DairyBeef 500 Events
Upcoming DairyBeef 500 Events
DairyBeef 500 Farm Walk – Peter O’Hanrahan
Thursday, 4th September | 6pm | Kilkenny
Join us on Thursday, 4th September at 6pm for a DairyBeef 500 Farm Walk on the farm of Peter O’Hanrahan, Kiljames, Thomastown, Co. Kilkenny, R95 N25H.
On the evening, all aspects of the O’Hanrahan’s dairy calf to beef system will be on full display.
Event outline
The introduction stand, will outline Peter’s calf to beef system where all physical and financial performance details will be discussed. Attendees will have the opportunity to see the spring 2025 calves grazing in the adjoining field and get a run down on the rearing and management of these calves following turnout to grass earlier in the summer.
Stand two will outline how Peter aims to maximise grass production on his farm. Topics addressed here will look at his grazing infrastructure, paddock layout and how grazing at the correct grass covers allows for maximum animal performance. Yearling animals will be on display here.
Stop three on the night will be in the farmyard, where a factory procurement manager will handle steers and demonstrate what are the key areas of note when selecting animals for slaughter. Also, all in attendance will see the handling unit facility where the O’Hanrahan’s can easily handle large groups of cattle safely and labour efficiently.
The final stand on the night will take place in the recently built finishing shed. The nutrition requirements and finishing diets of the finishing steers will be discussed along with information on the animal health program for the winter period.
Attendees will have an opportunity to see a well-functioning farmyard in operation, where a recently constructed double silage pit and purpose built calf shed will be on view.
Teagasc advisors, specialists and DairyBeef 500 stakeholders will be available on the night for interactive discussion and to answer all questions that arise. There will be a lot of valuable information and experiences to be shared on the night and anyone with an interest in dairy calf to beef system should feel free to attend. We look forward to welcoming you on the night.
This event is free to attend and there is no registration required.
Previous Events
DairyBeef 500 Farm Walk – Charlie & Charles Smyth
Thursday, 10 July 2025 | Cavan
On Thursday, 10 July, Charlie and Charles Smyth, Virginia, Co. Cavan hosted a farm walk where all aspects of a dairy calf to beef farm in action was on full display.
Since Charlie joined the Dairybeef 500 campaign he has demonstrated his open mindedness and ambition to improve profitability and performance on his farm. By focusing on calf rearing, grassland management and silage quality to reduce inputs and age of slaughter a steady improvement has been made.
Charlie recently begun to use some higher quality beef sires, identified from the Commercial Beef Value (CBV), a tool which will bring more confidence to beef farmers that they can source calves that are of superior genetic merit in terms of carcass weight and conformation than the average dairy beef calf.
View the booklet from the event here
DairyBeef 500 Webinar Series 2024 – 2025
The Teagasc DairyBeef 500 team hosted two webinars on Thursday, 5 December 2024 and Thursday 16 January 2025. The first webinar focused on Preparing your Calves for Sale in 2025 and the second webinar looked at Sourcing and Finishing of High Quality Dairy Beef Animals. Watch back the webinars below.
Preparing your calves for sale in 2025 – Night 1
5 December 2024
The first in a series of two webinars hosted by the DairyBeef 500 team along with industry stakeholders and programme farmers took place on Thursday, 5 December. The focus of the webinar was on preparing your calves for sale in 2025.
This event covered essential topics such as preparing cows for calving to maximise calf health, best practices for producing high-quality dairy beef calves, and how to prepare your farm for a compact calving season and the successful sale of healthy calves. The importance of putting a breeding plan into action to produce high-quality replacement heifers and dairy beef calves was also discussed.
Watch webinar recording below
Agenda
- Preparing the cow in advance of the calving season to maximise calf health
Emma Sargent, Ruminant Veterinary Area Manager, MSD Animal Health - How does a dairy farmer prepare their farm for a compact calving and successful sale of healthy calves ?
Stuart Childs, Teagasc dairy specialist - Putting a breeding plan in action to produce high quality replacement heifers and dairy beef calves?
