#Farming Columnist - Brian Reidy

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#Farming Columnist - Brian Reidy

Herd Management

A COMPREHENSIVE SERIES OF ARTICLES ON THIS TOPIC

<p>With grass silage costing as much as €250/t of dry matter to produce, no farm can afford to make mistakes when making, harvesting or clamping the crop.</p>

farming

Brian Reidy: Don't let poor pit covers spoil your silage investment

It is worth inspecting pits at this stage to make sure the job was done right

<p>Continue to allocate quality grass to the most productive stock, advises Brian Reidy.</p>

farming

Herd Tasks: Your weekly farming checklist

<p>
<span lang="EN-GB">The quality and quantity of grass produced can be the biggest feed-related influence on animal performance and farm profitability.</span>
</p>

farming

Brian Reidy: Is it time to think of reseeding your ground?

Close-up on a farmer working at a farm and walking around the fields checking the grass

farming

Herd Tasks: Your weekly farming checklist

Brian Reidy: Are you getting optimum animal performance from grass right now?

Cow and calf

farming

Herd Tasks: Your weekly farming checklist

Close-up on a farmer working at a farm and walking around the fields checking the grass

Herd Tasks: Your weekly farming checklist

Your weekly reminder of the things that should be at the top of your farm to-do list. Published every Monday on the 'Irish Examiner' digital Farming hub

Mon, 05 May, 2025

They're a family of dairy cows

Herd Tasks: Your weekly farming checklist

Your weekly reminder of the things that should be at the top of your farm to-do list. Published every Monday on the Irish Examiner digital Farming hub.

Mon, 28 Apr, 2025

Two Calves in Field

Creep feeding for suckler calves — how can it fit into your system?

Creep feeding in the suckler herd should ideally commence when calves require additional energy to maintain target weight gains beyond the energy consumed from milk and grass

Thu, 24 Apr, 2025

Panoramic landscape with packed hay

Herd Tasks: Your weekly farming checklist

Your weekly reminder of the things that should be at the top of your farm to-do list. Published every Monday on the Irish Examiner digital Farming hub

Mon, 21 Apr, 2025

Row of brown cows staring over a wall

Brian Reidy: Selecting replacement heifers for the suckler herd

Breeding heifers at a younger age and at lighter weights yields a calf and return on investment earlier than waiting to breed until the heifer is heavier and older, but may require more careful management at calving, writes ruminant nutritionist Brian Reidy

Fri, 18 Apr, 2025

Ahead of the herd

Getting the correct balance at grass

Remember as we approach the breeding season, low protein in your herd's milk is an indication of a negative energy and will lead to low conception rates, warns ruminant nutritionist Brian Reidy

Tue, 15 Apr, 2025

Cow and calf

Herd Tasks: Your weekly farming checklist

Your weekly reminder of the things that should be at the top of your farm to-do list. Published every Monday on the Irish Examiner digital Farming hub.

Mon, 14 Apr, 2025

Brian Reidy: Grass silage production for next winter must be a priority

Brian Reidy: Grass silage production for next winter must be a priority

Good-quality silage is cheaper to balance and gives better animal performance

Wed, 02 Apr, 2025

Close up of calves on animal farm eating hay.

Herd Tasks: Your weekly farming checklist

Your weekly reminder of the things that should be at the top of your farm to-do list. Published every Monday on the Irish Examiner digital Farming hub

Wed, 26 Mar, 2025

tools for artificial insemination of cow.

Feeding for breeding: A checklist to evaluate your herd

The feeding of dairy cows at grass has a huge bearing on subsequent herd fertility, writes ruminant nutritionist Brian Reidy.

Wed, 26 Mar, 2025

Nitrogen Fertilizer

Herd Tasks: Your weekly farming checklist

Your weekly reminder of the things that should be at the top of your farm to-do list. Published every week on the Irish Examiner digital Farming hub

Tue, 11 Mar, 2025

Herd of brown cattle in grassy meadow

Brian Reidy: Planning ahead to avoid grass tetany at spring turnout

It's very common every spring to hear about suckler cows going down with Tetany, writes ruminant nutritionist Brian Reidy

Tue, 11 Mar, 2025

Cow bonding with her newborn calf

Herd Tasks: Your weekly farming checklist

Your weekly reminder of the things that should be at the top of your farm to-do list. Published every Monday on the Irish Examiner digital Farming hub.

