Latest news with #Lonergan
Agriland
01-06-2025
- Business
- Agriland
Dairy Focus: Keeping breeding simple but effective in Co. Tipperary
At a recent Teagasc/Dairygold farm walk in Co. Tipperary, dairy farmer Mark Lonergan highlighted his breeding performance and how conception rates have been going so far, four weeks into the breeding season. Lonergan is milking 107 cows this year after reducing his cow numbers to bring down his stocking rate so he can match growth rates with demand during the mid-season, cutting down on silage and meal costs. The farm was also up at 250kg organic nitrogen (N)/ha and with an additional 8ac of land being rented and the reduction of cow numbers, the stocking rate last year sat at 206kg N/ha, leaving the farm comfortably stocked. Grassland management and breeding quality replacements was something that Lonergan had clearly prided himself on, as it was evident on the day how shrewd he was at keeping quality grass in front of cows which in turn helps achieve better conception rates. The herd of cows are primarily Holstein Friesian with a hint of Jersey in amongst the herd, as Lonergan used a couple of Jersey straws a couple of years ago. Performance For a primarily black-and-white herd of cows, Lonergan's percentages are very impressive as the cows produced 535kg of milk solids (MS)/cow, averaging 16.81L/cow/day with 4.64% fat and 3.81% protein. This high quality milk accumulated with a somatic cell count (SCC) of 138,000 cells/ml earned him an average milk price of 55.3c/L which is 4.2c/L over the Dairygold average. This milk price was highlighted in detail, as farmers often glance over how much above or beneath the average they are, but the significance of a few cent over was a major topic of discussion on the day. From 2018 to 2024, on average, Lonergan was over the average milk price by 3.3c/L which would have accumulated to €164,759 extra over the average Dairygold milk price throughout the seven years. With an aim of producing an extra 30kg/MS/cow this year with less volume, the projected cumulative value over the eight years is €184,759, which highlights how much a few cents over the average price can accumulate to over a number of years. Currently cows are producing 26L/cow/day at 4.34% fat and 3.68% protein, equating to 2.15kg MS/cow/day off 18kg of grass DM and 2kg of an 11% crude protein (CP) nut. Mark Lonergan's cows out grazing The farm grew 12.6t of grass last year and Lonergan fed 1.4t of meal/cow last year due to the poor grass growing last year as he usually tries feed between 700-800kg of meal cow each year. This growth and production was driven through applying 185kg N/ha -of which 98% was protected urea – applying 63t of lime. All slurry was spread through low emission slurry spreading (LESS), and 35% of the milking platform was in grass-white clover swards. 58% of the soil on the farm has a pH between 6.2 and 6.7, with 79% in index three or four for phosphorus (P) and 78% index three or four for potassium. Lonergan still goes with the 'little but often' approach for lime, as Teagasc dairy specialist, Stuart Childs highlighted that 0.5t/ha of lime will be washed away each year. For clover paddocks, Lonergan hopes to cut back on N application in the next number of weeks, as he is still applying 16-17 units of N/ac on low quantity clover paddocks and just soiled water on higher clover content paddocks. The farmer reseeds about 10% of the farm each year in which all his reseeds include clover and said that he used to over-sow clover but the results were 'hit and miss'. These efficient measures of turning grass into milk solids means that the farm's carbon footprint sits at 0.88kg CO 2 eq per kg of fat and protein corrected milk and nitrogen use efficiency of 29% and a N surplus of 184kg N/ha. Breeding Lonergan expressed that he has been breeding for percentages over the last couple of years while going for a higher maintenance figure, which currently sits at €14. Over the last seven years, the herd's fat % PTA went from 0.13 to 0.18 while the protein % PTA went from 0.08 to 0.13. The bulls that Lonergan has been using over the last few year are generally around 0kg of milk or plus or minus 100kg of milk with 0.2% protein and 0.30% fat. His herd has an average economic breeding index (EBI) of €253 with the 2026 calves predicted to be €292 and the weighted average of his bull team this year is €332. The bull team average 31.3kg of milk solids with -25kg of milk and 0.36% fat and 0.22% protein. Lonergan's collecting yard and drafting system coming from the parlour The calving interval last year was 371 days and Lonergan achieved an 89% six-week calving rate, with all of his heifers calving down within 26 months. Lonergan uses all dairy artificial insemination (AI) in the first 3-3.5 weeks with no over complications as straws are not matched up to each individual cow due to the similarity in bulls used. All the heifers were inseminated on May 8 after a fixed time AI programme and all received sexed semen straws. Lonergan achieved a 67% conception rate with sexed semen on heifers last year and 65% conception rate on cows last year. The Co. Tipperary farmer said he would never go back after using fixed timed AI on heifers for the last couple of years as he said they will all calve around February 9, before the peak of calving season which takes the pressure off. Breeding season for the cows starts on May 1 and only six cows were selected for sexed