INSIDE THIS ISSUE Agolin Drives Performance In New Irish Trial Maximising Response To Early Nitrogen Using The Four R's Fertility & Breeding ...
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INSIDE THIS ISSUE
PAGE Agolin Drives Performance In
05 New Irish Trial
PAGE Maximising Response To Early
10 Nitrogen Using The Four R’s
PAGE Fertility & Breeding
20
PAGE Shine Offers A Cork Farm Easier
28 Calf rearing and Healthier Calfs
ISSUE 95 - JANUARY 2021 www.dairygoldagri.ie
Happy New Year and welcome to the January edition of
MILK MATTERS
DAIRYGOLD’S DAIRY ADVISORY BULLETIN
CONTENTS
Dear Milk Matters Reader, The Year To Date ................................ 03
Happy New Year to everyone. Feeding Cows In Early Lactation .... 04
Feeding Your Dry Cows At
In this edition we progress our nutritional The Point Of Calving.......................... 07
focus from dry cow management to Now Is The Time To Soil Sample.... 08
the transition cow management. Grass
Do’s & Don’ts By Teagasc................ 09
silage alone will not meet the energy
requirements of your cow at the point Maximising Response To Early
of calving. The cow needs an additional Nitrogen Using The Four R’s............ 10
energy source. Feeding the transition FBD Young Farmer Of The Year...... 12
cow is a recognised necessary management practice by many LeanFarm............................................... 13
national and international experts. Dairygold / Teagasc Joint
Programme............................................ 15
In our Calf Rearing Section, we introduce you to Daisy, our
Grass Matters........................................ 16
soon to be born calf. And we explore how best to manage her
as a newborn. Colostrum, concentrates, straw and water all play Dairy Farming On Difficult
Heavy Land............................................ 18
important roles in rearing a healthy calf capable of doubling its
birth weight quickly. Dairygold / Teagasc Joint
Programme 2018-2020...................... 19
Have you considered using a milk replacer? They can deliver Fertility & Breeding..............................20
the same and better performance for a lower cost than whole Key Principles Of Calf Rearing.......... 24
milk. Dairygold has a full range of options available. See pages
Hygiene Around Calving....................25
28 and 29 for some farmer experience.
Cryptosporidiosis Prevention............26
This month’s Grass Matters examines how our country’s Introducing Daisy................................. 27
leading grass growers are planning to maximise production Prime Elite Milk Replacer.................... 28
again this year. Shine Offers A Cork Farm Easier
Calf rearing and Healthier Calfs....... 28
In Ireland 40% of calf deaths in the first six weeks are
CHFC Matters........................................ 30
scour related, with 38% of infectious calf scour cases from
AHI Notes................................................ 31
Cryptosporidiosis (DAFM, 2017). Antibiotics are ineffective and
no vaccine exists against Cryptosporidia. Therefore, prevention
is more effective than cure. On page 24 we outline a strategy to
prevent Cryptosporidia.
Yours Sincerely,
To contact the editor of
MILK
MATTERS
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
PAGE Agolin Drives Performan
05 New Irish Trial ce In
PAGE Maximising Response
10 Nitrogen Using The To Early
Four R’s
PAGE
Liam Stack M.Agr.Sc
Fertility & Breeding
20
PAGE Shine Offers A Cork
28 Calf rearing and
Farm Easier
Healthier Calfs
ISSUE 95 - JANUARY
2021
www.dairygoldag
ri.ie
RUMINANT TECHNICAL MANAGER,
DAIRYGOLD AGRIBUSINESS email: lstack@dairygold.ie
2 www.dairygoldagri.ie
ISSUE 95 - JANUARY 2021
THE YEAR TO DATE
By LIAM STACK, M.Agr.Sc, Ruminant Technical Manager
THE YEAR TO DATE
By LIAM STACK, M.Agr.Sc, Ruminant Technical Manager
Grass Growth:
Grass Growth
THE YEAR TO DATE
By LIAM STACK, M.Agr.Sc, Ruminant Technical Manager
Milk Protein % (weeks 1-50, 2020)
Protein %
Grass Growth:
Grass DM Production - Dairy 4.30 2017
2019
2018
2020
Protein
Protein%%
4.10 4.30 2017 2018
2019 2020
3.90
4.10
3.70
3.90
3.50
3.70
3.30
3.50
3.10
1 3 5 7 9 11 13 15 17 19 21 23 25 27 29 31 33 35 37 39 41 43 45 47 49 51
3.30
Milk
Milk production
production to week
to week 50,42 (figures
2020 based
(figures on ICBF
based cowcow
on ICBF numbers):
numbers):
Milk Butterfat
3.10 % (weeks 1-50, 2020)
Milk production to week Protein %2016 (figures
50, 2020 2017 based
2018 on ICBF cow numbers):
2019
1 3 5 7 9 11 13 15 17 19 21 23 25 27 29 31 33 35 37 39 41 43 45 47 49 51
Milk Protein % (weeks 1-50, 2020)
4.30 2017
2019
2018
Protein2020
% YTD Butterfat %
Total
4.30 2017 (kg)
annual milk Yield per cow in dairygold
2019
2018
4822
2020
5000 4909 5166 2017
4.95
2018 2017 2019
2018 2020
Total
4.10 annual Milk Solids per cow (kg) 366 380 373 396
2019 2020
YTD Average Protein %
4.10
3.48 3.50 3.47 3.54
YTD
YTD Average Fat % 4.11 4.10 4.13 4.12 4.75
3.90 Milk Butterfat % (weeks 1-50, 2020)
Total
3.90 annual Milk Yield per cow in Dairygold (kg)
YTD Average Lactose % 4.87 4.88 4.78 4.76
5541 5475 5595 5706
3.70 4.55 Butterfat %
Total annual Milk Solids per cow (kg)
Milk Protein % (weeks 1-42
3.70
425 421 432 443
4.95 2017 2018
3.50 4.35
YTD Average Protein % 3.51 3.53 2019 3.53
2020 3.58
3.50
4.15 4.75
YTD Average Fat %
3.30
4.17 4.15 4.19 4.19
3.30
YTD Average
3.10
1
Lactose %
3 5 7 9 11 13 15 17 19 21 23 25 27 29 31 33 35 37 39 41 43 45 47 49 51
4.85
3.95
4.55 4.86 4.76 4.74
3.10
1 3 5 7 9 11 13 15 17 19 21 23 25 27 29 31 33 35 37 39 41 43 45 47 49 51 3.75
14.353 5 7 9 11 13 15 17 19 21 23 25 27 29 31 33 35 37 39 41 43 45 47 49 51
Milk Butterfat % (weeks 1-50, 2020) Milk Lactose % (weeks 1-50, 2020)
Milk Butterfat
Milk Butterfat %1-50,
% (weeks (weeks 1-50, 2020)
2020) Butterfat % Milk4.15
Lactose % (weeks 1-50, 2020)
2017Butterfat
Butterfat %
2018% Lactose
Lactose % %
5.10
4.95
2019 2020 3.95
4.95 2017 2018 5.00
4.75 2019 2020
4.90 3.75
4.75
4.55 1 3 5 7 9 11 13 15 17 19 21 23 25 27 29 31 33 35 37 39 41 43 45 47 49 51
4.80
4.55
4.35 Milk Lactose % (weeks 1-50, 2020)
4.70
4.35
4.15
4.60 2017
2018
4.15
2019
3.95 4.50 2020
3.95
WITH COMPLIMENTS
3.75 4.40
Reply
1 3 to:
5 7West9 11End,
13 Mallow,
15 17 19 Co. Cork,
21 23 25 27P51
29 R593, 37 39 41 T43+353
Ireland.