Mon, 03 Mar, 2025

Electric fence on farm land at sunset.

How to make the most out of first-round grazing

If you are lucky enough to be out grazing, it is important to manage the swards carefully, writes ruminant nutritionist Brian Reidy.

Thu, 27 Feb, 2025

Three Hereford Cows Grazing

Herd Tasks: Your weekly farming checklist

Your weekly reminder of the things that should be at the top of your farm to-do list. Published every Monday on the Irish Examiner digital Farming hub.

Mon, 24 Feb, 2025

Grazing cow head eating blades of grass, black and white, a cows pink snout in a green grass pasture

Is it too early to put my stock out?

Managing grass on beef farms is often different to dairy herds as on beef farms, as cattle are generally either in or out, writes independent ruminant nutritionist Brian Reidy.

Mon, 24 Feb, 2025

Grazing Cows

Brian Reidy: When you're early grazing, don’t forget about the cow

First-round grass is typically lower in energy and protein, and farmers are reporting that even if they go to grass for a few hours, their herd continues to eat the same amount of feed as when they were full-time.

Mon, 17 Feb, 2025

Holstein Dairy Cows

Herd Tasks: Your weekly farming checklist

Your weekly reminder of the things that should be at the top of your farm to-do list. Published every Monday on the Irish Examiner digital Farming hub.

Mon, 17 Feb, 2025

Baby calves in a barn

Spring calves – getting feeding and management right

Providing calves a suitable environment for them and rearing them with optimum performance take skill and precision, writes independent ruminant nutritonist Brian Reidy.

Thu, 06 Feb, 2025

Used cattle salt block closeup

Herd Tasks: Your weekly farming checklist

Your weekly reminder of the things that should be at the top of your farm to-do list. Published every Monday on the Irish Examiner digital Farming hub.

Mon, 03 Feb, 2025

North Devon Ruby Red beef cattle feeding in a row, Spetisbury, Dorset, England, UK

Suckler calving - early positive and negative signs

As with each calving season, you can often see how it will go based on the first couple of calvings. Issues encountered in the first few births need to be addressed as soon as possible, writes ruminant nutritionist Brian Reidy.

Thu, 30 Jan, 2025

Soil checking

Herd Tasks: Your weekly farming checklist - spring grazing special

Your weekly reminder of the things that should be at the top of your farm to-do list. Published every Monday on the Irish Examiner digital Farming hub.

Wed, 22 Jan, 2025

Cows walking approaching, towards and oncoming in a group, a herd on a path to the milking robot under a blue sky

Brian Reidy: Getting ready for grazing 2025

There is a lot to do around the farm before stock can get out grazing, ruminant nutritionist Brian Reidy gives his tips for how to get grazing 2025 off to the best start.

Tue, 21 Jan, 2025

They love their milk

Brian Reidy: Fresh cows — driving intakes for optimum performance

Drive intake pre-calving and reap the benefits for the whole lactation

Wed, 15 Jan, 2025

Portrait of calf lying in straw on farm

Brian Reidy: Animal health issues in cattle this December

We have experienced a pretty mild spell of weather recently, apart from Storm Darragh that is.

Wed, 11 Dec, 2024

Cow Eating Green Grass on a Meadow

Brian Reidy: What does 2025 have in store for Irish beef and dairy herds?

All going well, the grazing season is not too far away. Most dairy farms will be targeting a turn-out date in February.

Tue, 10 Dec, 2024

Holstein Dairy Cow

Herd Tasks: Your weekly farming checklist

Your weekly reminder of the things that should be at the top of your farm to-do list. Published every Monday on the Irish Examiner digital Farming hub.

Tue, 29 Oct, 2024

Milking the cows

Herd Tasks: Your weekly farming checklist

Your weekly reminder of the things that should be at the top of your farm to-do list. Published every Monday on the Irish Examiner digital Farming hub.

Wed, 23 Oct, 2024

Taking samples of the soil and groundwater, environmental research.

