhile, the deadline for spreading farmyard manure in the Republic of Ireland under the European Union’s Nitrate Directive is November 1.

EU milk producers will opt to ‘pay back debt’ rather than chase output

Old winter milking cow (left) and younger Friesian x Holstein cow (right)

Dairy farmers may well opt to pay back debt, rather than chase extra litres, on the back of the recent upturn in milk prices, according to AHDB Dairy Market Analyst Luke Crossman.

If this happens it will act to keep a lid on milk output across Europe over the coming months, he said.

“This, in turn, will serve to maintain pressure on milk output, thereby forcing buyers to further commit to the market. We are now seeing significant reductions in EU milk output, even in Ireland.”

AHDB analysts are now predicting that EU dairy markets will continue to strengthen right through to next year’s spring flush.

“This will take us through to next May. What happens after that will depend on a number of factors.”

A strong flush of milk coming onto the EU market next year could serve to weaken prices again.

“But if weather or other factors act to keep milk output levels constrained, this will __have a strengthening impact on international markets.”

Crossman also said that China is, once again, demonstrating an active engagement on world dairy markets.

“This is adding to demand and the fact that the United States is putting very little product onto export markets is helping to boost international market sentiment.

“Prices for butter and cheese __have been exceptionally strong in the US over recent months. As a consequence, dairy processors have had no reason to source international outlets for their produce.”

Crossman said that AHDB’s new Forward Market Performance (FMP) indicator is pointing to an average EU milk price for January in the region 36c/L.

“The aim is to provide some indication of what those trading futures believe the supply and demand relationship could be over the coming months,” he said.

“We are using EEX futures’ prices in our calculations, which have a strong German focus. But all our work is clearly showing that demand will outstrip output over the coming months.”

Flooding problems on the Shannon ‘won’t be solved in one winter’

Problems arising from the flooding from the Shannon will not be solved in one winter, Minister of State at the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, Sean Canney, has said.

Businesses, homes and farmland were all seriously affected last winter as a result of flooding with many still left counting the costs of the damages.

Responding to a question from Sinn Fein TD Carol Nolan, Minister Canney said that the Government is doing everything it can to prevent flooding this winter.

While the flooding problems won’t be solved this winter, Canney said that a decision has been taken by the Shannon Flood Risk State Agency Co-ordination Working Group to trial the lowering of the lake levels in Lough Allen to help mitigate potential flood risk for this winter.

From the analysis completed, this may __have a small positive impact on the extent of certain flood events that might occur during a winter.

“This is to be achieved through protocols to be agreed between the OPW, the ESB and Waterways Ireland with input from the relevant Local Authorities.

“The modelling and analysis completed shows that this action can only be done in specified conditions to avoid causing or exacerbating flooding downstream and this trial will need to be carefully monitored.”

Minister Canney said that the group will discuss both this evaluation and progression with the lake levels trial at its next meeting at the end of November.

Dredging the Shannon

Dredging on the Shannon came up at the group’s latest meeting and the Minister said that all parties are now going to look at it, both from the point of view of what they can do in the short term and what they can do in the long term.

“Waterways Ireland is reviewing some of the pinch points so that we can find out more information. Some costs are being bandied around and I want to get a true picture of them.

“We may __have to take one or two of them out in a pilot scheme to see what that would cost.”

Agriland.ie shortlisted for two awards at the 2016 Agricultural Journalism Awards

Agriland.ie has been shortlisted for two awards for the 2016 Agricultural Journalism Awards, organised by the Guild of Agricultural Journalists and supported by FBD Insurance.

The bi-annual awards aim to encourage excellence in the coverage by media of farming, food and rural life on the island of Ireland.

Agriland.ie has been shortlisted for the Best Online category for its coverage of the IFA pay scandal and also for Best Targeted Campaign for its Elanco Blowfly Campaign.

Over 200 entries were received for this year’s awards across eight categories and 24 entries __have made the final shortlist.

The Agricultural Journalism Awards are open to journalists, photographers and broadcasters in national and local media and also to specialist consultants in the communication sector, whose work has been published, broadcast or implemented in either Northern Ireland or the Republic of Ireland.

The winners of each category and the overall winner of the coveted ‘Bull’ trophy, will be announced at an awards ceremony in Dublin on the evening of Friday November 4, 2016.

The judging panel is: Alan Dukes (Chairman), Public Affairs Consultant and former Government Minister; Sheila Reilly, Editor, Longford Leader; Ray Ryan, former Agricultural Correspondent, Irish Examiner; Joe O’Brien, former Agricultural Correspondent, RTE; Dr. Pat Wall, Professor of Public Health, UCD; and Richard Wright, former Agricultural Correspondent, BBC Northern Ireland.