Alan Twomey, Dairy and Beef Geneticist, Munster Bovine - Panel Discussion followed by a Q&A
Chair – Alan Dillon, DairyBeef 500 Programme Manager
Panellists- Emma Sargent, MSD Animal Health
- Stuart Childs, Teagasc Dairy Specialist
- Alan Twomey, Munster Bovine
Sourcing and finishing of high quality dairy beef animals – Night 2
16 January 2025
The second in a series of two webinars hosted by the DairyBeef 500 team along with industry stakeholders and programme farmers took place on Thursday, 16 January. The focus of the webinar was on sourcing and finishing dairy beef animals in 2025.
With many calves arriving on dairy farms in the coming weeks, many of these calves will be moved and reared on specialist dairy calf to beef rearing farms.
On this webinar Chris Daly, ICBF demonstrated how beef farmers can ensure that they are buying a good quality calf with good genetics that has the ability to grow and maximise performance. Using the ICBF HerdPlus tool, Chris outlined the key figures in the Commercial Beef Value (CBV) of the calves to look out for when sourcing calves from the dairy herd this spring.
A short video of programme farmer James O’Sullivan from West Cork, outlined his farming system and how using the Commercial Beef Value when sourcing his calves has helped him improve carcass weights and thereby profitability on his farm.
Teagasc Nutrition Specialist, Aisling Claffey outlined the key factors in finishing steers and heifers out of the shed this spring in order to maximise intake and improve animal performance, to ensure optimum carcass weights at the correct fat score.
Finally, an open and interactive panel discussion with Chris, James and Aisling, chaired by Teagasc DairyBeef 500 programme manager Alan Dillon, addressed questions posed by the audience on the night.
Watch webinar recording below
DairyBeef 500 Farm Walks – 2024
Thursday, 5th September | 6pm | Meath
Topics covered on the day included:
- The farm system and financial details
- Calf sourcing policy and how Aidan has built of a relationship with a local dairy farm to source calves. This dairy farmer will also be in attendance to talk about the integration between the two enterprises
- Grassland infrastructure and management tips for maximum performance
View the booklet from the farm walk here
Tuesday, 7th May | 6pm | Kildare
Farm of Peter Byrne, Newtown, Castledermot, Co. Kildare. Eircode: R14 R763.
Topics discussed included:
- DairyBeef 500, farm system/farm financials
- Grassland management & reducing chemical nitrogen through white clover incorporation
- Planning for silage & building a fodder reserve
- Transitioning calves to grass and parasite control
View booklet from the farm walk here
Tuesday, 27th February | Cork
Farm of James O’Sullivan, Myross, Union Hall, Co. Cork.
Tuesday, 5th March | Donegal
Farm of Gareth Peoples, Tullyannan Glebe, Co. Donegal.
Topics that were discussed included:
- DairyBeef 500 – Farm system/farm financials
- Calf management/Calf feeding
- Spring grassland management and Signpost Programme
- Planning for silage and weed control
View booklet from the farm walks here
Tipperary Dairy Beef Demonstration Farm Open Day
The Tipperary Dairy Calf to Beef Demonstration Farm, a joint initiative between Dawn Meats, Shinagh Estates and Teagasc, was established to demonstrate best practice in breeding, rearing and finishing dairy-beef animals.
On Wednesday, 10 July at 11am an Open Day took place on the farm at Ballyvadin, Fethard, Co. Tipperary, E91 E0X3. The theme of the event – ‘Dairy-Beef Integration’.
View the farm walk booklet here
Topics discussed included:
- Farm System & Economics
- Grange – genetics and nutrition around factory spec (Animals on display – selecting for finishing)
- Calf sourcing/ sire selection (Animals on display – genetics demo)
- Calf rearing & health
- Grass management for herd performance
- ASSAP/Signpost Programme (roadway/water quality demo)
- Grass Demo
- DairyBeef 500
DairyBeef 500 Webinars 2024
The DairyBeef 500 team organised two webinars which took place on Tuesday, 16th January and Tuesday, 30th January. The first webinar focused on Preparation for Calf Rearing in 2024, while the second webinar focused on Sourcing and Feeding Dairy Beef Calves in 2024.
Preparation for Calf Rearing in 2024
Tuesday, 16th January | 8pm
In preparation of calves arriving on farm in the coming weeks, the focus of this webinar was on health and housing.