Herd Tasks: Your weekly farming checklist

Your weekly reminder of the things that should be at the top of your farm to-do list. Published every week on the Irish Examiner digital Farming hub.

Tue, 15 Oct, 2024

Maize silage: Getting the best possible feed ensiled properly

Maize silage: Getting the best possible feed ensiled properly

Wastage and spoilage at feed-out can be a huge financial cost with maize silage. Good management when filling the maize pit is critical to avoid these issues

Wed, 09 Oct, 2024

Cows in a meadow at sunrise

Herd Tasks: Your weekly farming checklist

Your weekly reminder of the things that should be at the top of your farm to-do list. Published every Monday on the Irish Examiner digital Farming hub.

Mon, 30 Sep, 2024

green cornfield ready for harvest, late afternoon light, sunset, Illinois

Maize silage plenty of patience is required before harvesting

A lack of sunshine during the summer has delayed this year's maize harvest dates, writes ruminant nutritionist Brian Reidy, as he offers his advice on this year's harvest.

Thu, 26 Sep, 2024

Aerial View of Tractor, Preparing the Potato Field For The New Season

When is the best time to apply lime?

Nitrogen usage will increase soil acidity; for example each 1kg of N applied will require approximately 2Kg of lime, advises independent farm advisor Brian Reidy.

Wed, 25 Sep, 2024

Cows being fed fodder housed in winter, Roscommon, Ireland.

Setting up your indoor beef finishing plan

Beef finishers should always aim to keep production costs under control to optimise profits, writes ruminant nutritionist Brian Reidy.

Fri, 13 Sep, 2024

Silage being prepared in a round bale wrapper

Brian Reidy: 2024 silage quality — poor feed value is all too common

I would really encourage beef and dairy producers to get silage tested early this year

Mon, 09 Sep, 2024

Dairy Cattle under a Summer Sky.

Herd Tasks: Your weekly farming checklist

Your weekly reminder of the things that should be at the top of your farm to-do list. Published every Monday on the Irish Examiner digital Farming hub.

Mon, 09 Sep, 2024

Cows in a meadow at sunrise

Herd Tasks: Your weekly farming checklist

Your weekly reminder of the things that should be at the top of your farm to-do list. Published every Monday on the Irish Examiner digital Farming hub.

Mon, 02 Sep, 2024

Cattle feeding indoors in winter

Brian Reidy: Feed budget plans - how realistic are your projections?

There is little point in hoping for a four-month winter after our recent experiences. We must be realistic with any planning, advises independent ruminant nutritionist Brian Reidy.

Sun, 01 Sep, 2024

Dairy Farm Milking Station

Brian Reidy: Milk quality vs quantity as we head into September

One of the key topics covered at the group meeting was how feeding and management can influence milk quality and how long it takes to influence it.

Wed, 28 Aug, 2024

Black and white young calves in a green field

Weaning suckler calves to reduce stress and optimise value

Early Spring-born suckler calves will be weaned over the coming weeks and months.

Wed, 21 Aug, 2024

Panoramic of Dairy Cows

Herd Tasks: Your weekly farming checklist

Monday, August 5 - Sunday, August 11 Dairy & Sucklers pre & post calving Calving is getting closer, and some calves are already on the ground.

Wed, 07 Aug, 2024

Aerial Photo of Fall Harvest

How to buy and harvest a standing wholecrop

It is fair that there is a mixed bag available out there for livestock farmers when it comes to crops up for sale, writes ruminant nutritionist Brian Reidy.

Wed, 07 Aug, 2024

Several cows are eating grass. Cattle on a livestock farm. Agricultural landscape. Organic Irish farm. Black and white cow on gr

Brian Reidy: Grass growth improves but cow performance issues in the dairy herd remain

Any dramatic drops in milk yield, protein, butter fat, lactose and urea are indications your herd is not receiving and/or digesting sufficient nutrients to maintain performance

Wed, 31 Jul, 2024

Combine Harvester in Barley Field during Harvest

Herd Tasks: Your weekly farming checklist

Your weekly reminder of the things that should be at the top of your farm to-do list. Published every Monday on the Irish Examiner digital Farming hub.

Mon, 22 Jul, 2024