semen this year. Any cow that comes into heat in the first three weeks will get a conventional dairy straw as this year with over 90% submitted after three weeks. On the farm this year, 47 heifer calves were born, of which Lonergan kept 23 and sold 24, as he wants to ensure that he has an 18% replacement rate in two year's time. The first round of repeats will all receive conventional dairy straws and then Lonergan will use Aberdeen Angus for the rest of the breeding season. Lonergan is happy the way his breeding season works as it is not over complicated and he has repeat customers for Friesian bull calves and his surplus heifer calves. He is waiting for the calves' genomic results to pick the best calves for himself and sells the rest. Lonergan discussing farm performance with Teagasc dairy adviser, Darragh Kelly It is evident that the cows in the herd are well-fed as energy intakes are always maximised through grass utilisation and a small bit of meal which helps with fertility and conception. However, Lonergan highlighted that the Smaxtec bolus has helped immensely with his heat detection and conception rates. He is in his thrid year of having the Smaxtec bolus, which gives data straight from the reticulum, providing information on inner body temperature, rumination, water intake, heat detection, and calving detection, amongst other data. He has found the bolus a great aid in getting cows served at the right times and not missing heats, as well as detecting cows that are sick or have mastitis early before it becomes a problem. Lonergan runs a simple breeding season and overall system which proves very effective, as through doing the basics to a very high standard, he is reaping the rewards through milk production, grass utilisation and fertility performance.
Agriland
29-05-2025
- General
- Agriland
Managing grass quality to pump over 2kg/MS/cow/day in Tipperary
The importance of keeping on top of grass with changing weather cannot be overstated, according to dairy farmer, Mark Lonergan from Rosegreen, Cashel, Co. Tipperary. Lonergan shared how he manages grass quality to drive performance during a Teagasc/Dairygold farm walk today (Thursday, May 29). He discussed all aspects of herd performance, breeding progress and grassland management, but stressed the importance of keeping on top of grass in changing weather patterns. Teagasc dairy advisor, Darragh Kelly, also discussed farm performance with Lonergan who highlighted his new 'comfort' from milking 107 cows instead of a previous 128. According to Lonergan, this has allowed him to get a full three grazing in most of his paddocks, which has increased intakes and has allowed for better cow performance. During the farm walk today, participants heard that the milking platform is stocked at 3.5 cows/ha, which gives him more breathing space when growth rates slow down throughout the summer months. Lonergan also said that he had to reduce his whole farm stocking rate from 2.8 cows/ha down to 2.27 cows/ha due to pressures on fodder. ' I was buying in silage and never had enough silage, and it's hard to grow more than 13t dry matter (DM)/ha,' he said. Grass quality Teagasc dairy specialist, Stuart Childs, also went through the current grass performance on the farm, which is driving the solids production. Lonergan carried out a grass walk last week where he noted that growth rate was 55kg/DM/day but, when he went walking the farm again just a number of days later, growth had shot up to 85kg DM/ha. Overall, much-needed rain in the last week to 10 days on the farm is beginning to kick on grass growth. Currently, the average farm cover (AFC) on the farm is 730kg DM/ha with a 210 kg DM/cow as he has stocked at 3.5 cows/ha now that the silage ground is closed off on the farm, which means demand is up at 65kg DM/day. Mark walks the farm every 4-5 days because previously he got caught during one rotation where he did not walk the farm for seven days, and an 8ac paddock should have been taken out. 'It messed up the rotation, the situation can change very quick,' he shared. Lonergan now aims to keep cover/cow over 170-180kg DM/cow and reckons that growth will be averaging around 70kg DM/day for the next two weeks. 'I've one paddock earmarked to take out in the next few days for bales to stay ahead of quality,' he added Mark's cows grazing quality, lush covers today Cows are performing well due to Lonergan 's persistence in keeping quality ahead of the cows as they are yielding 26L/cow/day with 3.7% protein and 4.3% milk fat, equating to 2.14 kg/MS/day. This production is supported by an 18kg of grass DM allocation per cow and 2kg of a 11% crude protein (CP) nut per cow/day, as he feels there is enough protein in the diet coming from grass which allows him to drop the CP of the dairy nut. He highlighted that he was feeding a 16% nut earlier in the year and the cows were eating up to 4kg/day until the burst of growth at the end of April. Lonergan also pre-mowed about 80% of the last rotation in order to keep ahead of grass quality but to also keep grass in the system as growth rates took a hit due to low moisture in the soil and he did not want to run short by taking out paddocks for bales. He said: 'If I didn't pre mow those paddocks, the cows would have left 20% of the grass in the paddocks'. The farmer also acknowledged that protein did take a hit as the cows were grazing more stem, but said that it would also have taken a hit if he had to feed silage.