The 2016 finalists in the Agricultural Journalism Awards are:

Best Online

IFA Presidential Hustings and Election Day, Irish Farmers Journal, Patrick Donohoe
IFA Pay Scandal, Agriland, Agriland Team,
Reaching the Joyce Farm in Floods, Irish Farmers Journal, Michael Moroney

Best Print News Article

IFA: Crisis to New Beginnings, Irish Farmers Journal, Patrick Donohoe
Who’s Telling Porkies?, The Sunday Times, Mark Tighe
IFA Crisis, Farming Independent, Louise Hogan/Darragh McCullough & Team

Best Print Feature Article

Cowtown Revisited, Farming Independent, Declan O’Brien
60 Years of Clare IFA, Clare Champion, Dan Danaher
Farm Safety – Victim Interviews, Irish Farmers Journal, Patrick Donohoe

Best TV Programme/Story

Big Week on the Farm, Independent Pictures/RTE, Conor Moloney/Liam Lavelle
Rural Crime, Ear to the Ground, Agtel/RTE, Helen Carroll
High Steaks, RTE, Fran McNulty

Best Radio Programme/Story

Whose Land Is It, Anyway? Radio Kerry, Aisling O’Brien
60 Years of IFA – RTE Radio One, Countrywide, Damien O’Reilly
Here Comes the Rain Again, Clare Fm, Gavin Grace

Best Technical Article

Useless Pedigree Bulls Cost Farmers Millions, Irish Farmers Journal, Kieran Mailey
The Future Is Bio, TResearch, Teagasc, Laura Devaney/Maeve Henchion
On & Off Farm series, Irish Farmers Journal, Peter Varley

Best Targeted Campaign

Elanco Blowfly Campaign, Agriland, Cormac Farrelly
Agri Careers Fair, Irish Farmers Journal, Mary Phelan
Safety First When It Comes to Quads, IFP/Irish Farmers Monthly, Bernie Commins

Best Photograph

One Girl and Her Dog – Valerie O’Sullivan, Killarney, Co Kerry
Flooded Land – Ray Ryan, Tuam, Co. Galway
Three Amigos – Chris McCullough, Belfast, Northern Ireland

Ban on farmyard manure spreading from November 1

The closed period for the spreading of farmyard manure starts on November 1 and will last until mid-January at the earliest, depending on the region.

Slurry, farmyard manure, and chemical fertilisers are prohibited from being spread over the winter in Ireland in order to comply with the European Union’s Nitrates Directive.

The aim is to protect ground and surface water, including drinking water. These regulations also prohibit such applications at any time of the year when the ground is frozen, waterlogged or heavy rain is forecast.

With the forecast promised relatively dry for the weekend farmers may __have an opportunity to spread any remaining manure prior to the deadline.

Farmers may also be tempted to spread their final bit of manure as grass growth remains relatively good for this time of year, according to Met Eireann.

Earlier this month, multiple calls were made to extend the slurry spreading deadline which closed on October 15.

There was also some confusion whether or not the slurry spreading deadline would be extended or whether cases would be looked at on a case by case basis.

A memo issued to local authorities from the Department of Housing and Local Government said no individual exemptions to the slurry spreading deadline would be made.

Farmers who __have animal welfare issues arising from the inability to spread slurry can contact the Nitrates Unit of the Department of Agriculture and it will look into it.

The Department expects this issue to arise when animals are housed for the winter, more so than right now and it will look at it on a case-by-case basis.

It’s time for the IFA to get its life back on track!

IFA President Joe Healy and IFA Livestock Chairman Angus Woods at a recent IFA protest

It has been a good month for Irish agriculture; milk prices are on the up, the vast majority of farmers __have received the advance on their basic payment and, by all accounts, Minister Noonan’s Budget was pretty agri friendly.

And all of this happened without the IFA having a permanent hand on the tiller.

This has been the reality of life up at the Farm Centre since Pat Smith exited stage left almost a year ago.

Given these circumstances, the cynic within me is tempted to ask the question: what difference does the IFA really make when it comes to getting critical policy decisions taken for Irish farmers?

But that would be very churlish on my part. It is universally accepted that Irish farmers need a strong voice, putting their case at the highest levels of government.

The IFA needs to appoint a new director general pretty quickly. But if the plan is to simply appoint the new supremo and then assume that life, and all that happens within it, will go back to the way it was in then the powers-that-be within the organisation are deluding themselves.

The appointment of the new supremo will give the IFA a unique opportunity to mark out its territory and explain in very clear detail what the organisation does on behalf of its members.

This issue goes well beyond that of staff salaries and the expenses paid to the organisation’s office bearer team. These matters __have been pretty well addressed courtesy of the work carried out by former IFA economist Con Lucey over the past 12 months.

The real issue to be addressed is that of convincing rank and file farmers that the money they pay towards the IFA is a real investment and is generating them a sustainable payback.

The organisation has a new presidential team and soon it will have a new director general. It’s up to this combined grouping to take a very strong message to the country, one which communicates the fundamentals of what the IFA is all about in the 21^st century.

There is also an onus on the new team at the head of IFA to mend bridges with the significant number of groupings the organisation has managed to alienate over recent years.

The commonage groupings in the west of Ireland immediately come to mind in this regard. Then there is the malting barley growers, who have had a recurring gripe with the way the IFA has represented them in the contract negotiations with the malting companies.

There is also a strong onus on the IFA to be proactive – not reactive. The challenge of Brexit is a case in point. These are still early days.

But already the British government is making it clear that it will not continue with a direct payment support system for its farmers beyond 2020. Defra minister George Eustice let that cat out of the bag when he visited Northern Ireland last week.

Seemingly on the agenda is the introduction of an insurance-based income support scheme which will be jointly funded by government and farmers.

But, one must assume, that this is code for an overarching commitment at Westminster which supports the continuation of a cheap food policy within the UK and this is, fundamentally, bad news for the Irish food industry.

Throw in potential trade deals involving the UK with Australia/New Zealand and the potential for problem creation here in Ireland is truly immense.

These issues must be addressed now. I sense Brussels wants to get the Brexit issue sorted out as quickly as possible. So there is plenty for the new IFA Director General to be getting on with!