31 33 35 45 47(0)22
49 5121592 info@dairygold.ie
1 3 5 7 9 www.dairygold.ie
11 13 15 17 19 21 23 25 27 29 31 33 35 37 39 41 43 45 47 49 51
3.75
1 3 5 7 9 11 13 15 17 19 21 23 25 27 29 31 33 35 37 39 41 43 45 47 49 51
Milk Lactose % (weeks 1-50, 2020)
Milk Lactose % (weeks 1-50, 2020)
3
FEEDING COWS IN
EARLY LACTATION
By LIAM STACK, M.Agr.Sc,
Ruminant Technical Manager
Aims: absorber. When cows lose body condition, they begin
1. Produce milk mobilising fat from all areas of the body, including
2. Minimise body condition score (BCS) loss these fat pads. Research has shown cows with thinner
3. Get your cows back in calf fat cushions are more likely to have sole lesions.
Your feeding decisions are going to be made around To help in the prevention of lameness we need to limit
milk yield and forage quality. Feeding better quality BCS loss after calving to 0.5 max.
forage leads to lower concentrate requirements for
the same levels of production. How much concentrates should I feed my cows?
UFL Concentrates Yield
for 25 Ltrs
23ltrs 25ltrs 28ltrs 33ltrs 37ltrs
Grass Silage (72 DMD) 0.81 7.5 Silage DMD 5 gals 5.5 gals 6 gals 7 gals 8 gals
Grass Silage (68 DMD) 0.76 9 60 9kg 10kg 11kg
65 7.5kg 8.5kg 9.5kg 12kg
Maize Silage (30DM, 30 Starch) 0.87 5
70 6kg 7kg 8kg 10kg 11.5kg
Grazed Grass 1 2 75 5kg 6kg 7kg 9kg 12kg
Recommendations allow for 0.3 BCS loss after calving. Due to low forage intakes +1kg
From an economic and production stand point we must for wet or poorly preserved silages. For feeding rates of greater than 8-9kg use a third
concentrate at the feeding face.
prioritise the feeding of our highest energy forages to
our freshly calved cows.
Protein:
Energy Nutrition and Fertility The amount of energy in your cow’s diet dictates how
Excessive BCS loss in early lactation from underfeeding much protein she can utilise.
your cows leads to poor fertility performance
Feeding an excess of protein leads to high milk urea
Relationship between body condition loss post calving
and 6 week in-calf rate nitrogen and has been shown to;
• delay first ovulation or oestrus;
• lower/reduce conception rate and
• lead to a greater amount of post calving weight loss.
Protein requirements of a dairy cow (450kg MS or
6000ltrs) at peak yield is 95 to 105g PDI/KG DM (1800-
2000 g PDI/day) or 16 % crude protein.
If you are experiencing fertility issues on your farm
Energy Nutrition and Lameness concentrate on your cows dietary energy not protein
Controlling negative energy balance in early lactation supply.
is one of the best ways to prevent lameness caused
by sole ulcers, haemorrhages and white line disease, If you have any queries on early lactation feeding
according to new research. please contact our Inside Sales Department on 022
31644 or your local Area Sales Manager
Cows have three cylinders of fat lying under the hoof,
which acts like gel cushioning in trainers – a shock
4 www.dairygoldagri.ie
ISSUE 95 - JANUARY 2021
BENEFITS OF
OUR DAIRY
Postcalver
FEED RANGE
GOLD ✔ Dairygold is committed to maximising the use of
Available in 14%, native Irish cereals across its range of feed.
16%, 18% and 20%
✔ High levels of bypass starch coming from the coarse
processing of maize and a blend of high energy
digestible fibre to stimulate rumen function.
Hi-Pro ✔ Contains YEA-SACC live yeast to promote an
enhanced rumen through improved ration digestibility
Ecolac and the stabilisation of rumen function pH.
Available in 14%,
16% and 18% ✔ Contains Agolin a natural plant extract designed to
optimise rumen environment to increase feed
efficiency, increase production, improve fertility and
decrease daily methane emissions.
Super ✔ BIOPLEX copper, zinc, manganese and SEL-PLEX
Choice organic selenium from Alltech to support the immune
Available in 14%, system and improve fertility parameters.
16% and 18% ✔ Elevated levels of vitamin E to maximise cow
immune status.
✔ Elevated levels of vitamin D to prevent milk fever
Dairy post calving.
Pride
Available in 14%,
16%, 18% and 20%
For more Information please
contact your local Area Sales
Manager or our Inside Sales
Team on 022 31644 Milk
Milk yield
yield Milk
Milk solids
solids Body
Body condition
condition
score
score
Conception
Conception Methane
Methane
Emission
Emission
Lameness
Lameness
Rate
Rate
5
Get fresh cows
back on feed fast.
After calving when cows are not at full feed intake, they’re not getting nu-
trients needed for recovery. Science-designed Fresh Cow YMCP® contains
live yeast, magnesium, calcium, potassium and more. Fresh Cow YMCP
supports a complete recovery and helps get cows eating their new ration
heading into lactation.
“It’s the best product I’ve introduced to my
dairy; everyone should have it on their farm”
“I began using Fresh Cow YMCP in the spring of 2013, Fresh Cow YMCP and additionally drink another bucket
after I had poor silage and increased cases of milk fever. of fresh water. Fresh Cow YMCP is the best fresh cow
Ever since I started, not one cow needed to be treated product I brought into my farm. The cows are much
for milk fever, nor have I had one case of a retained more eager to get back on feed and they show their Donie Ryan,
placenta. It is important to use warm water and always heat much better. I think every farmer should have this Co. Limerick, Ireland
make sure Fresh Cow YMCP is available immediately product on their farm.” Pictured with TechMix’s Michael Reid
after calving. The cows will often drink a full bucket of
@techmixglobal
6 www.dairygoldagri.ie
ISSUE 95 - JANUARY 2021
FEEDING YOUR DRY COWS
AT THE POINT OF CALVING
By LIAM STACK, M.Agr.Sc,
Ruminant Technical Manager
How much concentrates are required to fill the gap?
KEY POINT: The most stressful
Energy Requirement (UFL) January 8.5
time for your cows is around
calving with over 50% of dairy cow Proportion of the cows energy requirement
metabolic problems occurring within supplied by an all grass silage diet
three weeks of calving.
Grass Silage 60 DMD + 3kg of feed 100%
Grass Silage 65 DMD + 1.75kg of feed 100%
Grass Silage 70 DMD + 0.5kg of feed 100%
Your cows will start calving within the next 3 weeks.
In the last month before calving the growing calves
The economics of filling the energy gap
energy requirement peaks while the cow’s intake
starts to drop.
Total Daily Cost
(€/hd/day)
Beef Feed +
KEY POINT: Our key goal in the c0.66
Pre-calver gold mineral
month of January is to meet the
energy requirements of the cow and
Pre-calver gold cube c0.69
growing calf.
Mineral Feeding Pre-Calving
Failure to meet your cows energy requirement at
The objectives of a Dry Cow Management Program
calving will lead to:
are for the cow to calve:
• Ketosis before and after calving
• Milk fevers 1.
In an optimum calcium status; This is a
• Retained cleansing function of the silage mineral status and the
• Poor immune function: i.e SCC after calving level of Magnesium and Vitamin D3 in the
• Poor milk volume at calving mineral.
• Poor colostrum quality for your new born calves
2. With reduced metabolic disorders; This is
Can an all grass silage diet meet your cows energy influenced by the minerals Magnesium,
requirement leading up to calving? Iodine, Selenium and Vitamin E & A levels.
Energy Requirement (UFL) January 8.5 3.
In an optimum immune status; This is
Proportion of the cows energy requirement influenced by the minerals, vitamins and
supplied by an all grass silage diet trace elements (Selenium and Vitamins A &
E).
Grass Silage 60 DMD 67%
Grass Silage 65 DMD 83% 4.
