UCD Systems Herd

Dairy science research group based in UCD Lyons Farm researching merits of a high input/high output spring pastural dairy system🐮🔬🇮🇪curated by @niallw2

[UCD Systems Herd @UCD_SystemsHerd]

Our weekly notes are back for 2024, I didn’t realise they hadn’t been showing on the website but here’s a few weeks to catch up on!
https://t.co/2wxxmTUEFu

[UCD Systems Herd @UCD_SystemsHerd]

Don’t forget the closing date for our postdoc positions is next THURSDAY the 18th April.

[UCD School Ag & Food @ucdagfood]

⭐️2 Exciting Post-Doc Research Roles Available⭐️
A 28month project working on "The Development of a Sustainable High Output Grass Based Spring Milk Production System". 🐄
🗓️Closing date: 18th April 2024
Full details & to apply: https://t.co/CxLnvLCFmY (Job I.D 017177)

[UCD Systems Herd @UCD_SystemsHerd]

Cows housed again after getting the morning out. Red clover silage @ 10kg DM/cow offered plus their 8 kg of concentrates. Silage upped to 15kg Dm/cow if housed day and night. Real challenge to get enough energy into cows too support production at the moment.

[UCD School Ag & Food @ucdagfood]

⭐️2 Exciting Post-Doc Research Roles Available⭐️
A 28month project working on "The Development of a Sustainable High Output Grass Based Spring Milk Production System". 🐄
🗓️Closing date: 18th April 2024
Full details & to apply: https://t.co/CxLnvLCFmY (Job I.D 017177)

[UCD Systems Herd @UCD_SystemsHerd]

Second round started yesterday.
Cows were housed by night over the long weekend to give ground a chance to dry out a bit and grass to grow ahead of the cows. AFC 522 kg DM/ha really needing a burst of growth shortly🍀🌱

[UCD Systems Herd @UCD_SystemsHerd]

Get the washing out 👖👚🩳👕🩲there’s great drying! 💨🍃🌞

Cows delighted to finally get a bit of sun on their backs

[UCD Systems Herd @UCD_SystemsHerd]

A mid morning breakfast in bed!👌🏼🌱😜great to get a bit of sun

[UCD School Ag & Food @ucdagfood]

🌟Don’t Forget🌟 the @ucdagfood Postgraduate Open Day is on next Wednesday! Meet students, staff & recent grads & find out all about these great courses! #Masteryourfuture
Register now at: https://t.co/6dDLIbXRpJ

[UCD Systems Herd @UCD_SystemsHerd]

@lu_casey Hi Luke, before housing we were 7.6 kg average native conc/cow (some cows working up to their 8kg rate post calving) with the rest grass( about 10 kg consumed/cow).

[UCD Systems Herd @UCD_SystemsHerd]

Cows doing very well on clean outs the last few days,
out for 3 hours today and housed for few days until weather clears up.
🔹53/57 (93%) cows calved at 6 weeks
🔹60% of platform grazed, a little ahead of paddy’s day target
🔹aim to start 2rd round in the first week of April

[UCD School Ag & Food @ucdagfood]

⭐️Exciting Research Assistant Post⭐️
"The Development of a Sustainable High Output Grass Based Spring Milk Production System"
-Fixed term 30 October 2026
-Salary: €30,025 - €39,908
-Closing Date: 6th March
-Job ID: 017037
-Apply on UCDHR website: https://t.co/CxLnvLCFmY

[UCD Systems Herd @UCD_SystemsHerd]

Cows doing well on clean outs, and just in for milking before the rain!

This is last years reseed.
Seed mix was; AberGain (T),AberClyde (T), Gracehill (T) and buddy white clover.

🔹42/57 calved
🔹weather to get bad over the weekend so will house for a couple of days.

[UCD Systems Herd @UCD_SystemsHerd]

Cows out full time
🔹68% cows calved (39/57)
🔹demand rapidly increasing with 12kg/cow/day grass allocated
🔹fairly happy with clean outs considering the spring
🔹recovery of grazed paddocks coming on well (picture 2)

[UCD Systems Herd @UCD_SystemsHerd]

🔹Recovery of first paddock grazed coming on well.
🔹Clover starting to really show with the mild weather
🔹ground still wet 13mm rain in last 7 days
🔹30/57 calved on day 21 of calving

[UCD Systems Herd @UCD_SystemsHerd]

Bit of a cooler day
🔹17/57 calved
🔹9/10 heifers from our 1st lactation animals to sexed semen
🔹AFC solid with good quality grass ahead of us

How is calving going for everyone?
#calving24 #grass2milk

[UCD Systems Herd @UCD_SystemsHerd]

What a difference a day makes! fresh calvers out post milking for a couple hours, 6 heifers and 1 mature cow. Hopefully will get them out a few hours each day at a minimum with ad lib of the best grass silage we have on farm when housed.
So far 6/6 female calves from sexed semen

[UCD Systems Herd @UCD_SystemsHerd]

Things are hotting up🔥
🔹8.8 degrees C soil temp today.
🔹13 mm rain in the last 8 days
🔹Clover starting to show signs of growth,
🔹pity about soil moisture levels 🌧️🌊😑
7/57 cows calved to date

[UCD Systems Herd @UCD_SystemsHerd]

We are a go! First 2 heifers have calved. This VH PRASER heifer having a lovely heifer by FR8562 #calving24

[UCD Systems Herd @UCD_SystemsHerd]

Our colleagues on the sheep getting started with real time methane emission measurements from ewes in late pregnancy. An interesting project that will follow the lambs through to finishing.

[Tommy Boland @PallasTb]

Exciting times @ucdlyonsfarm @ucdagfood as we start methane measurements from sheep using GreenFeed units. The second mule can hardly wait. @fionnualagodwin

[UCD Systems Herd @UCD_SystemsHerd]

4th walk of the year done ☘️
Growth steadily increasing📈
Soil temp 6.3-6.8 degrees 🌡️
Ground conditions 🌊💦
Awaiting our first calves🐄