Pics: Haulier stopped for not having bales secured properly

HGV stopped in Cork city Source: Garda Traffic Twitter

A haulier in Cork City was stopped by the Gardai over the weekend for travelling with a load of 28 bales which were not secured properly.

The load weighed approximately 20t, according to the Garda Twitter account, and was deemed unsecured with only five ratchet straps attached. 

However, the haulier was not fined or reprimanded for the offence and was instead advised by the Gardai to secure loads properly in the future.

Cork Traffic Corps: HGV stopped in Cork City with insecure load of 20 tonne bales. Driver advised. pic.twitter.com/IsOO0Srnam

— An Garda Síochána (@GardaTraffic) October 23, 2016

Earlier this year, a haulier in Tallaght was pulled over by Gardai which had an unsecure load due to a deflated tyre.

The Gardai reminded farmers to always safety check your vehicle at regular intervals while drawing fodder.

Farmers Haulage Co Note unsecure load caused by deflated tyre Always safety check your vehicle at regular intervals pic.twitter.com/II0qlF26Uj

— An Garda Síochána (@GardaTraffic) July 12, 2016

On the same day in July, a farmer in Askeaton, Co. Limerick was stopped for only having one strap used to secure a load which appears to __have 17 bales.

The tractor and trailer was stopped on the N21 and as the tweet below shows, the top row of bales was left totally unsecured.

Farmers Haulage Co Pls Note Askeaton Gardai intercept tractor/trailer on N21. Only 1 strap. Nothing securing top row pic.twitter.com/AXAvEgWHUc

— An Garda Síochána (@GardaTraffic) July 12, 2016

The Road Safety Authority (RSA) has previously said that a load shall not be carried on a vehicle on a public road in such a manner that part of the load is liable to fall on the road.

A load must not drag on the surface of the road, so as to cause damage to the road or to be liable to cause danger, it also advises.

Operators or drivers should employ a load restraint method suitable to the load being carried, according to the RSA.

Dimensional Limits

Dimensional limits that apply to agricultural vehicles as of January 1, 2016:

Length

12 metres (or 18.75 metres when combined – i.e. tractor and trailer or other interchangeable towed equipment).

Height

4.65 metres. Trailers used to transport loads of baled agricultural produce such as hay or straw etc. are exempt from this height limitation.

Widths

-Agricultural tractors and trailers – 2.55 metres;
-Large tractors – tractors with a laden weight exceeding 7.52 tonnes – 2.75 metres;
-Tractors with flotation tyres or dual wheel systems – 3.5 metres; and
-Fully mounted equipment and interchangeable towed equipment – 3.0 metres.

Over 140 new outbreaks of Bluetongue reported in France

In the second half of October there has been 143 new outbreaks of Bluetongue disease in France reported to the World Animal Health Organisation (OIE).

This brings the total number of outbreaks in France to 621, with outbreaks generally consisting of between one to four infected animals.

Out of the 143 new outbreaks there was only one related to a flock of sheep, with the rest relating to cattle in herds ranging in size from five to 484, the report shows.

In total there was 18,120 cattle susceptible to the disease, with just 160 animals testing positive, the OIE report shows.

Meanwhile, Bluetongue was also detected in a flock of eight sheep with only one of the animals testing positive.

All of the cases were detected as part of active surveillance and as part of pre-movement testing, while none of the infected animals died from the disease or had to be destroyed/slaughtered because of it.

The risk level in the UK for the disease has remained at medium for this time of year, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) has stated.

The extent of the restriction zone has not changed as a result of these new cases and has been the same since April of this year, according to DEFRA.

The latest Bluetongue outbreaks in France Source: OIE

The outbreaks __have been detected mainly in the Allier, Aveyron, Drôme, Loire, Haute Loire, Puy de Dôme, and Rhône regions of France, with a total of 473 outbreaks reported this year alone.

French authorities are continuing to carry out sample tests of herds along the boundary of the restriction zone to limit the spread of the disease, DEFRA has said.

Risk Level In The UK

Factors such as midge activity, weather conditions and the level of disease in northern France affect how the risk level changes in the UK.

DEFRA advised that the risk level in the UK cannot be changed at the moment due to the temperatures remaining mild enough for midge activity.

However, DEFRA expects the risk level for the disease will probably decrease in the coming weeks.

Over 1,000 farmers apply to Sheep Fencing Scheme under TAMS II

A total of 1,174 applications for the Sheep Fencing Scheme __have been received by the Department of Agriculture under the TAMS II scheme.

Farmers were able to apply to the Sheep Fencing Scheme in early June of this year when it opened to applications.

Sheep fencing is offered under the Animal Welfare, Safety and Nutrient Storage Scheme, the Young Farmer Capital Investment Scheme and the Organic Capital Investment Scheme.

Each application is being examined and applicants will be advised of the position in relation to the status of their application shortly, the Department said.

Farmers accepted into the scheme will be eligible for grant aid of €5.34/m for sheep wire with one strand of barbed wire.

For those farmers in mountain areas, this rate increases to €8.01/m. Gateways will also be grant aided and the reference cost is €299.00 per gateway.

In October of last year, the then Minister for Agriculture, Simon Coveney, announced that sheep fencing would become eligible for grant aid under the TAMS II scheme.

The inclusion of sheep fencing in TAMS II came after the Minister came under sustained pressure from farm organisations over the initial exclusion of sheep fencing from the TAMS II grant schemes.

Future TAMS II approvals could be at risk unless farmers submit claims

Last week, the Secretary General at the Department of Agriculture, Aidan O’Driscoll said that future approvals under the TAMS II suite of measures could be at risk of being blocked unless farmers start submitting their claims online.

