Archive for the ‘Testimonials’ Category

The last thing farmers with breeding stock need following one of the most challenging winters in memory is to lose cows to Grass Tetany, once they are put out to grass. And given the low mineral levels that have been the norm in the silages on offer over the last number of months, such an occurrence is not beyond the realms of imagination.

Brothers Ivan and Steven Dawson milk 230 pedigree Holstein cows between Carrickmacross and Shercock in Co Monaghan. The herd has both autumn and spring calving groups with the emphasis placed on producing high levels of milk output per cow in tandem with good milk solids.

Producing as many high quality finished lambs – as early in the season as possible – is the fundamental flock management objective for Co Donegal sheep producer Stewart Thompson.
“And that means giving newborn lambs the best possible start,” added the Ballybofey-based farmer, who is seeking to expand both his commercial and pedigree sheep interests.

2013 is shaping up to be a tremendous year in prospect for Co. Sligo Limousin
breeder Michael Phillips, (technical advisor for Connacht Gold Animal Feed for Sligo and North Roscommon), who farms with his father – also Michael – near the village of Gurteen.

The 2013 calving season is the second in which Fresh Cow YMCP will be commercially available in Ireland, and significantly, all of those dairy farmers who used it in 2012 are already voting with their feet in terms of using the product again this year.

A case in point is the Ahern family, who milk 90 Friesian cows near Watergrasshill in North Cork.

Preventing just one case of a displaced abomasum within an average size dairy herd will more than cover the cost of treating each freshly calved cow with ‘Fresh Cow YMCP™’ , the post-calving nutritional drink now available from Co-operative Animal Health. In addition Fresh Cow YMCP will also help reduce problems associated with metabolic disorders – including Milk Fever – and the case for using it as part of the standard management routine followed in the period directly after calving becomes more than obvious.

Pedigree Holstein breeder Pascal Walshe milks 115 cows near Edenderry, Co Offaly. His Derrydale herd comprises mainly of the most internationally renowned bloodlines within the black and white breed. Calving all the year round, the herd is currently averaging 7,500 litres with good fat and protein levels

Melvyn Mooney milks 200 cows at Templederry, between Thurles and Nenagh in North Co. Tipperary. The business is totally focused on producing as much milk as possible from grazed grass.

“The type of cow I am working with, has the ability to produce high levels of milk solids” Melvyn explained.
“The EBI of the current herd currently stands at 153. Calving will commence at the beginning of February, with the objective of having all cows back in the milking herd, within nine weeks of this date”

Even the briefest of conversations with Mervyn Kearney, the herdsman at Pallaskenry College, will confirm that he is passionate about dairy cows and as visitors to the college farm will quickly find out, this enthusiasm is reflected in every aspect of the daily management procedures followed with the 230 pedigree Holstein cows that are currently being milked.