Martin Kavanagh, Munster Bovine gave useful advice and tips on the requirements of a good calf shed and how to maximise performance.
Sarah Higgins, MSD Animal Health looked at keeping the calf healthy during the rearing period and gave guidance on vaccination protocols for different disease risks.
Peter O’Hanrahan, one of the DairyBeef500 programme farmers from Co. Kilkenny outlined his farming system and described his calf rearing facilities and how he manages to keep his calves healthy through the rearing phase.
Watch webinar recording below
Topics and speakers included:
- Preparing the calf housing for rearing
Martin Kavanagh, MVB Cert DHH, Business Development Manager, Munster Bovine
Areas covered included: Pen size; Floor/ canopy/ draught protection; Ventilation etc. - Keeping the calf health during the rearing phase
Sarah Higgins MVB MRCVS CertAVP, Ruminant & Equine Veterinary Manager, MSD Animal Health
Area covered included: Vaccination protocol; Treating a scouring calf
The presentations were followed by a panel discussion, chaired by Alan Dillon, DairyBeef 500 Programme Manager, Teagasc.
Panellists included:
- Martin Kavanagh, Business Development Manager, Munster Bovine
- Sarah Higgins, Ruminant & Equine Veterinary Manager, MSD Animal Health
- Peter O’Hanrahan, DairyBeef 500 Programme Farmer
Sourcing and Feeding Dairy Beef Calves in 2024
Tuesday, 30th January | 8pm
With many calves arriving on dairy farms in the coming weeks, many of these calves will be moved and reared on specialist dairy calf to beef rearing farms. This webinar focused on sourcing and feeding of these dairy bred calves this spring.
Tommy Cox, Teagasc DairyBeef 500 programme advisor, looked at the whole area of sourcing calves and what farmers require in a good calf at purchase. He also gave an insight into the new Commercial Beef Value tool that is now available to select calves based on their genetic potential.
Eric Driver, Tullow mart manager, spoke to Fergal Maguire, Teagasc DairyBeef 500 programme advisor about how the new Commercial Beef Value would work at mart level and gave his opinions on how this would play out in the calf market.
Liam Gannon, Volac gave an overview of what specifications are required in a good milk replacer and he also outlined the advantages and disadvantages of teat and automatic milk feeders.
Charlie Smyth, DairyBeef 500 programme participant from Co. Cavan outlined his farming system and described how he selects calves to purchase and how he feeds them through the rearing phase.
Watch webinar recording below
Topics and speakers included:
- Sourcing dairy beef calves in 2024
Tommy Cox, DairyBeef 500 Programme Advisor, Teagasc
Areas to be covered include: Different avenues to source calves – Farm to farm/Marts/Agents; What to look for in a calf – Weight for age / Commercial Beef Value (CBV) / health indicators - Feeding the dairy beef calf
Liam Gannon, Volac
Areas to be covered include: Specifications of a good milk replacer; Straw/Concentrate /Water; Teat feeder versus automatic
The presentations were followed by a panel discussion, chaired by Fergal Maguire, DairyBeef 500 Programme Advisor, Teagasc.
Panellists included:
- Tommy Cox, DairyBeef 500 Programme Advisor, Teagasc
- Liam Gannon, Volac
- Charlie Smyth, DairyBeef 500 Programme Farmer
Winter Herd Management Online Event 2023
Thursday, 26th October | 8pm | Online
A DairyBeef 500 ‘Winter Herd Management’ online event took place on Thursday, 26th October, in association with AgriLand. The webinar was chaired by Briefne O’Brien, Technical Beef Specialist, AgriLand and featured Alan Dillon, Teagasc DairyBeef 500 Programme Manager; Cara Sheridan, MSD Animal Health Ireland Technical Vet; and Aidan Maguire, DairyBeef 500 programme farmer.
Alan Dillon presented on feeding and non-feed factors at housing, covering topics such as feeding levels for different quality silages and non feed factors.
Cara Sheridan presented on health at housing, covering topics such as vaccinations and parasite control pre and post housing.
A panel discussion took place at the end of the webinars, which featured Alan Dillon, Cara Sheridan and Aidan Maguire.
Watch webinar recording below