The latest figures from the Department show that almost 4,300 TAMS II approvals __have been issued by the Department of Agriculture and despite the online payment system being open for three months, just 274 farmers have submitted payment claims.

Of this number, 38 claims have been approved for payment by the Department.

Weekly beef kill passes the 36,000 mark again

The number of cattle slaughtered in beef export plants has passed the 36,000 head mark for the second time this month.

Figures from the Department of Agriculture show that the total kill for the week ending October 23 stood at 36,199 head, an 1.4% increase on the previous week’s total.

This follows on from the week ending October 9, when the weekly beef kill passed the 36,000 head mark for the first time this year.

This week’s rise was driven by increases in the numbers of young bulls, up 19.9% (437 head), and cows, up 5.6% (443 head), while all other categories fell.

Aged bulls, steers and heifers all posted falls in throughput during the week ending October 23, with supplies down by 41 head (7.7%), 199 head (1.1%) and 102 head (1.3%) respectively.

Week-on-week beef kill changes:

• Young bulls: +437 head or +19.9%
• Aged bulls: -41 head or -7.7%
• Steers: -199 head or -1.1%
• Cows: +443 head or +5.6%
• Heifers: -102 head or -1.3%
• Total: +516 head or +1.45%

Cumulative beef kill

Compared to the same period in 2015, there has been an extra 61,557 head of cattle slaughtered in Department of Agriculture approved plants.

Official figures show that young bulls continue to account for over half of this increase, with year-on-year supplies increasing by 28.6% or 34,889 head.

Culled cows __have also increased by 22,684 head (8.7%), while heifer throughput is the other main contributor to overall increase.

Cumulative steer supplies remain steady or very similar to 2015 levels, figures from the Department show, showing less than a 1% or 2,788 head rise.

However, aged bulls __have seen a marked decline of 4,119 head or 14.2% so far this year compared to the corresponding period last year.

Year-on-year beef kill changes:

• Young bulls: +34,899 head or +28.6%
• Aged bull: -4,119 head or -14.2%
• Steers: +2788 head or +0.6%
• Cows: +22,684 head or +8.7%
• Heifers: +5,340 head or +1.59%
• Total: +61,557 head or +4.9%

PICs and Vid: Moving from a Holstein to a crossbred herd on a large scale

The Cooperhill herd in Co. Limerick consists of approximately 300 ‘liquid milk’ type Holstein Friesian cows.

But, over the next four years, the farm’s manager John Holton has ambitious plans to change the production system, with Jersey genetics becoming a major part of the business.

As part of Macra na Feirme’s National Rally, over 100 Macra members visited the farm to see exactly what changes will be made between now and 2020.

Holton, who has been at the helm of operations at the Irish Cement owned farm since 2006, explained the reasoning behind making the switch to cross-breeding.

John Holton (left) speaking at the farm walk

Reasons behind making the switch

The Farm Manager explained that the dairy enterprise was established on the farm in the 1938, and over the years a substantial liquid milk contract had been built up.

But when Glanbia took over Kerry Group’s milk contracts in the area, the farm was essential forced away from liquid to manufacturing milk production.

And, Holton felt that the 8,000-10,000L liquid milk type Holstein cows were not suitable for a spring-calving grass-based production system.

Cooperhill Herd performance – 2014:

• Litres per cow: 7,580L
• Butterfat: 3.70%
• Protein: 3.33%
• Kilograms milk solids per cow: 532

He identified two key issues with this type of cow from a manufacturing milk point of view – these were poor fertility and low milk solids production.

The cows on the farm would be a traditional liquid milk cow capable of producing 8,000-10,000L of milk, but the milk solids were low.

“The cows were producing a good yield but the lower milk solids were not going to pay.

“Fertility traditionally would __have been a problem within the herd, but split calving (66% spring, 33% winter) masked that and the calving interval on the farm was 392 last year,” he said.

Video: Cooperhill Herd cows grazing

Assessing the options before switching to cross-breeding

Holton also said he assessed the various breeding options available before coming to the conclusion that cross-breeding was the way forward for the Cooperhill herd.

Before choosing the cross-breeding route, he had looked at Friesian and Norwegian genetics, but he felt that a Jersey crossed on his cows would be the ideal solution.

He also mentioned that he considered selling out the entire herd of cows and replacing them with a more grass-based animal, but he felt the bio-security risk was too great.

I looked at a lot of systems and I wanted a cow that was capable of producing 500kg of milk solids.

“I think Jersey will be an ideal cross on the type of cow currently in the herd and this spring 90% of the cows in the herd were AI’d to grass-type Jersey bulls,” he said.

Cross-breeding not the only major change on farm

Along with changing the type of cow, Holton also plans to increase the number of cows on the farm to 500 by 2020.

This will see the number of cows passing through the farm’s 50 unit rotary parlour increase by almost 66% in the coming years.

To ensure that the farm is adequately equipped to handle this number of cows, he said that a lot of work has gone into improving the farms housing and grazing infrastructure.

And in recent years, an additional 7km of roadways __have been developed on farm to make managing a spring-calving grass-based herd as easy as possible.

An increased focus has also been placed on grassland management, and Holton told the delegates of his plans to increase the amount of grass utilised in the cows diets.

The 50 unit rotary parlour

Presently, he said the average cow on the farm is fed 2.4t of concentrate on an annually basis, but with a plan in place to grow 14t of grass Dry Matter per hectare by 2020, this will drop to 750kg per cow.