Producing high quality colostrum; This
is influenced by the mineral and vitamin
Grass Silage 70 DMD 95% supplementation.
7
NOW IS THE TIME
TO SOIL SAMPLE
By JOHN FRIEL, B.Agr.Sc.,
Area Sales Manager. Mobile: 086 246 1648
Time is running out for soil sampling. From the 12th Or if your fields are at index 4 for both P and K, you
of January, weather and ground conditions permitting, may be able to completely skip spreading P and K
we can spread chemical and organic fertilisers again. fertilisers on that field and only provide the field with
lime if it’s needed to adjust the soil pH.
For accurate results you must take soil samples before
you apply fertiliser.
KEY POINT: Soils with P
Index 3 will yield more grass
KEY POINT: The annual cost DM than a soil in P Index 1.
of soil sampling is roughly 50 Approximately
Within Dairygold we are dedicated to working with you to improve0.6t/acre (orand1.5t/
your soils fertility your farms
nutrient use efficiency. We have a team of soil samplers available to sample your farm, our
cents/acre/year. This is the ha) This
analytical service laboratory in Lombardsatown, Co. Cork,extra grass andcould
is INAB accredited we have abe team of
same cost as 0.5 units/acre of worth approximately €180/acre
area sales managers that are trained in the nutrient requirements of your crops and that are
available to develop a bespoke fertiliser pan for your farm.
P fertiliser (assuming all other nutrients
Steps to improving soil fertility: are optimum). *smartfarming.ie
1. GET YOUR SOIL TESTED - Soil testing and fertiliser planning are key requirements for any
successful farm and should be carried out during the winter period in advance of fertiliser
purchases. Dairygolds analytical service laboratory in Lombardsatown, Co. Cork provide a
An up to date soil test can have major benefits, both for comprehensive sampling and testing service from our lab at competitive prices. Please
contact our inside sales team on 022 31644, your area sales manager or your local branch to
your grass management and for your pocket. Knowing Soil sampling does take time; however we have a
arrange soil sampling.
what P & K index each of your fields are, helps aid in 2. highly-trained
ADDRESS THE pH OF THEteam of over
SOIL - Farmers should15 samplers
aim to maintain mineralwhosoils atare onof
pH levels
management decisions such as where you’ll spread call to help and complete the sampling and deliver the
6.3.
your farmyard manure, which fields to re-seed, which samples to the Agri-business analytical laboratory for
3. OPTIMAL P & K INDICES - Aim for a target index of 3 for both Phosphorus and Potassium.
fields need lime and how much of it is needed. There’s you meaning all you have to do is wait for your results
4. SLURRY & MANURES – Apply slurry to silage ground and fields that are index 1 and 2 for
also the potential for major financial savings on toPhosphorus
be posted out to you.
and Potassium.
fertiliser as you may discover that you might be able 5. BESPOKE FERTILISER PLAN – Use Dairygold field by field fertiliser programme to build a
bespoke fertiliser programme that maximises your farms nutrient use efficiency (NUE) through
to skip or use low P or K fertilisers on some fields. Benefits of an improved soil fertility
the targeted application of slurry, lime, chemical nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium.
KEY POINT: By soil testing, you
can save €23/acre on fertiliser.
This is on land with high P and
K levels (Index 4) and stocked
at 2 dairy cows/ha (0.8cows/
acre) *smartfarming.ie Please contact our Inside Sales Team on 022-31644
or your Area Sales Manager if you’d like to request
this service or have any questions about getting
your soil tested.
WITH COMPLIMENTS
Reply to: West End, Mallow, Co. Cork, P51 R593, Ireland. T +353 (0)22 21592 info@dairygold.ie www.dairygold.ie
8 www.dairygoldagri.ie
ISSUE 95 - JANUARY 2021
The following “Do’s & Don’ts” produced by Teagasc
should guide your decisions around early N application
Do:
1. Refer to Teagasc guidance on the application of early N. (www.pbi.ie)
2. Check weather forecast (www.met.ie) prior to making fertiliser N applications
- Only apply fertiliser N when soil temperature is greater than 5°C and rising.
3. Target fields for early N that are most likely to respond to an early N application:
- Perennial ryegrass / recently reseeded fields
- Drier, free draining fields
- Fields with a grass cover of greater than 400 kg DM/ha or 6 cm grass
- Fields with optimum soil fertility, i.e. good P and K status, pH > 6.2
4. Replace chemical N fertiliser on approx. 1/3 of the farm with cattle slurry. Target slurry applications to fields with
low P & K levels & low grass covers; 25 m³/ha (2,500 gals/ac) by low emission application will supply ~25 kg/
ha (20 units/ac) of available N.
5. Use protected urea (NBPT) for early N applications
6. Apply up to 30 kg N/ha (24 units N/ac) in 1st split in late January or early February and avoid fields that have
received an application of cattle slurry.
7. Link your early N application strategy with spring feed budget for the farm.
8. Calibrate and maintain your fertiliser spreader in good condition.
Don’t:
1. Don’t apply fertiliser N before the end of the prohibited spreading period (Table 1).
2. Never apply fertiliser on waterlogged or frozen soils.
3. Don’t apply fertiliser if a yellow rainfall warning is in place or is forecast within the next 48 hours.
4. Never apply fertiliser into buffer margins & know your buffer margins.
5. Delay N on bare fields (
MAXIMISING RESPONSE TO EARLY
NITROGEN USING THE FOUR R’S
By WILLIAM BURCHILL, PhD.,
Teagasc/Dairygold Joint Programme
Spring grass is a very valuable source of feed on our farms with high energy and protein contents. The application
of early spring N is important to boost grass growth. However, grass growth response to N in early spring is
much lower than what we get during the summer so it’s vital that we manage this properly. To do this we need to
remember the four R’s.
Right place
Prioritize early N application to recently reseeded
paddocks, paddocks with good perennial ryegrass
content, good soil fertility, good grass covers (400 kg DM/
ha) and warmer/drier ground. Nitrogen application should
be delayed on other parts of the farm until a little later
in the spring when N response improves. Also be aware
that you need to maintain a 2m buffer zone (no fertiliser
N applied) from any watercourse when spreading N and
never apply fertiliser on waterlogged or frozen soils.
Right timing
To get the best N response in spring soil temperatures need to be 5 °C and rising (@ 10 cm depth). An easy
way to check soil temperature in your area is to look up www.soiltemp.remotesignals.ie which gives daily soil
temperatures from weather stations across the region. Check the weather forecast and don’t apply fertiliser if a
yellow rainfall warning is in place or is forecast within the next 48 hours. Keep to the Departments opening dates
for fertiliser and slurry spreading which are 13th January for Cork, Tipperary and Waterford and 16th January for
Kerry, Limerick and Clare.
C
Right source M
The best fertiliser N type for early spring is protected Y
or standard urea as they are less prone to losses to CM
water than CAN. Slurry at this time is also a great MY
source of N. Slurry applied with a splash-plate will CY
supply 6 units N/1,000gal. This increases to 9 units CMY
N/1,000gal where slurry is spread with a dribble bar K
or trailing shoe. These slurry N values are the same
type of N as bagged N fertiliser and have the same
availability for grass growth and should be used to
replace bag fertiliser on a portion of the farm in early
spring.
Right rate
Your rate of fertiliser application in the spring should be linked to your stocking rate and demand for grass. The
target for N application on intensive dairy farms is to have 70 units N/acre applied by the 1st April. This is generally
broken down into 23 units N/acre in late January/early February followed by 46 units N/acre around the 1st week
10 www.dairygoldagri.ieISSUE 95 - JANUARY 2021
of March. 23 units N/acre is more than enough N for the levels of grass grown from mid-January to the 1st March.
In many cases the 70 units N/acre spread by the 1st April should not be a blanket approach across the whole farm.
