Latest Agricultural Research Presented

Genetic merit and profit

Farmers are continuously striving to increase profit levels. The relationship between dairy cow genetic merit and profit in winter-calving dairy herds has been evaluated and the results are being presented at today’s forum. The relationship between the profit based Economic Breeding Index (EBI) and actual on-farm profit was examined. The results show a positive linear relationship between EBI and net profit, with net profit increasing by 0.12 cent/litre/unit increase in EBI. This amounts to an increase in net farm profit of €360/unit increase in average herd EBI, assuming a farm milk quota of 300,000 litres. The advice, based on this Teagasc research, is that on winter-calving dairy herds breeding programmes should aim to increase herd EBI through the use of genetically superior sires to increase profit.

Minimum tillage reduces disease

Some farmers have switched to establishing cereal crops using minimum tillage methods. The effect of minimum tillage on aphid numbers and virus infection in winter barley was studied. Results show that some crop diseases such as barley yellow dwarf virus in winter barley can be reduced using minimum tillage methods. In the trials carried out, reduced cultivation systems or minimum tillage, had less aphid infestations and reduced aphid vectored viruses than conventionally tilled crops.

Improving lamb performance

Other Teagasc research examined ways of improving lamb performance. Sheep farmers are looking at options to reduce over-wintering costs and thus improve efficiency of production. One trial looked at the effects of extended grazing, grass silage feed value and winter shearing of housed ewes on subsequent lamb performance. The results showed that relative to housing unshorn ewes, shearing ewes at housing or extended grazing increased lamb birthweight by 0.5 kg and weaning weight by 2 kg relative to lambs from housed unshorn ewes. Furthermore, offering medium feed value silage ad libitum to housed shorn ewes, had the same feed value as offering 1.8 kg of herbage dry matter allowance to ewes extended grazing.

Attitudes to farming

A survey of farmer’s attitudes to farming as an occupation was carried out by the Teagasc national farm survey department in autumn 2006. Ninety per cent of respondents agreed that farming is a good way of life. Ninety-three per cent of respondents to the survey appreciated being in charge and being their own boss. However, a combination of low incomes combined with a feeling of isolation resulted in farmers considering farming a poor choice of career for young entrants.

Further details on the research outlined above and the full scientific papers are available from Teagasc.