To achieve this level of production, Holton admitted that reseeding and monitoring soil Phosphorous and Potassium and grass growth levels have become a key component of the business.

“We started measuring grass three years ago. The benefits are huge. It allows you to see what paddocks need to be reseeded,” he said.

To deal with the extra numbers all of the machinery work on the farm will be contracted out, while the four people currently employed on the farm will look after the cows and calves.

DuPont appoints Terrachem as a distributor of it’s agri-product range

DuPont UK has appointed Terrachem Ltd as a distributor of its agricultural product range in Ireland and Northern Ireland

Terrachem will begin distribution of DuPont products from January 1, 2017.

Robert Bird, Country Manager for Ireland and the UK for DuPont Agricultural Products, believes the relationship will benefit both businesses.

“Terrachem will meet customer needs and support an expanding DuPont product range.”

Despite the agent’s route working well for several years this new relationship will develop a more formal and broader platform to market a wider range of products.

Valuing customer relationships, DuPont is looking to build long term business relationships in the future with the help of this deal.

The company’s agricultural product range includes animal nutrition, disease prevention, crop protection and seeds.

DuPont hopes to improves it’s development and regulatory support while also maintaining a balanced pipeline of products in the coming years, Bird said.

Gary Beirne, Terrachem Director.

Meanwhile, the change-over from the agency arrangement, which DuPont has used for the last 10 years, to Terrachem will be seamless, according to Director of Terrachem Gary Beirne.

Customers will deal with the same personnel, receive the same technical support and it will continue to operate the same logistics system, he said.

Terrachem has a team of trained advisers and specialists provide a range of services to farmers including crop walking, disease advice, pest control, appropriate spray selection for economical chemical use and sprayer upkeep and certification.

The company also supplies a large range of fungicides and pesticides for Irish farmers.

‘High risk of liver fluke infection in livestock in Northern Ireland this winter’

The overall risk of liver fluke infection in cattle and sheep this winter will be high across all areas of Northern Ireland, the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI) has said.

Rainfall levels in June, July and September were considerably higher than the national average.

Unusually high rainfall has kept ground conditions damp, which AFBI said is ideal for the intermediate host of liver fluke, the snail Galba truncatula.

In areas which are poorly drained and remain wet all year round, multiplication of snails will __have continued and AFBI expects the likelihood of liver fluke infection in the autumn and winter to be particularly high.

Types of Liver Fluke

Liver fluke disease can occur in either acute or chronic forms AFBI advises, with the chronic form being the most common.

The acute form occurs in sheep and is caused by the migration of large numbers of immature flukes through the liver, this form can often be fatal and has serious welfare implications.

Symptoms of a severe infection include distended painful abdomen, anaemia and sudden death, while in less severe cases poor production and growth, coupled with reduced appetite and abdominal pain, are apparent.

Meanwhile, chronic liver fluke disease occurs in both sheep and cattle, usually during the winter and spring, although infection can persist throughout the year, according to AFBI.

Fluke infection can cause a reduction of 5-15% in the milk yield of dairy cows and loss of growth in fattening lambs and cattle, representing considerable financial losses, it said.

AFBI advises all farmers to review their fluke control measures at this time of year, while minimising access to snail habitats (wet and poorly drained areas).

At this time of year, it is recommended that farmers use a dosing product that is effective against immature and mature forms of liver fluke.

It is advisable to use such a product on out-wintered sheep once or twice in autumn and maybe in January, coupled with a treatment effective against adult flukes in early spring.

Meanwhile, the treatment of chronic (adult) infections in cattle as well as sheep during the winter or early spring is important to help reduce pasture contamination with fluke eggs.

However, farmers need to be aware that resistance to fluke treatments is an emerging problem and has been detected in Northern Ireland, AFBI has said.

The effectiveness of treatments on individual farms can be checked by taking dung samples three-four weeks after treatment and submitting them, through your veterinary surgeon, for laboratory examination.

Stomach or Rumen Fluke

In recent years, stomach or rumen flukes __have also become common in sheep and cattle in the North.

It is understood that the snail Galba truncatula serves as intermediate host to both liver fluke and rumen fluke.

Adult rumen flukes are less damaging to sheep and cattle than liver flukes, however heavy infections of immature worms may cause diarrhoea, ill-thrift and, possibly death in young animals.

AFBI advises farmers who suspect that a stomach fluke infection may be a problem on their farm to contact their veterinary surgeon to arrange for appropriate laboratory testing, and to discuss treatment options.

Irish ‘wholesome and juicy’ beef a hit in German steakhouses

One German steakhouse chain has declared Irish beef to be ‘wholesome and juicy‘, on the back of Bord Bia’s new beef promotion in the country.

Irish beef set to be offered in all 48 Maredo restaurants in Germany for the coming month.

Bord Bia aims to position Irish beef as a premium quality, natural, grass-fed, and sustainably produced product with the help of this promotional campaign.

The launch took place recently at the Maredo Restaurant in Frankfurt, Germany, and was hosted by Restaurant Manager, Manmohan Bedi and Bord Bia, in the company of the Ambassador of Ireland to Germany, Michael Collins.

(L-R) Manmohan Bedi, Manager of the restaurant; Ambassador of Ireland to Germany, Michael Collins and Donal Denvir, Bord Bia Manager, Germany.

In the past seven years Irish beef exports to the German market have increased six fold, figures from Bord Bia show.

In 2009 exports to Germany amounted to €17m while this is expected to grow to €136m by the end of this year, with total exports now at approximately 20,000t, Bord Bia has said.

