Brian McDonnell

Brian McDonnell Profile Picture

Technical Dairy Specialist

Brian McDonnell is from Raheny, Co. Dublin. He has an honours degree in Sustainable Agriculture from Dundalk IT. He has worked on dairy and beef farms in both Ireland and the UK, including Teagasc Grange and a large-scale 650-cow dairy farm which also had a 1,200 animal youngstock-rearing farm in Scotland. He has a keen interest in agriculture and particularly the dairy sector and in his spare time is active in local rugby and golf.

Watch: Lely Exos in action on Dutch dairy farm

Dairy

Watch: Lely Exos in action on Dutch dairy farm

The Lely Exos is the first autonomous machine that can harvest and feed grass to cows on farms up to...
Farmers must ‘adapt’ to survive warns Lely CEO

Dairy

Farmers must ‘adapt’ to survive warns Lely CEO

Farmers in some countries are praised as “the guardians of nature”, but in others are seen as the “destroyers of...
Samuri second calver tops the trade at Taaffe Auctions sale

N.Ireland

Samuri second calver tops the trade at Taaffe Auctions sale

Taaffe Auctions conducted the final of its spring sales on Wednesday (May 3), with around 100 milking stock and 22...
Holstein bull sells for 9,000gns at Kilrea Mart

N.Ireland

Holstein bull sells for 9,000gns at Kilrea Mart

A 14-month-old pedigree Holstein Friesian bull achieved a record sale price at Kilrea Mart on Tuesday (May 2). The bull...
Keeping lameness under control ahead of breeding

N.Ireland

Keeping lameness under control ahead of breeding

Lameness is an ongoing issue on many dairy farms. Despite control measures, cases will still occur. It is much later...
Emerald Expo title goes to Co. Wexford breeders

N.Ireland

Emerald Expo title goes to Co. Wexford breeders

The Emerald Expo returned to the Virginia Show Centre in Co. Cavan for 2023, with breeders from across Ireland and...
Dairy advice: Not a year for passengers

N.Ireland

Dairy advice: Not a year for passengers

A reduction in milk prices, along with production costs remaining high, has meant that dairy farmers need to look at...
Using a synchronisation programme on late calvers

N.Ireland

Using a synchronisation programme on late calvers

There are late calvers on every farm and when breeding gets underway, the question arises whether they should be kept,...
Prices reach 3,800gns at Taaffe Auctions’ monthly sale

N.Ireland

Prices reach 3,800gns at Taaffe Auctions’ monthly sale

Taaffe Auctions conducted its 140th Carnaross dairy sale at Carnaross Mart with 170 head on offer at Co. Meath-based mart...
Dairy Focus: Milking 240 cows with 4 GEA robots in Antrim

N.Ireland

Dairy Focus: Milking 240 cows with 4 GEA robots in Antrim

For this week’s Dairy Focus, Agriland made the trip to Co. Antrim to meet with Conor Casey on his dairy farm near...
New Irish records set at Greenlawn sale

N.Ireland

New Irish records set at Greenlawn sale

The Greenlawn herd held its annual sale on Saturday (February 25), with a number of new Irish sale records achieved...
Greenlawn herd to offer first Parfect-sired heifer at auction in Ireland

N.Ireland

Greenlawn herd to offer first Parfect-sired heifer at auction in Ireland

A heifer calf from the Greenlawn herd that was sired by Siemers Rengd Parfect-ET is among the animals on offer...
In pictures: Taaffe Auctions’ 139th Carnaross dairy sale

N.Ireland

In pictures: Taaffe Auctions’ 139th Carnaross dairy sale

Taaffe Auctions conducted its 139th Carnaross dairy sale on Wednesday (February 16) at Carnaross Mart, with 90 freshly calved heifers...
Increasing the saleability of non-replacement calves this spring

N.Ireland

Increasing the saleability of non-replacement calves this spring

There has been, and will continue to be, an increased focus on the quality of non-replacement calves from dairy herds....
Dairy advice: Making cows identifiable to avoid mistakes

N.Ireland

Dairy advice: Making cows identifiable to avoid mistakes

Making cows identifiable is important as dairy farmers make their final preparations for a return to milk production in 2023....
DSM event: UK government policy is to produce more milk

N.Ireland

DSM event: UK government policy is to produce more milk

Many dairy farmers within the European Union (EU) feel as if they are being encouraged, or pushed by policy, to...
Feeding colostrum to calves: Teat or tube?

N.Ireland

Feeding colostrum to calves: Teat or tube?

Farmers are well aware of the importance of feeding calves high-quality colostrum within the first few hours of life. However,...
Fonterra moves to stop calf slaughtering on farms

Dairy

Fonterra moves to stop calf slaughtering on farms

Fonterra updated it terms of supply to stop the practice of calf slaughtering on farms for non-replacement animals unless there...
New Jobs Agrirecruit Farming Jobs
See More Jobs