December 2022                                                                                                                                                                 Eoin O’Brien (Sales Manager)

Grass silage, made from fermented grass, is the most popular source of feed for livestock farmers during the winter months. Grasses and pasture crops, like maize or rye, are cut, fermented, compressed, and kept until they are needed to be fed to lives

With Christmas only a few weeks away, we would like to take this opportunity to thank all our customers for their business during 2022, and to let you all know of our operating arrangements over the holiday period.

Click Here Our laboratory arrangements for Christmas and New Year.

For any enquiries, or to book in your samples, please speak to your usual contact in IAS Laboratories.

There are about 50 thoroughbred horses per 10,000 people in Ireland. This staggering number is far more than most racing nations, and 10 times higher than in the UK, France, and the US. The Irish horse racing industry is worth €1 billion per annum, and so keeping horses strong, healthy, and happy is incredibly important to the Irish economy. Selenium imbalance in horse diets can have worrying consequences.

Selenium is an essential trace element for many animals, including horses, cows, and humans. It is an vital component of many enzymes and proteins that serve to make DNA, protect against infections and cel

IAS Laboratories launches CarbonCheck service

IAS Laboratories has launched CarbonCheck, a comprehensive soil carbon testing service for farmers and their advisors across Ireland. This service will help Irish farmers and growers measure, monitor, and benchmark their soil health and carbon levels to accurately assess progress on their carbon journey.

‘The Irish government is encouraging farmers to put soil carbon, soil health, and fertility at the centre of the country’s agriculture,’ said Eoin O’Brien, Head of Sales at IAS. ‘Ireland has committed to a 51% reduction in emissions by the end of this decade.

August 2022 – 5 Ways to tell if your water is safe to drink.

Do you have a private water supply? Then it’s your responsibility to ensure it is safe to drink.

As private sources are not regulated, local authorities leave testing drinking water quality in the hands of the homeowner. If it’s not suitable for consumption or there is an issue with your supply, you will not be informed. So, testing your water to identify any contamination is vital.

There are 5 ways to tell if your water is safe to drink, or whether you need to have it treated. Read on to find out about the dangers of bacteria and other contaminants in drinking water,

One of the most expensive days in the Irish farming calendar is when the silage contractor rolls into the yard. Rising costs mean that this very important day is now more significant than ever. Farmers must ensure that the highest quality silage is made for the winter months ahead, especially as purchased feed prices continue to soar.

Read on to find out more about the importance of good quality silage, 5 top tips on growing silage, and how IAS can help.

All life on Earth depends on water. Whether it’s used for drinking, domestic use, food production, or recreational purposes, safe and readily available water is essential for public health. However, not everyone has access to clean water, and while it may not smell, taste, or look different, it may still pose a health risk.

Did you know that if you have a private water supply, it is your responsibility to ensure that your drinking water is safe to drink? Read on to find out about the importance of high-quality drinking water, the increased risk that arises from having a private supply, the best time to test your water, and what IAS can do to help.

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20th April 2022

Independent Analytical Supplies (IAS), leading Irish agricultural and environmental testing laboratory, has a solution for farmers wanting to increase efficiency in response to soaring fertiliser and supplement prices. IAS Laboratories has a proud tradition helping Irish farmers overcome these issues for more than a quarter of a century.

‘Accurate, reliable data is essential in driving efficient farming practices, particularly in light of recent challenges livestock farmers are facing,’ said Michael Hogan, Technical Advisor ‘Fertiliser prices have soared to €1,200 per tonne, making it far more expensive to grow nutritious grass

In February 2022 IAS Laboratories has become part of the Cawood Scientific Group.

The UK’s largest specialist provider of analytical laboratory testing services for the land-based industries.
With multiple sites worldwide, Cawood will allow us to grow and invest in our capabilities and capacity with the backing of the wider group.

IAS Laboratory will continue to grow and develop from our Co. Carlow base while working closely with the Cawood team to maintain our reputation for high quality and efficient service, and to build both businesses to meet customer demand.

This acquisition provides Cawood Scientific a base in the Republic of Ireland to s

December 2021

IAS Laboratories are seeking Soil Samplers across Ireland for farm level sampling programmes

IAS laboratories is one of Irelands leading independent Agricultural Laboratories, who carry out soil sampling programmes throughout Ireland.

We are looking for reliable, self-driven people who know the agriculture sector and can operate in their own region. Own vehicle essential.

Full training and equipment will be suppl

Carlow based IAS Laboratories are to partner with NRM Laboratories and Farmeye in an innovative €10m pilot Soil Sampling and Analysis Programme. As a result of this contract the company, who are head-quartered in Bagenalstown, will be taking on additional eight staff.

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue, announced the programme last week.
It is aimed at putting soil carbon, soil health and fertility at the centre of the future agricultural model.
Minister McConalogue said that the programme would provide national baseline information on soils across Irish farms.
“As well as the soil fertility and soil pathogen assess

Mineral deficiencies and imbalances impact on herd performance under three broad categories:

1. Reduced fertility performance: silent heats, reduced conception rates, re-absorption, abortions, tetany, milk fever etc.
2. Reduced thrive and immunity
3. Structural problems such as poor hoof quality.

Grass and milk analysis are essential tools in diagnosing and quantifying the background mineral levels on a farm.

IAS Grass Mineral Test

IAS Laboratories have been testing Drinking Water for over 30 years, and in that time come across many of the issues households experience in poor quality drinking waters. IAS laboratories test drinking waters for our basic Health Check Scan which includes Bacteria, Chemical, Metals and nuisance all in accordance with the European Union Drinking Water Regulations 2014 legislation. IAS Laboratory is an accredited Lab with INAB to international standards ISO17025.

The quality of Drinking Waters have been in the news in recent weeks (February 2021), when the EPA released the Drinking Water Quality in Private Supplies 2019 report where over 6% of t

IAS Laboratories have been involved with a recent study carried out by Dublin City University on the public perceptions of water quality in Ireland. An in-depth study and analysis on the perceptions of the general public on their water supply was carried out by academics and scientists in DCU. Some of the key findings included that participants had a lack of trust in public and private assessments of water quality. The study found that the responsibility was viewed as something which should be shared between communities and state agencies, and effective communication by independent testing companies could lead to more satisfactory engagement between public

The Environmental Protection Agency have issued a statement warning of the risk posed by untested drinking water. They refer specifically to E.coli which is normally a strong indication of faecal contamination of water.
This can cause severe gastrointestinal illness and is a particularly strong risk to infants or immunocompromised individuals.

The report focuses specifically on small businesses, schools, hotels etc.

If your business has a private well for drinking water, IAS can carry out bacterial and chemical analysis and alert
you to any hazards if present.