The continuous growth of the sector follows a major promotional campaign which was developed and managed by Bord Bia.

In-store promotions for Irish beef were recently organised in German hypermarket, Real, which is Ireland`s biggest customer for Irish beef and accounts for about one quarter of beef exports to Germany, according to Bord Bia.

In addition, German hypermarket, Kaufland, will be targeted by Bord Bia with in-store promotions and the Irish beef Food Truck will hit the road covering trade fairs as well as food and arts festivals.

Meanwhile, a new five year campaign will be launched in early 2017 by Bord Bia with a renewed focus on sustainability while also introducing the Origin Green programme at consumer level.

Irish Beef to be served at the largest horse racing event in the US

Irish beef is also to be served as the feature dish at the Taste of the World experience, which will take place during the Breeders’ Cup World Championships in the US.

The private culinary event will take place in the Warner Bros Studio in California on Thursday, November 3, 2016.

Over 1,500 individual servings of grass-fed, quality assured fillet of Irish beef will be prepared by award winning Irish chefs Ed Cooney, from The Merrion Hotel, Dublin and Martin Shanahan, from Fishy Fishy in Kinsale, Co. Cork.

Two farmers jailed in the North for animal welfare offences

Two farmers from Co. Armagh have been jailed following convictions for a range of animal welfare offences.

Martha Toal from School House Close, Glenanne, Co. Armagh was convicted at Armagh Magistrates’ Court on October 25 of 12 different charges.

Toal received five months’ imprisonment on six charges and three months’ imprisonment on three charges which are to run concurrently.

She was also fined a total of £600 (€669) plus £500 (€557) costs for the Department of Agriculture Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) costs as well as a £25 (€28) offender levy.

Charges included one charge of failing to dispose of equine carcasses, three charges of causing unnecessary suffering and one charge of failing to attach approved ear tags.

She was disqualified from keeping all animals for life and DAERA was awarded a deprivation order in respect of nine animals currently in its possession.

Meanwhile, Michael Ferris from Shillinghill Road, Mowhan, Co. Armagh was also convicted at Armagh Magistrates’ Court on October 25 of 10 different charges of animal welfare offences.

Ferris received five months’ imprisonment on six charges and three months’ imprisonment on two charges which are to run concurrently.

He was also fined a total £878 (€979) as a result of the court appearance, which broken down as a fine of £350 (€390) plus £500 (€557) DAERA costs and a £25 (€28) offender levy.

Charges included two charges of causing unnecessary suffering, three charges of failing to comply with welfare improvement notices and one charge of failing to produce veterinary medicine records when required to do so.

He was disqualified from keeping all animals for life. DAERA was granted a deprivation order in respect of nine animals currently in its possession.

This case arose as a result of an anonymous complaint about the welfare of the animals kept on the premises, according to the case details.

Quiz: Think you know how to body condition score your cows?

The attention on spring calving dairy farms is switching to drying off and one of the key components for setting your cows up for next spring is having your cows in the ideal Body Condition Score.

According to Teagasc, dairy farmers should be targeting a Body Condition Score of 3-3.5 at drying off.

Measuring a cows Body Condition Score will also allow farmers to identify over or under-conditioned cows early, it says.

This will allow farmers to put a plan in place to ensure that cows are in an ideal Body Condition Score at calving.

Addressing Body Condition Score issues, whether they are over or under-conditioned cows, has been shown to reduce the incidence of calving difficulties and metabolic problems in the following spring.

Teagasc target Body Condition Scores:

• Dairy cows should __have a Body Condition Score of 3-3.35 at drying off.
• Pre-calving – dairy cows should be in a Body Condition Score of 3.25.
• Cows should __have a Body Condition Score of 3 at calving.

Think your up for the challenge?

Do you think you know the difference between under-conditioned, fat or cows in ideal condition? If so put your self to the test.

The team here at Agriland, along with the help of Teagasc who supplied the pictures, has created a fun and practical quiz to test your Body Condition Scoring skills.

What is the ideal Body Condition Score for cows at drying off?

2.0-2.5

3.0-3.5

3.5-4.0

Correct!

Wrong!

-

How should farmers assess the Body Condition Score of their cows?

Out in the paddock grazing

Visual inspection only

A visual and physical examination of the cow's condition

Correct!

Wrong!

-

What three areas should farmers examine when checking Body Condition Score?

Loin, pins and ribs

Loin, neck and ribs

Pins, ribs and shoulder

Correct!

Wrong!

-

Is this cow in an ideal Body Condition Score for calving?

No - the cow is over-conditioned

Yes - the cow is in an ideal Body Condition Score

No - the cow is under-conditioned

Correct!

Wrong!

-

What Body Condition Score is this cow?

Body Condition Score of 2.0

Body Condition Score of 2.5

Body Condition Score of 2.75

Correct!

Wrong!

-

How would you rate the Body Condition Score of this cow?

The cow has a Body Condition Score of 3.0

The cow has a Body Condition Score of 3.5

The cow has a Body Condition Score of 4.0

Correct!

Wrong!

-

Should this cow be....

Milked on - she's in ideal condition

Dried off early - she's a little thin

Restricted during pregnancy - she's over-conditioned

Correct!

Wrong!

-

What is the ideal Body Condition Score for cows prior to calving?

3.0

2.75

3.5

Correct!

Wrong!

-

Share the quiz to show your results !

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Agriland Quiz: Think your a Body Condition Score guru? You got %%score%% of %%total%% right!