Irish Daily Mirror
23-05-2025
- Sport
- Irish Daily Mirror
Mason Melia shines bright but St Pat's are held by Waterford
ST PATRICK'S ATHLETIC 2-2 WATERFORD It's easy to forget at times that Mason Melia is still four months away from his 18th birthday. Then he does things like score his side's second goal of Friday night's entertaining draw with Waterford and it's downright unbelievable that he is still only 17. The St Patrick's Athletic striker had already cancelled out former Saints frontman Tommy Lonergan's early opener when, five minutes later, he scored his sixth of the season. Melia showcased his strength, pace and calmness at the vital moment with a wonderful solo effort to hand his side a lead that was cancelled out nine minutes from time by Conan Noonan. There was a touch of North London rivalry to this one, as the Tottenham-bound Ireland Under-21 striker made light work of former Arsenal prospect James Olayinka. Waterford were on the attack, with Sam Glenfield's attempt to score thwarted by a Joe Redmond block, when Pat's defender Axel Sjoberg hooked the ball clear. It was just Olayinka and Melia in the centre-circle, as everyone else had advanced for a Waterford corner, and the ex-Gunner was closest to the dropping ball. But he miscontrolled and Melia pounced. Even though Olayinka was the last Waterford outfield player back, Melia still had plenty of work to do. But the 17-year-old showed great acceleration and pace to burst past his 24-year-old opponent, and race into the area, where he finished low inside the left-hand post. Melia had already netted his fifth goal of the season - and his third in his last four games - to drag the Saints back into the game. And that was a smart finish too. Before that, Pat's trailed to Lonergan's opener, which came from a comedy of errors at the back as, firstly, captain Joe Redmond headed the ball against the back of teammate Barry Baggley. The ball spilled to Lonergan, his poor touch looked to have closed the opening as Sean Hoare took control, but he too was guilty of a heavy touch and suddenly the ball was at the feet of Grant Horton. His shot was blocked by Sjoberg and Lonergan once again found himself in possession inside the Pat's area. This time he made no mistake, drilling a low shot past Joseph Anang. There were just 80 seconds on the clock at this point and Pat's were all over the place. Hoare blocked a Conan Noonan shot, as the on-loan Shamrock Rovers midfielder caused chaos in the final third. His eighth minute corner was met on the six-yard line by Rowan McDonald, but he directed his free header into the turf and over the bar. Horton and Padraig Amond were then both off-target as the visitors attempted to extend their advantage, while Noonan's spectacular overhead volley was tipped over by Anang. Pat's survived that spell of pressure to level through Melia, who got a toe to Redmond's low shot before Blues defender Darragh Leahy could block the effort, then turned and fired a low drive across goal and inside the left-hand post. It was a great instinctive effort by the teenager, but he did even better to score the lead goal. Melia didn't get to turn his first senior brace into a hat-trick, as he was substituted for Aidan Keena in the 77th minute - and unfortunately for him he didn't get to be the match-winner either. Noonan made sure of that with an excellent finish from the tightest of angles, four minutes after Melia's departure, when he somehow squeezed the ball between Anang and his near post after sub Jesse Dempsey's shot was blocked. There was more bad news on the injury-front for Pat's, as Chris Forrester, just back from a groin injury, was forced off in the 56th minute with a recurrence of the problem. St Patrick's Athletic: Anang 7; Sjoberg 7, Hoare 6, Redmond 6, Breslin 6; Forrester 6 (McLaughlin 56, 6), Baggley 6; Elbouzedi 6, Leavy 6, Mulraney 6 (Power 56, 6); Melia 8. Waterford: McMullan 6; Burke 6, McDonald 6, Leahy 7; Horton 7, Olayinka 6, Glenfield 6, Noonan 8, White 6 (Dempsey 63, 6); Lonergan 7, Amond 6. Referee: Rob Hennessy (Clare). Get the latest sports headlines straight to your inbox by signing up for free email.