It’s more designed for the ‘Right places’ on the farm as outlined above, which in some cases will be the entire
farm and on other farms it won’t. Lower amounts of N will suffice on wetter/colder ground or paddocks with low
perennial ryegrass content that take longer in the spring to get going. In many cases they won’t get the first 23
units N/acre in that late January/early February period which is fine. The target will then revert to 46 units N/acre
by the 1st April. There is no need to try and play catch up by applying 70 units N/acre in March.
Nitrogen from slurry application should be included in the 70 units N/acre target. It’s not a case of applying 70
units N/acre bagged fertiliser on top of ground that has also got slurry. For example, if 2,500 gal/acre of slurry is
applied with a trailing shoe/dribble bar that will supply 23 units N/acre with the remaining 46 units N/acre applied
as bagged fertiliser to reach the 70 units N/acre by 1st April. Slurry application will meet that 23 units N/acre
requirement in that late January/early February period.
Avoid excessive rates of slurry application per acre (>3,000 gals/acre)
in early spring. A better ploy is to spread 2,500 to 3,000 gal/acre across
a larger area of the farm to reduce your fertiliser N bill. For example, if
slurry is used to replace a half bag urea across 100 acres it will reduce
the fertiliser N bill by between €1,000 to €1,200. A trailing shoe or
dribble bar will help to reduce grass contamination when doing this.
ai158454227627_Half Page Ad v2 outlines.pdf 1 18/03/2020 14:37:57
11DAIRYGOLD FARMER JOE MELODY
WINS FBD BIODIVERSITY YOUNG
FARMER OF THE YEAR
By CIARA DONOVAN Farm Sustainability Advisor, Supply Chain Division
and RAYMOND RYAN Milk Advisory Co-ordinator
Joe Melody, a dairy farmer from Bunratty, Co. Clare, this and did the opposite-
was awarded the prestigious FBD Biodiversity Young he planted more hedges
Farmer of the Year Award. and managed them as
shelter belts.
Left: photo of some mature
hedge planted behind a post
and rail fence.
While the biodiversity
on this farm is excellent,
Left: Joe Melody stands at sustainable farming
the edge of the salt marsh
habitats along the Shannon
also means a ‘financially
Estuary on which his cattle viable farm’ to Joe. Grass
graze measuring is carried out twice weekly during the peak
grass growing season and nutrient applications are
Joe and his father JJ, milk 140 cows on their 360-acre managed to maximize production and reduce losses.
farm. While this might initially seem like an extensive Soil sampling is carried out once every two years to
stocking rate, that is not the case since the home track P, K and lime requirement accurately. Fertilizer
grazing platform, which hosts all dairy cows, is only and slurry applications are applied only at appropriate
100 acres. The remaining land is used for heifer and rates. All slurry is spread by his contractor which offers
dry-stock rearing, including a herd of 20 pedigree the choice of low emissions spreading with a dribble
Charolais. The farm is split by the main Limerick to bar, trailing shoe or injection system.
Galway motorway and a large amount of the farm
runs along the banks of the Shannon Estuary. The Early applications are
Melody family have been actively managing the rare generally done with
salt marsh habitats here for many years and this land the cheaper dribble
is currently in GLAS. Joe explained that exclusion bar system, but Joe
of livestock from this area would be detrimental to utilizes the trailing-shoe
habitat. Instead livestock are given access to these or injection system for
lands only during the dryer summer periods and farm summer applications to
inputs such as fertilizer and chemicals are massively avoid nitrogen being lost
limited or eliminated completely. to the atmosphere.
Above: Joe amongst his herd
Joe - “While we should be guided by science, we must of 140 dairy cows
also learn from and build on the knowledge of the
generations of those who have farmed before us” Joe believes that while it costs more, the difference
in grass growth makes it a cost - effective choice.
Thick, mature, well managed hedgerows exist Protected urea has been used throughout the year
throughout the farm, intertwined with groves of mature and Joe says that he can see no difference between
trees, creating literally miles of wild-life corridors. Joe that and the CAN/UREA which he had been applying
explains that while some sections of the whitethorn in the past.
dominated hedging is trimmed back to thicken the This farm is a shining light for others to follow! Not only
hedges annually, other lengths are also left to mature is this farm an efficient, well managed and financially
and produce flowers and berries. stable enterprise, it exemplifies how to manage the
non-grass areas that are on every farm. The habitats
Joe explained that during the 70’s and 80’s when it on the farm are mature and filled with life, and they
became common-place to remove ditches and hedges exist along-side an excellent dairy business! Well done
his father JJ, saw the massive disadvantages in doing to Joe and the entire Melody family.
12 www.dairygoldagri.ieISSUE 95 - JANUARY 2021
DAIRYGOLD GO-TO FARM INITIATIVE
FARMER PROFILE: John, Noreen & Billy Dunne, Ladysbridge, Co. Cork
Cork. John, Noreen and Billy, milk 170 cows at the Dunne farm, Ballyhimikin, Ladysbridge,
Co. Cork.
Go-To
The Dunne’s have completed the Dairygold Leanfarm training and joined the Leanfarm
rt and Go-To Programme in 2018 hosting waste walks and implementing changes to save
time effort and money. John says “Time is the most valuable asset and needs to be
used smartly”.
Leanfarm measures on the Carroll Farm
• Solar Panel (photo 1a & 1b)
In 2018 a CC solar+ water heater was installed on the Dunne’s farm which feeds into their 200L
electric hot water heater. John said, “it is a cost-effective way to generate hot water with the power
of the sun”. Water can be heated from 25°C to greater than 60°C depending on the sun. With the
extra availability of hot water John decided to increase his wash-up trough capacity and installed two
nto stainless steel troughs. John also mentioned, “with the use of Chlorine free detergents it is essential to
ate have the correct amount of hot water at the correct temperature and consistent wash routines across
ater all personnel working on the farm”.
ohn
teel 1a 1b
our
cart
d at
hey • Milk Cart (photo 2)
een A lot of time and energy was spent drawing buckets of milk from 2
the milking parlour to the calf shed which was tiring on the back.
We decided to make up the milk cart which is a petrol driven
engine and holds 350 L of milk. All the calves can be fed at the
one time where prior to the cart the calves were fed throughout
ded milking. They can drive through the calf house and there is no
and bucketing or lifting. This has been one of the best labour-saving
the tools used on the farm.
. A
13• Milking parlour milk trolley (photo 3a & 3b)
In the Springtime when there is a lot of milk to be drawn off for calves John decided to design a trolley
which allowed them to move milk within the pit easily and promoting less wear and tear on the body.
Lugging milk buckets to the top of the pit was becoming tiring and cumbersome so John said something
had to change. A submersible pump is then used to transfer the milk into the milk cart.
3a 3b
Mobile power washer (photo 4).
The mobile power washer is an independent diesel driven 4
power washer. It attaches on to the ATV and is used for
various tasks on the farm. John says the beauty about it is
that no tractor is needed and especially in the wintertime
when there isn’t a tractor available unless the attachment
is taken off. It is regularly used for power washing out
calving boxes in the busy winter period.
Dunne View on the Benefits of Leanfarm
“One of the best tools in the Leanfarm program is to be able to identify where too much
time and effort is spent on recurring tasks that must be carried out daily or tasks dependent
on the time of year. Adopting new and innovative ways of changing how these tasks are
carried out has resulted in a better overall work-life balance with the extra hours saved.
Lean doesn’t have to cost a lot to money to make a benefit. John also found value from
other farmers coming to his farm for Waste Walks where they also gave him ideas. One idea
was to improve the cow flow for cows coming out of the milking parlour where there was an
existing 10-foot gate which has been replaced with two 12-foot gates.”