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Lease arrangements now the land letting option of choice

Harvesting winter barley . Photo O'Gorman Photography.

Increasing numbers of landowners are now opting to set their property on the basis of a long term lease arrangement, according to IFA Grain Committee Chairman Liam Dunne.

In some cases we are talking about periods of up to 15 years, he said.

“The process involves the involvement of both the Revenue and the Department of Agriculture. This is a further reflection of the growing pressure on tillage margins.

“As a consequence, families are deciding to lease their land in a way that gives them a degree of long term security. In turn, this frees them up to look at new ways of generating an income.”

Problems can arise, however, if a leasing arrangement falls through and this has happened in some instances over recent weeks.

Dunne said that many of the land letting prices published in the media do not reflect the average tone of the market.

“Most letting deals are arrived at privately between individuals and price is only one of the factors coming into play.

“Lessees want to make sure that their land will be managed properly. Going for the highest bidder doesn’t always ensure that this will be the case.”

As a rule of thumb rental prices for cereal production will be in the region of the returns on-offer for the first tonne of grain coming off the combine. Wheat is currently making in the region of €150/t.

Dunne said that the reality is that it will take the money generated by the next two tonnes of grain to cover the actual cost of growing the crop.

Alan Kinsella, of Kinsella Estates, also confirmed that an increasing proportion of the land set in Ireland is now tied up in longer term leasing arrangements.

“Most of these __have a rental review built in after year two and, where cereal ground is concerned, there will be pressure exerted to __have rental costs brought back in 2017,” he said.

Kinsella said that he is also aware of a number of tillage farmers in the south east who have opted out of leasing ground for winter corn this year. Instead, he said they plan to secure land for either a spring cereal or root crop in 2017.

“Whatever 11-month land that is on the market will be become available in January. And the first two auctions will set the trends for the season.”

‘GLAS underspend to hit a whopping €377m in current RDP window’

Fianna Fail Agriculture Spokesperson Charlie McConalogue has said that he is shocked at the likely €377m underspend in GLAS payments.

According to new figures received by Deputy McConalogue, only €11.5m was spent on GLAS in 2015, with the average annual payment to date of €4,600.

“GLAS is a key agri-environmental scheme, which replaced REPS and AEOS, and it has been allocated a budget of €1.45 billion over this RDP window to 2020. However, according to the latest data released to me from the Minister, the scheme is falling well behind target.

“Fine Gael announced this scheme to much fanfare back in 2015, committing to an annual allocation of €250m, when fully subscribed.

“Despite this commitment, a mere €11.5m was spent in 2015 and only €142m has been earmarked for next year.”

Take up has been sluggish, with 38,000 out of a projected 50,000 farmers taking part.

Even in a best case scenario, McConalogue said that if 50,000 farmers sign up to GLAS for 2017, with an average yearly payment of €4,600, there will still be an annual underspend of €20m.

“Furthermore, Minister Creed allocated €241.7m for agri-environmental schemes in 2017 in the recent Budget, but failed to disclose how much of this will be allocated to GLAS.

“I __have serious concerns that round three of GLAS has still not opened and interested farmers are being penalised because of an IT glitch.”

McConalogue said that this is simply not good enough.

“Farming families in rural Ireland are being burdened by increased financial burdens, the negative impact of a Brexit, price volatility across sectors, stagnant prices for their produce as rural communities struggle to make ends meet.”

He said that the Minister and the Government must ensure that this underspend will not result in farmers losing out on these essential funds and that the full allocation under the scheme must be used within the current RDP window to 2020.

Pics: Matching conventional performance on a suckler-to-beef organic farm

Ken Gill began to make the transition from conventional suckler-to-beef farming to organic production two years ago.

Since then he has adapted his 96ha farm outside Clonbulloge, Co. Offaly to match the performance previously seen under his conventional production system.

As part of the Teagasc and Department of Agriculture series of Organic Demonstration Farm Walks, the Co. Offaly farmer opened the gates of his farm to over 40 farmers on Wednesday.

Speaking at the farm walk, Gill discussed the changes that __have been made on his farm over the past two years and his reasons for switching to organic beef production.

Ken Gill speaking at the farm walk

Reasons for switching to organic beef

Gill explained to the crowds in attendance that after careful consideration and attending a Teagasc Introduction to Organic Production course he decided to take up the organic option.

He said that sustainability is key to his production system and with the exception of straw, he plans to source everything from within the farmgate in the coming years.

“Organic farming pushes you to be the most efficient you can be and to get the most of your farm,” he said.

Farm breakdown: 

• 73 hectares of grass
• six hectares of forage crops
• 17 hectares of red clover/grass swards
• 24 hectares of forestry

Video: Take a closer look at the store steers on Gill’s farm

Cutting stock numbers to go organic

Prior to entering the organic conversion process, Gill had operated a mixed spring and autumn calving herd consisting of 80 cows.

But since the conversion, he has focused on autumn only calving as this allows him to wean the calves in the spring and to make the best use of grass in a leader-follower system.

To make the transition to organic farming as stress-free as possible, Gill made the decision to cut back stock numbers on his farm.

In 2015, the suckler-to-beef operation had 60 calvings made up of a mixture of mainly Limousin cows and heifers.

Moving forward, he said, there are plans in place to calve 70 cows on an annual basis, with all of the calves, with the exception of replacement heifers, brought to market through the Good Herdsmen slaughter facility in Cahir.