RTÉ News
23-05-2025
- Sport
- RTÉ News
Pat's frustrated by impressive Waterford despite Mason Melia magic
St Patrick's Athletic's title ambitions took another blow as they were held by an impressive Waterford at Richmond Park to cap a very damaging week for the hosts. A sensational first half brace from 17-year-old Mason Melia looked to have rescued three points for the Saints who fell behind to Tommy Lonergan's second minute strike before Conan Noonan equalised with ten minutes remaining. Stephen Kenny's side are now nine points adrift of current runaway leaders Shamrock Rovers while Waterford have lost just once in six outings. It took the visitors just 73 seconds to open the scoring and it came through former Saint Lonergan. A hopeful clip forward by Noonan wasn't dealt with by Sean Hoare and after a mini scramble, Lonergan finished smartly from close range. It should have been two for the men from the southeast but the unmarked Rowan McDonald headed Noonan's corner into the ground and over from six yards in the seventh minute. Joseph Anang kept his side in the game as he produced a stunning finger tip save to deny Noonan's acrobatics. Big moments can turn games and when Melia beat Darragh Leahy to pounce on Joe Redmond's shot he finished emphatically to drag his side off of their deathbed and back to life with a fifth goal of the season after 28 minutes. If Melia's first was about instinct then his second four minutes later was a piece of individual brilliance. A long clearance from Redmond was misjudged by Olujimi Olayinka on the halfway line and Melia hunted him down, left the midfielder in his wake and burst through to score and turn the game around for the hosts. St Pat's, who were not at the races for half an hour, suddenly led at the break, their title ambitions resting on the shoulders of a seventeen-year-old sensation. The Saints were much livelier at the start of the second half and Mulraney clipped the post with a free kick just after the restart. Waterford continued to be a threat from set plays with Noonan's corners causing havoc in the Pats defence, as Lonergan's header tested Anang. The tenacious Barry Baggley had one of his best games for Pats against his former side and he teed up Simon Power who curled a shot narrowly wide after the hour. Now without a clean sheet in five games, Pats' porous defence gave up chances from Noonan's deliveries, this time an outswinging free kick was glanced wide by Amond. Noonan proved a menace with both feet and Richmond Park gasped when Sean Hoare flicked his corner against his own post in the 73rd minute. Noonan got the goal his performance deserved with ten minutes to go and also did his parent club, Shamrock Rovers, a favour. Substitute Jesse Dempsey had a shot blocked and the ball broke to Noonan who fired home to secure his side a point. St Patrick's Athletic: Joseph Anang, Sean Hoare, Joe Redmond, Zach Elbouzedi, Chris Forrester (McLaughlin 57), Mason Melia (Keena 76), Kian Leavy (McClelland 74), Barry Baggley, Jake Mulraney (Power 57), Carl Sjoberg
The Irish Sun
02-05-2025
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
Tommy Lonergan keeps Waterford revival going as he inspires win over Bohemians in Premier DIvision clash
TOMMY LONERGAN made an assist before scoring a cracking winner to end Bohemians' resurgence. The hitman's sharp work up front kept Waterford's own revival going as the managerless club made it back-to-back victories. 2 Waterford beat Bohemians Credit: Michael P Ryan/Sportsfile 2 James Olayinka, bottom, scored their first goal at Dalymount Park Credit: Michael P Ryan/Sportsfile Caretaker Matt Lawlor guided them to victory over Derry City last time out and they dug in here for a gutsy away win. Gypsies' Bohs were the better side in the first half but went in behind. Read More on League of Ireland First their 43rd-minute penalty claim was not entertained when Jordan Flores looked to have been upended by Grant Horton. Bohs did not clear their lines as a deft touch from Lonergan found midfielder James Olayinka in space . The 24-year-old Londoner took a controlling touch before rifling a low drive from distance into the bottom corner for his first goal for the club. Most read in Football Bohs' response from the restart was pretty immediate as they were level within three minutes. Kyle White was yellow-carded for a clumsy challenge on Tierney with Flores meeting Dayle Rooney's flighted free-kick to the far post. Cork City fans watch League of Ireland clash against Dundalk in cinema And though his header came back off an upright, the ensuing scramble saw Blues defender Darragh Leahy get the final touch for an own goal. Level-pegging lasted 15 minutes, though, as sloppy defending gifted Waterford the chance to regain the lead. Defender Seán Grehan stretched to get a touch on White's cross with the ball rebounding off the chest of goalie Kacper Chorazka. Lonergan pounced to collect the loose ball, get turned and blast his shot to the roof of the net. SUN STAR MAN Tommy Lonergan (Waterford) BOHEMIANS : Chorazka 7; Grehan 7, Cornwall 6 (Mousset 74, 6), Flores 7; Morahan 6, Buckley 6 (McManus 66, 6), Devoy 7, Rooney 7; Tierney 7; Clarke 6 (Brennan 66, 7), Whelan 7. WATERFORD : McMullan 7; Radkowski 7, Leahy 7, Burke 7; Horton 7, Glenfield 6 (McMenamy 74, 6), Noonan 6, Olayinka 7, White 6 (Dempsey 90+6, 6); Lonergan 8 (Pouwels 90, 6), Amond 6. REFEREE : G Colfer (Wicklow) 6.