Benefits Delivered on the Dunne Farm
✔ T
ime saved on repetitive ✔ Reduced transport of goods.
tasks.
✔ Reduced movement and
✔ More organised. energy.
✔ Point of use. ✔ Improved job satisfaction.
14 www.dairygoldagri.ieISSUE 95 - JANUARY 2021
DAIRYGOLD / TEAGASC
old/ TeagascJOINT
Joint programme
PROGRAMME
By JOHN McCARTHY,
Soils Pilot Project in the Dairygold / Teagasc Joint Program
John Fouhy
Farm: John Fouhy and his son William milk 85 cows on their family farm in
Meadstown, Co. Cork on a milking platform of 104 acres. Their cow type is a
Holstein Friesian delivering 550 kg of milk solids per cow. His grazing season
length extends from the start of February to mid - November. His soil type is a
well drained brown earth soil with a limestone bedrock. He is part of the Soils
Pilot Project in the Dairygold / Teagasc Joint Programme. John has found that
regular soil sampling has allowed him quickly correct any issues around soil
fertility. Before he was shooting in the dark when it came to using the correct
blend of fertiliser and he has adopted a more strategic plan around the use of
both organic and chemical nitrogen (N) on his farm.
Spring fertiliser plan: Early spring grass needs a small but timely amount of N to kick start growth. Good farming
practice dictates that ground conditions are favourable and average soil temperatures are above 5.5 °C and rising
before spreading any fertiliser. John plans to spread 23 units of chemical N on two thirds of the farm and will cover
the remaining fields with 2,500 gallons/ acre of cattle slurry which should provide 23 units of organic N. As a rule
m milk 85 cows on their family farm in Meadstown, Co. Cork on
of thumb, John aims to have 70 units of N spread by the 1st of April using a combination of both chemical fertiliser
and cattle slurry.
cowMaintaining
type iswater a Holstein Friesian delivering 550 kg of milk solids
quality: Ireland’s water quality status has been declining over the past few years. One of the
tendsmainfrom theastart
issues from farmingof February
point of view is theto
lossmid
of N or- November. His soil The shoulders of the
phosphorus (P) to waterways.
grazing season (October to February) provide the greatest potential for loss of nutrients to waterways. Typically
il with aalimestone
this is bedrock.
period when rainfall has caughtHe is part
up and filled theof the
soils Soilsto store
capacity Pilotwater,
Project
so the potential for loss of
nutrients through direct overland flow or leaching dramatically increases during this period. One simple step to
amme.reduceJohn
nutrienthas found
loss during this that regular
period is soila buffer
by maintaining sampling
zone whenhas allowed
applying fertiliser on the land. Under
nitrates rules, chemical fertiliser cannot be applied within 2 metres of any waterbody while a 5 metre buffer zone
d soilmust
fertility. Before
be maintained heapplication.
for slurry was shooting
This doublesin the
to 10 dark
metres when
for the it October
month of cameand January in the
case of slurry.
and he has adopted a more strategic plan around the use of
N) on his farm.
ss needs a small but timely amount of N to kick start growth.
round conditions are favourable and average soil temperatures
reading any fertiliser. John plans to spread 23 units of chemical
over the remaining fields with 2,500 gallons/ acre of cattle
Picture 1. Practical way to implement buffer zones this spring
of organic N. As a rule of thumb, John aims to have 70 units of N 15John Maher
Teagasc, Moorepark
GRASS MATTERS
By JOHN MAHER,
Dairy Specialist, Teagasc Moorepark
Time to Start
Progress in grass measurement and use of PastureBase the Grazing
Ireland (PBI): Sea
The number of farmers recording 20 or more grass measurements and using PBI to manage grass on their farms
Shane put in an image “2018 grazing se
has increased by over 100% since the Grass10 Campaign began. Increasing the level of PBI usage has been one
of the key objectives of the Grass10 campaign. In 2020, over 4,000 individual commercial farms recorded at least
The most
one grass measurement or more on PBI. The level of regular important
pasture task any dairy
measurement needsfarmer will undertake
to increase to gainover the
greater improvements in grassland management. There has thebeen
farm ais strong
closed focus on training
off properly of farmers
to have to become
an adequate supply of gra
PBI users particularly through the Grass10 courses. Outlined below in Table 1 is the number of farms that have
completed 20 measures of farm cover and have data enteredGrazing
ontoconditions have beenThe
the PBI database. challenging
number during
of dairySeptember.
farmers Rep
farms are very variable. Some
using PastureBase at some level represents about 25% of milk production in the country. farms are swamped in grass which
Some farms have not and will not have enough grass available fo
additional20
Table 1. Number of farms (Dairy & Drystock) who have completed feed to keep
or more cows
grass fed. Irrespective
measurements of grassover
annually supply on
the last four years on PBI next grazing season and get it right.
Year Dairy farms There are two objectives
Drystock farms in autumn grazing management of
Total
2020 1623 116must be adequately fed using
Firstly the cows 1739 the cheapest
2019 1014 106at grass is worth €1.80/cow/day
grass. Every day 1120 additiona
2018 731 93 824
The second objective is set the farm up for spring grass. M
2017 739 70 begins in the autumn 809
the grazing season and that autumn m
2016 659 the primary factor
49 influencing the supply of
708grass available
Closing Grass Cover on Track in Dairygold Co-op Region!
The average farm cover on dairy farms across the Dairygold co-op region in late
November/early December is 703kg DM/ha (from PastureBase Ireland Data). This
is about 50 kgDM/ha ahead of last year. This puts most dairy farmers very much
on target for having a good supply of grass available next spring. However about
18% of farms have a closing grass cover of 500 kgDM/ha or lower. These farms will
generally record a much lower grass growth rate over the winter period and next
spring. This will result in lower levels of grass being available next spring for grazing.
Winter Grass Growth:
Average grass growth over the winter period is about 3-4 kg DM/ha/day (only if there
is some grass on the farm). Given a normal closing up strategy, many farms will have
a closing cover of about 700 kg DM/ha on December 1st. If growth is about 3-4 kg DM/ha/day during December
& January, that would mean grass supply will be about 900 kg DM/ha or more on Feb 1st. That amount of grass
would allow many herds turnout calved cows full time to grass during February provided ground conditions allow.
Early Nitrogen
Sometimes the weather in January is often better for spreading fertiliser nitrogen than February. Farmers will also
be a lot busier in February than they will be in late January.
16 www.dairygoldagri.ieISSUE 95 - JANUARY 2021
The opportunities for spreading fertiliser N in January/February are often limited so the
Urea based fertiliser needs to be in the yard. Spreading 2 tons of Urea based fertiliser
will allow 80 acres (32 ha) of land to get fertiliser application. So why not have the
fertiliser ordered and delivered early and avoid all the hassle that is associated with
early spring fertiliser delivery and application.
It is obvious from the PastureBase Ireland database that those farmers who grow the
most grass on the farm target early grazing. They get cows out to grass as soon as
possible in February. However, they are also applying about a half bag of Urea/ac (23
units/ac) in the latter half of January to get grass moving.
Slurry for spring grass
Sometimes there is a better response in grass growth from slurry
application than N fertiliser application. This is often due to the fact that
there is also P & K in slurry. Phosphorus (P) is crucial for early spring grass
growth, particularly where soil P status is poor.
Once the closed period for slurry application is over in mid-January many
farmers will want to get slurry out. Slurry can be used to replace the
nitrogen fertiliser application on about 33% of the farm. An application of
about 2,500 gals of slurry/ acre will supply about 20 units/acre (25 kg N/
ha). If possible, the paddocks with lower P & K status should be targeted for slurry application.
Paddocks with the lowest amount of grass should be targeted for slurry application. There will be a need for
greater flexibility required to get slurry spread.