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Red Clover/Perennial Ryegrass sward

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Crowds in attendance at the farm walk

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Red clover/perennial ryegrass silage

Despite the fall in cow numbers, Gill stressed that the premium achieved from organic beef combined with the lower input costs of organic farming will more than compensate for the 10 fewer cows on farm.

In 2016, 79 cattle __have been slaughtered on the farm, consisting of a mixture of steers and heifers, with the majority of both these animals killing out as R grade carcasses.

Average 2015 stock numbers:

• Suckler cows: 48
• 0-1 year old: 62
• 1-2 year old: 81
• 2+ year: 19
• Bull: 1

A move to forage and red clover crops

Gill is certified as an organic farmer under the Organic Trust and since making the switch to organic farming two years ago, the use of red clover silage and fodder crops have become increasingly important on his farm.

The Offaly-based farmer sowed the first crop of 11ha of red-clover/perennial ryegrass in 2014 and since then red clover/perennial ryegrass silage has become a staple of the winter diets on farm.

A further 6ha of red clover/perennial ryegrass silage was sown this year.

He explained that he is happy with the performance of his stock from the resulting silage, which has a DMD ranging from 67-71% and protein content of 13-15%.

The fodder crop on Gill’s farm

He added that red clover silage is capable of meeting yearling cattle needs over the first winter, while only 200kg of cereals are needed when red clover silage is used in finishing diets.

The farm has also focused on growing forage crops on his farm and over the last two years he has grown 6ha of rape, kale and a stubble mix.

He said that this crop is beneficial as it allows him to out-winter steers during the month of November and December, when the farm would usually be under pressure for housing space.

Farmers found to breach slurry spreading deadline could face a hefty fine

Farmers who are found to __have breached the slurry spreading deadline, in extreme circumstances, could face up to three months in prison or a fine of up to €500,000, according to the Department of Housing and Local Government.

The closed period for slurry spreading came into effect on October 15 and no extension to this date or individual exemptions to spread slurry were granted, the Department said.

Section 26 (in Part 5) of the Nitrates Regulations outlines the offences and contraventions provisions as follows;

Persons who contravene a provision of Parts 2 to 5 and schedule 5 of the regulations excluding Article 17(5), (6), (10) and (12) can be liable:

• On summary conviction to a Class A fine or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 months or both or,
• On conviction on indictment to a fine not exceeding €500,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding one year or to both such fine and such imprisonment.

The Department advises that it is also important to bear in mind that when a Local Authority does an inspection and identifies significant breaches of the regulations, they are obligated to report their findings to the Cross Compliance Unit of the Department of Agriculture.

There is a significant amount of anger amongst farmers in parts of the country, many of whom __have made it clear to Agriland, on the issue as confusion still appears to reign in relation to slurry spreading.

Meanwhile, the Sinn Fein Spokesperson on Agriculture, Martin Kenny, has said that Ministers Michael Creed and Simon Coveney, are failing to sort out any solution to the problem facing farmers who could not get their slurry out due to wet weather and now need to empty the tank.

Minister Creed told me and other TDs last week, that if farmers needed to get the permission to spread slurry they could ring the animal welfare emergency number and it would be swiftly dealt with on a case-by-case basis.

“However this is not working as the animal welfare section of the department is shifting the responsibility to the nitrates section and then they are shifting it to the department of environment.

“It is all being bogged down in procedure. It is while the weather is fine and land is reasonably dry, that the slurry must be spread and delays in getting permission is adding to the problem.

“The two ministers are failing to sort out any solution to this issue.” He said that there is no common sense being applied to the whole situation.

On the issue of inspections, Kenny said that as he understands it, should a Local Authority report a breach of the regulations to the Cross Compliance Unit at the Department, then that farmer could become a priority for an inspection.

Best trade stand and innovation recognised at the National Dairy Show

The 34th National Dairy Show saw a number of awards handed out for innovation, recognition, best trade stand as well as for the cattle on show.

MSD Animal Health took home two prizes, including one for best trade stand where they competed against a record 120 other stands at the event.

The show, which took place on Saturday, October 22, at the Green Glens Arena, Millstreet, Co. Cork, also saw MSD take home a Silver Technology Innovation award for Bovilis.ie.

Bovilis.ie includes a new web-based tool that enables veterinary practitioners to develop a customised vaccination calendar as part of the herd or flock health plans for their farmer clients, according to MSD.

While currently built for vaccines, the intention is to expand the tool for use in parasiticide treatments and routine farm husbandry.

MSD Animal Health took home two awards from the National Dairy Show.

The overall innovation award went to a new grasshopper, designed by Shannon-based True North Technologies.

The grasshopper, which was trialled in Teagasc Moorepark, interacts with existing third-party management software to help dairy farmers with the ongoing challenge of cost reduction while maintaining high quality output.

The new grass measuring tool was awarded the Technology Innovation award and the Overall Award in the Science, Technology and Engineering categories.

Meanwhile, other Innovation Awards included:

At this years National Dairy Show, Kathleen Kelly from Cahir, Co. Tipperary was announced as the recipient of this year’s National Recognition Award.

This award is bestowed upon a person who has played a leading role in Pedigree Cattle Breeding and who has also contributed to the wider dairy industry.

Kelly has been a leading cattle breeder and a show enthusiast and has served as Company Director and Manager of a leading AI company.

She has also served on the board and as a past President of the Irish Holstein Friesian Association (IHFA).

With regards to the cattle showing competition, Laurelelm Shottle Daffodil2 owned by the Barrett family was declared the National Dairy Show 2016 Supreme Champion.

A full list of the winners in the different categories can be found on the National Dairy Show website.