• Target the most watery slurry in the farmyard to be spread
• Target the out-farm if the fields have lower amounts of grass and are not too far away
• C onsider using a contractor to apply slurry as their systems of spreading slurry may be a better approach than
your own machine (umbilical system)
• Consider the use of the trailing shoe, dribble bar, etc. to apply slurry. These machines can apply slurry in a better
way and especially where the cover of grass is higher.
17Dairy Farming on Diffi
Dairy Farming on Difficult/Heavy Land
DAIRY FARMING ON
DIFFICULT / HEAVY LAND
By JOHN MAHER, Ger Courtney & Tomas Condon
John Maher, Ger Courtney & James O’Loughlin
Heavy Soils Programme, Teagasc
Heavy Soils Programme, Teagasc.
Grassland Farmer of the Year on Heavy Land
2020 was a bit of a roller coaster in terms of weather Paudie O’Brien Review
pattern and grass production. Early favourable grazing
conditions turned difficult at the backend. Paudie John
O’BrienMaher,
was awarded
Ger Cour
the Grassland Farmer of the
Obviously the weather is a greater barrier to increasing Year award for the Heavy Land
grass production on heavy land farms compared to categoryHeavy
in thisSoils Programm
competition
other farms given the nature of the soils However, soil this time last year. So this
fertility improvement has also been a constant focus month, I am going review his
but difficult to achieve in the short term on farms with farming year.
heavy land. Soil sampling needs to take place on all About 30% of milk produced
the farms in late 2020 /early 2021. Improvement in the Paudie farms in Firies, Killarney, Co.soils
Kerry.
Heavy addHe is a
complexities
fertility status of the soils of the farms involved in the recent entrant to milk production which makes this
Teagasc Heavy Soils programme was slow, but grass conditions, similar to those
achievement all the more remarkable. This land
production has improved a lot in the last 2 years after has a mix of mineral clay soilsmilk
andproduction
some peat on heavy s
soils.
tackling soil fertility. Lime application is the first piece Rainfall is about 1400mm (55 Inches)
silage on average
reserves are essential.
of the soil fertility jigsaw to be tackled. Remember yearly though this will be a lot higher this year duefarms l
that applying lime to soils to raise the pH above 6 will demonstration dairy
to a very wet backend. The farm is split by a public
increase the availability of Phosphorus (P) and to a Doonbeg.
road. Considerable investment in the farm grazing
lesser extent Potassium (K). Compound fertilisers are infrastructure (and farm yard) has been carried out
not cheap (especially P) so lime application releases
over the last few years. A huge focus is placed on
the P from the soil and will lower fertiliser costs.
using spur roadways to gain access to grass.
Farm Performance
Our aim in this programme though is to keep trying to
Paudie is very keen to stress that he runs a grass
improve grass production and the level of grass eaten. A marked increase in costs
based system of dairy farming despite the challenging
poor
nature of the soils and the level of milk price
rainfall. is farm
The reflected i
The current level of grass supply is outlined in table
grows about 14 tons DM/ha on average with over 15
1 for early December. At 600kg DM/ha average farm
tons grown/ha in 2019.
cover has the farms on target despite the challenging
weather conditions. It has often been higher than that
due to difficulty accessing grass. However through However grass production was Table 1: Heavy
lower Soils at
in 2020 Program
improving grazing infrastructure and better know-how, close to 14 tons DM/ha. A wet August started a very
the farmers have become much better at reaching wet backend and it took its toll on the farm. Over 7
grass. This sets the farm up nicely for grazing in spring. grazings/paddock were achieved which is above the
PastureBase Ireland average. The average levelHerdof
Grass Summary: Table1. grass grazed was 1452kg DM/ha. size
Fa
Farm Cover Farm Cover The 80 cow herd delivered about 465 kgMS/cow in
Date (kg DM/ha) 2020 and this was produced using close 1 ton meal/
cow.
Macroom 03/12 627
Doonbeg 08/12 555 The average farm cover was about 730 kg DM/ha in
Athea 02/12 517 early December.
Castleisland 04/12 687
Kiskeam 07/12 650 Cows are due to start calving on Feb 9th and the
Rossmore 22/11 572 calving rate is very high with close to 90% calved in
Average 601 4 weeks.
18 www.dairygoldagri.ieISSUE 95 - JANUARY 2021
DAIRYGOLD / TEAGASC
JOINT PROGRAMME 2018-2020
By GRAINNE HURLEY,
Dairygold Teagasc Joint Programme
Dairygold Monitor Farmers Grass Summary 2020
In terms of weather 2020 was a mixed bag. It started out as one of the wettest months of February many of us
have ever seen. As a result most farmers were late in getting cows out to grass and extra concentrate and silage
was fed. Meal again increased in August as many parts of the country experienced very wet weather. As a result
target peak farm covers were not achieved in September and heavy meal feeding continued into September and
October in many places. The average farm cover on the monitor farms peaked in late September at 1092kgDM/
ha or 357kgDM/cow. This was slightly less than the target of 1150kgDM/ha for their average stocking rate of 3LU/
ha. Average total meal fed/cow* for the monitor farmers up until 1 December was just under a tonne at 999kg/cow.
In 2019 the monitor farmers sold on average 534kg milk solids per cow. Again this year milk solid output per cow
was high at 523kg up until 1 December 2020. If you simply divide the milk solid output per cow into the meal
fed* per cow, this tells you how much meal you fed to get a kilo of milk solid. This figure for the monitor farmer
was 1.89kg meal/kg milk solids (up until 1December). This figure has reduced from 2.32kg meal/kg milk solid in
2019. It’s a simple figure to calculate for your own farm and a figure one should target to reduce each year whilst
utilizing more grazed grass. Once you know your own figure of kg meal fed/kg milk solid – set yourself a new but
achievable lower target for this coming year. Make out a plan of what meal you plan to feed during the season
ahead.
In 2020 the monitor farmers grew 14.3tonnes grass DM/ha on the milking block and achieved 8.6 grazing
rotations. This was an increase of 0.4tn grass DM/ha from 2019 which displaced some of the concentrate fed.
Time after time financial analysis has shown one of the strongest correlations with farm profit is grass utilization.
Focusing on practices such as improving soil fertility, reseeding, and grass measurement will all increase grass
growth. Matching your stocking rate to grass growth capacity will maximise utilization, maximise performance
and maximise profit for your farm.
Table 1. Dairygold Monitor Farmers Summary 2020 (up until 1st December 2020)
Stocking Rate
Whole Milking Milk solids Total meal Kg meal/kg Milking Grazing
Farm Platform sold per cow fed per cow Milk solids Platform rotations
(LU/ha) (LU/ha) (kg) (kg) (tnDM/ha) Grass
DLR Deane 2.86 3.70 523 1336 2.55 14.5 9.2
John Galvin 2.46 3.29 512 760 1.48 14.7 8.7
Jimmy Cotter 2.49 3.17 550 833 1.51 14.2 8.7
John Walsh 2.10 2.35 529 730 1.38 14.0 8.2
Sean Barry 1.91 3.09 475 742 1.56 13.4 8.6
Mark Lonergan 2.71 2.38 540 930 1.72 13.9 8.1
Sean Moher 1.80
3.18 500 812 1.62 14.8 8.6
Pat Mulchay 2.51 3.71 584 2030 3.48 13.7 8.2
Tom O’Connell 2.87 3.53 494 747 1.51 15.8 9.0
Average 2.41 3.15 523 999 1.89 14.3 8.6
*Total meal includes maize silage, beet, distillers, crimped maize etc
19FERTILITY & BREEDING
EMA ANTIBIOTICS
By DOREEN CORRIDAN, MVB MRCVS PhD,
Categorisation of antibiotics for use in animals
Munster Cattle Breeding
for prudent and responsible use
EMAEMA Prudent and responsible use
Categorisation
Categorisation of antibiotics forof
for prudent
for prudent and
and responsible
a
use in
use respon
of antibiotics in both animals
and humans can lower the The Antimicrobial Advi
Ad Hoc Expert Group
ntibiotics for use
risk of bacteria becoming
Categorisation of antibiotics
Prudent and responsible
resistant. in
for use in animals
animals
Prudent and responsible useuse (AMEG) has categorise
of antibiotics in both in
of antibiotics animals
both animals One Health
ible
for and use
prudent and responsible
humans can anduse lower
humans the
can lower the
antibiotics based on th
The An
This is particularly important potential consequence
risk of bacteria becoming
risk of bacteria becoming Ad Ho
for antibiotics that are used to Antibiotic resistance public health of increa
resistant. resistant. (AMEG
can spread between antimicrobial resistanc
treat both people and animals
animals, humans and One Health One antibioH
This is andparticularly
for antibiotics that are the important
when used in animals
This is particularly important the environment potent
last line of treatment
for antibiotics thatfor arethat used to the need for their use
Antibiotic resistance Antibiotic
for antibiotics are used to public
e use treat both
critical infections
people in people. and animals can spread between veterinary
can medicine.
sprea
treat both people and animals antimi
imals and for antibiotics
and that
for are
antibiotics thatThe
arethe
the Antimicrobial animals, humans Adviceand animals, when
h
the last line of treatment for The Antimicrobial Advicethe environment The categorisation the env is
last line of treatment for Ad Hoc
Ad Hoc ExpertExpert
Group Group the ne
ng critical infections in people. intended as a tool to
(AMEG)
critical infections in people. has
(AMEG) has categorised categorised veterin
support decision-makin
ealth One Health antibiotics
antibiotics based on based the on the
potential consequences by veterinarians
to on wh
The ca
ant potential consequences to
resistance Antibiotic resistance public health of increased antibiotic to use.intend
ed to public health of increased
d between can spread between antimicrobial suppor
mals antimicrobial resistance resistance
umans and animals, humans and when used in animals and by vet
e the when used in animals and
onment the environment the need for their use in antibio
the need for their use in
Veterinarians are encouraged to check the AMEG categorisation before prescribing any antibiotic for animal
e. • 2 021 Ensure that antibiotics will continue to work on our farms.
their care. The AMEG categorisation does not replace
veterinary
veterinary medicine.
treatment
medicine.
guidelines, which also need to take account of other fac
such as supporting information in the Summary of Product Characteristics for available medicines, constraints around us
• Reduce the need for antibiotics on farm.
Veterinarians
food-producing species, are encouraged
regional
Veterinarians variations
The
are encouraged
intended
categorisation
to to
The categorisation
in diseases and check
antibiotic
check the
as
isresistance,
AMEG the is
AMEG
and national
categorisation
a tool to
prescribing
before categor
policies.
prescribing any anti
their care. The their AMEG categorisationintended as a tooldoes
to not replace treatmen
care. The AMEG categorisation does not replace treatment guidelines, which also need to take a
• Get to know the categorisations of antibiotics and use them accordingly.
such as supporting
food-producing species,
such asinformation
Category A regional
support
by
inin
support
supporting information the the decision-making
Summary
veterinarians
variations
Summary
decision-making of for
of Product Characteristics
whichandin on
diseases
Product
which
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available medicines,
Category B con
by veterinarians
food-producing species, regional variations in on
diseases antibiotic resistance, andand
national antib
prescribi
antibiotic to use.
Avoid antibiotic to use.
Categorisation of antibiotic classes for veterinary use Restrict
Category
(with examples of substances Category
authorised A
for humanAor veterinary use in the EU) Category
sation
uraged to check before veterinary prescribing
Amdinopenicillins
the AMEG categorisation
medicines before
in the
Avoid
• antibiotics in this category are not authorised as Drugs used solely to
Avoid
Carbapenems any antibiotic treat
prescribing
EU any antibiotic for animals
• antibiotics in this category are critically import
for
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in animals
medicine and use inin
Glycopeptides
Restri
animals should be
AVOID
meropenem tuberculosis or other vancomycin
mecillinam
guidelines,
egorisation does not replace which also need
treatment guidelines, which
pivmecillinam
to take account
also need to take account of other factors
doripenem mycobacterial of other
restricted to mitigate
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the risk to public health
cteristics
ation ••Summary
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medicines,
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not authorised
isoniazid
not authorised
around use
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• antibiotics in this category ar
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national in
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veterinary medicines the EU
in the EU policies. policies. human medicine and are
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gional variations in diseases and antibiotic
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• should be considered only
tigecycline
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daptomycin ethionamide
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• should • may benot given tobe companion
used animals in under antibiotics in Categories C or D that could be
Monobactams • should not be usedfood-producing
Category
Oxazolidinones in food-producing B animals clinically animalsPhosphonic acid derivates
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ategory A exceptional
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• should be considered only wh
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exceptional circumstances
given to companion animals animalsunder
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under antibiotics in Categories C or
and should be based on antimicrobial suscepti
Pseudomonic acids
rifampicin exceptional circumstances
clofazimine penems (ATC code J01DI), clinically effective
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• authorised
gory are •not antibiotics in •this category areincludingcritically
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for you and
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cephalosporins
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Substances newly authorised
• use
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in the EU ureidopenicillin, including human medicine and use in animals
with should
beta lactamasebeinhibitors in human medicine following
• Restrict their
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mitigate
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restricted to mitigate the risk to public health public
ceftobiprole health Category
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of the AMEG D
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lactamase inhibitors categorisation
• Onlyanimals
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Streptogramins
clinically effective.
ceftaroline
food-producing
• should
piperacillin-tazobactam
be considered
• Only use on susceptibility testing. • Caution
should
pristinamycin
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considered
virginiamycin only only
Category C when
when
ceftolozane-tazobactam
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there arethere
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no are to Prudence
nobe determined
Category
antibiotics in Categories C or
antibiotics in Categories C or D that could be D that could be
panion animals under
nces clinically
•Cephalosporins,
for antibiotics effective
3rd- in this category
and Caution
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RESTRICT
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orbifloxacin
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• for cefovecin
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oxolinic acid
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ceftiofur
• for some veterinary• for some veterinary indications,
Category indications,Dthere D there
are no are no • as always, should be used pr
ategory C alternatives belonging Category
to Category D
•Aminoglycosides
should be considered only when
alternatives there
belonging are no
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aution
(except
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Aminopenicillins, in Amphenicols
UTION
antibiotics in Category D combination
spectinomycin) that could withbe clinically
beta
chloramphenicol erythromycin
• should
20 effective be considered
www.dairygoldagri.ie
amikacin
lactamase inhibitors
• should be considered only only when whenthere arethere
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• should be used as in Category
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D D that
that couldcould
thiamphenicol
be
line treatments, whenever
+ sulbactam clinically be clinicallyoleandomycin
spiramycinOne Health One H
antibio
This is particularly important
This is particularly important potent
for antibiotics that arethat used ISSUE 95 Antibiotic
Antibiotic resistance - JANUARY 2021 public
for antibiotics are usedtoto
treat both people treat and animals
both people and animals can spread between can sprea antimi
and for antibiotics and forthat are
antibiotics that arethe
the animals, humans and animals, whenh
the environment the env
Highest
last linePriority
of Critically Important
treatment Antibiotics
for (injectable
last line of treatment for and intramammary) licensed in Ireland for use in cattle the ne
critical infections ininfections
critical people. in people. veteri
The ca
intend
suppo
by vet
antibio
Veterinarians are encouraged
Veterinarians are encouraged to check to the check the AMEG
AMEG categorisation categor
before prescribing any anti
their care. The their AMEG categorisation does not replace treatmen
care. The AMEG categorisation does not replace treatment guidelines, which also need to take a
such as supporting such asinformation
Categorisation of antibiotic
supporting inin
information classes the Summary
for veterinary
the Summary use of for
of Product Characteristics Product Char
available medicines, con
food-producing species,
food-producing
(with examples regional
species,
of substances regional
authorised variations
forvariations
human orinveterinary usein
diseases and diseases
antibiotic
in the EU)resistance, andand
national antib
prescribi
Amdinopenicillins Carbapenems Drugs used solely to treat Glycopeptides
Category A or other
Category Atuberculosis Category
AVOID
mecillinam meropenem vancomycin
mycobacterial diseases
Avoid
Avoid
doripenem
Restri
pivmecillinam
isoniazid
ethambutol Glycylcyclines
Ketolides Lipopeptides pyrazinamide tigecycline
telithromycin daptomycin ethionamide
• antibiotics in •this category
antibiotics in this category are are not authorised
not authorised as as in this category ar
• antibiotics
Phosphonic acid derivates
veterinary
Monobactams medicinesveterinary medicines
Oxazolidinones in inthe
the EUEU human medicine and use in a
aztreonam linezolid fosfomycin
restricted to mitigate the risk
Unfortunately
• should many of not these
Rifamycins (except
antibiotics
be
rifaximin) used
• should are be
not used
in
Riminofenazines usedon
inour farms as 1stanimals
food-producing
food-producing line of treatment. animals
Pseudomonic acids
Unfortunately many of these antibiotics are used
Most commonly used would be cephaguard and cefimam dry cow tubes and cobactan
rifampicin clofazimine on our farms as 1
Other cephalosporins andst
penems (ATC code J01DI), line of lactating
treatment.
• should
mupirocin
tube.
be Excenel,
considered only wh
• may be given • tobecompanion
may given to companion animals
including
animals
combinations of under
under antibiotics in Categories C or
Naxcel,exceptional
Baytril and Marbocyl
Carboxypenicillin and injectables.
Sulfones 3rd-generation cephalosporins Substances newly authorised
Most commonly used would
ureidopenicillin, including
combinations with beta
be cephaguard
circumstances
exceptional and cefimam
circumstances
dapsone dry cow
with beta lactamase tubes and
inhibitors cobactan
in human clinically
medicine effective
following
publication of the AMEG
NEW
lactating YEAR’S
tube.
lactamase RESOLUTION
Excenel,
inhibitors
Naxcel,– Baytril
Avoid their
Streptogramins use in 2021.
and Marbocyl Find alternatives in categorisation
injectables.
ceftaroline category D or C.
ceftobiprole
• use should be based on antim
Put them onpiperacillin-tazobactam
the top shelf and priorpristinamycin
to use ask yourself is there an alternative that Itoshould bewherever
using. possible
ceftolozane-tazobactam
be determined
virginiamycin faropenem testing,
New year’s resolution – Avoid their use in 2021. Find alternatives in category D or C. Put
Cephalosporins, 3rd- and Polymyxins Quinolones: fluoroquinolones and other quinolones
them on the topwith shelf
the and prior to useCategory
askCategory C an alternative that I should be
yourself Cis there
RESTRICT
4th-generation,
cinoxacin
Category
exception of combinations colistin marbofloxacin
using. with β-lactamase inhibitors
cefoperazone
Caution
polymyxin B
Caution difloxacin
danofloxacin norfloxacin
orbifloxacin Pruden
enrofloxacin oxolinic acid
cefovecin flumequine pradofloxacin
••Only
for consider use when therefor
antibiotics
cefquinome
ceftiofur • are
in no antibiotics
this
antibiotics in category
incategory
this category thereDare
that are clinically
alternatives effective.
there
are alternatives
ibafloxacin
• should be used as first line tr
in human medicine
in human medicine possible
Category C CAUTION
Aminoglycosides (except Aminopenicillins, in Amphenicols Macrolides
CAUTION
• for spectinomycin)
some veterinary • for some indications,
combination with
veterinary beta
indications, there there
are no
chloramphenicol are no • as always, should be used pr
erythromycin
lactamase inhibitors
alternatives
amikacin belonging
alternatives belonging totoCategory
Category Dflorfenicol D gamithromycin
medically needed
amoxicillin + clavulanic acid
Only consider use when there are no antibiotics in category D that are clinicallyspiramycin
effective.
apramycin thiamphenicol oleandomycin
dihydrostreptomycin ampicillin + sulbactam
• should be considered
framycetin
• should be considered only when
only when there arethere no are no
tildipirosin
tilmicosin
gentamicin Cephalosporins, 1st- and Lincosamides
antibiotics
kanamycin in Category
antibiotics and DD that
in Category
2nd-generation, that couldcould
be clinically be clinically
tulathromycin
clindamycin tylosin
effective
neomycin cephamycins
effective lincomycin tylvalosin
paromomycin
cefacetrile pirlimycin
streptomycin
cefadroxil
tobramycin
cefalexin
cefalonium
cefalotin
Pleuromutilins
For
For antibiotics in antibiotics
allrifaximin
Rifamycins:
categories
rifaximin only
cefapirin tiamulin
valnemulin
• unnecessary •use, unnecessary use, overlylongoverly
cefazolin treatment
long treatment periods, and under-dosingperiods, should beand
avoided und
• group treatment
Aminopenicillins, without • group should
treatment
Aminoglycosides: shouldbe restricted
be restricted to situations to
where situations
individual treatment iswhere
not feasible
Highest Priority Critically Important Antibiotics Sulfonamides, dihydrofolate
(injectable and inhibitors
intramammary) reductase
licensed in Ireland for use in cattle
PRUDENCE
beta-lactamase inhibitors spectinomycin only and combinations
• check out the European
• check out the EuropeanCommission’s
Commission’s guideline
guideline on prudent usesulfalene on
of antibiotics prude
in animals: https
amoxicillin spectinomycin formosulfathiazole
ampicillin phthalylsulfathiazole sulfamerazine
metampicillin sulfacetamide sulfamethizole
Anti-staphylococcal penicillins sulfachlorpyridazine sulfamethoxazole
AMEG is the acronym AMEGpenicillins) for EMA's Antimicrobial
is the acronym for EMA's Antimicrobial
(beta-lactamase-resistant Advice Ad
sulfaclozineAdvice Ad Hoc Expertsulfamethoxypyridazine
Group. It brings Hoc
together E
expert
veterinary medicine.
Tetracyclines
They work together
sulfadiazine
veterinary medicine. They work togethersulfadimethoxine to provide guidance
sulfamonomethoxine
to provide guidance on the sulfanilamide
impact on public health of the us on
cloxacillin
chlortetracycline sulfadimidine sulfapyridine
dicloxacillin
doxycycline sulfadoxine sulfaquinoxaline
nafcillin
oxytetracycline sulfafurazole sulfathiazole
oxacillin
tetracycline sulfaguanidine trimethoprim
Full AM
Full AMEG report: https://bit.ly/30ZEuRi
Natural, narrow-spectrum penicillins (beta Cyclic polypeptides Nitroimidazoles
lactamase-sensitive penicillins) bacitracin metronidazole
benzathine benzylpenicillin pheneticillin
benzathine phenoxymethylpenicillin phenoxymethylpenicillin Steroid antibacterials Nitrofuran derivatives
benzylpenicillin procaine benzylpenicillin
fusidic acid furaltadone
penethamate hydriodide
furazolidone
Other factors to consider
The route of administration should be taken into account alongside the categorisation when prescribing antibiotics.
NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTION – Reduce their use in 2021. Find alternatives in category D.
The list below suggests routes of administration and types of formulation ranked from the lowest to the highest estimated
impact on antibiotic resistance.
Local individual treatment (e.g. udder injector, eye or ear drops) 21You can also read
