Beef
Grange Maternal Herd update: 88% submitted for AI in the first 21 days of breeding
The Teagasc Grange Maternal Herd consists of 90 cows made up of Limousin x Simmental or Simmental x Limousin cows. The herd calves from the first week of February to the end of April.
10 June 2023
How to produce high Commercial Beef Value calves
On many dairy farms, the decision of what beef bull to use on cows is often based on having a very low calving difficulty, along with having as short a gestation as possible.
07 June 2023
Parasite control - what do I need to dose for?
Natascha Meunier from Animal Health Ireland is on this week’s Beef Edge podcast to discuss parasite control, managing resistance on farms and the Targeted Advisory Service on Animal Health (TASAH).
07 June 2023
Under 16 month bulls - a profitable system that suits Future Beef farmer Wesley Browne
Wesley Browne farms full time in Leagh, Dunraymond, three miles outside Monaghan town. Farming 58ha of grassland, which is fragmented into three main grazing blocks, the soil type can be described as heavy drumlin, which is typical of the area.
07 June 2023
Managing through the dry spell on drystock farms - your questions answered
As parts of the country are now entering significant soil moisture deficits, the Teagasc Future Beef Programme has prepared a technical note which answers farmers’ questions on managing through the current dry spell.
06 June 2023
Overcoming one of the biggest barriers to dairy beef profits
If someone was to list the main reasons for low levels of profit in a dairy-beef system, a debate about beef sire genetics, cow type, calf price and the cost of the main inputs - such as meal, fertiliser and milk replacer - would ensue.
05 June 2023
Achieving animal performance targets at pasture
Irish beef production is largely pasture-based where collectively grazed and conserved pasture account for almost 90% of the lifetime feed consumption.
04 June 2023
Focusing on sustainability at Newford
Attendees at last week’s open day at Newford farm were told of a number of measures that have been implemented on the farm in recent years to improve sustainability and the farm’s carbon footprint.
03 June 2023
Putting clover to work on Future Beef farms
Along with supporting increased levels of animal performance, the inclusion of clover – both red and white – in silage and grazing swards can reduce a farm’s dependency on chemical nitrogen.
02 June 2023
Early weaning and clover incorporation in action at Newford
The performance achieved from grazed grass offers economic benefits to beef farmers, attendees at last week’s Newford Suckler Open Day heard. However, to maintain quality and performance, grass must be managed correctly.
01 June 2023
Shane Keaveney’s breeding season and farm update
Roscommon Future Beef Farmer Shane Keaveney is on this week’s Beef Edge podcast to discuss the breeding season to date and to give an update on the farm.
31 May 2023
Artificial insemination: Proven, practical and profitable
Three-quarters of all calves born in suckler herds are from stock bulls (ICBF). By not using AI, a lot of farmers are missing out on access to the best genetics at a lower cost than maintaining a stock bull, explains Gabriel Trayers, Teagasc Future Beef Programme Advisor.
31 May 2023
Dosing cattle - habit or necessity?
Aidan Murray, Teagasc Beef Specialist, offers advice on dosing and questions do farmers need to change their dosing practices.
31 May 2023
How’s the breeding season progressing for Future Beef Programme farmers?
Aisling Molloy, Future Beef Programme Advisor, outlines how the breeding season is progressing for some of the farmers enrolled in the Future Beef Programme.
30 May 2023
Watch: Missed the Newford Suckler Open Day?
Hundreds of farmers travelled west earlier this week for the Newford Suckler Open Day, where they learned of the changes and lessons learned since the project was initially set up in 2015.
28 May 2023
The story so far for the Tipperary Calf to Beef Demo Farm
The Tipperary Calf to Beef Demonstration Farm – trading as Ballyvadin Beef Farm Ltd. – was established by Teagasc, in conjunction with Dawn Meats and Shinagh Estates Ltd., to demonstrate the best technologies for profitable and sustainable production of beef calves from the dairy herd.
27 May 2023
Ensuring the successful transition to grass with dairy-beef calves
The busy calf rearing period is coming to an end on dairy calf to beef farms around the country. In this article, Teagasc DairyBeef 500 Advisor Tommy Cox looks at how to minimise setbacks when transitioning calves from indoor to outdoor life.
24 May 2023
What will impact silage quality this year?
Teagasc Grass10 advisor, Joseph Dunphy, is on this week’s episode of the Beef Edge podcast to discuss grazing management on farms at the moment and the dos and don’ts when it comes to harvesting silage.
24 May 2023
Watch: 100% AI and a 10-week breeding season delivering for Newford
Some may be fazed by the thoughts of using 100% artificial insemination (AI) on a fragmented suckler farm. However, this was certainly not the case and in fact the direct opposite for Newford based on the breeding performance of the herd.
23 May 2023
An overview of Newford and the financial performance being achieved
Newford welcomed visitors today, where the changes that have occurred since the farm was established were discussed at detail. Padraig French and Paul Crosson, Teagasc, along with Matthew Murphy, Dawn Meats, provided an overview and discussed the levels of profitability being achieved.
23 May 2023
Watch: Optimising animal performance to achieve a younger age of slaughter at Newford
Attendees at today's open day at Newford heard how a focus on grassland management, genetics and optimising animal performance is resulting in a reduction in slaughter age.
23 May 2023
Earlier finishing reduces GHG Emissions in Newford beef herd
Farmers attending a successful Newford Suckler beef demonstration farm open day in Athenry today, Tuesday, 23 May learned of the changes and lessons learned since the project was initially set up in 2015.
23 May 2023
Angus calf five-point sustainable production plan - from Croke Park to the Ploughing
In the quest for more sustainable beef production, four students from the Mercy Secondary School Kilbeggan, Westmeath have developed a five-point sustainable farm plan in combination with rearing Angus animals.
22 May 2023
Proinnsias Creedon Future Beef Farm Update
Proinnsias farms with his wife Máire and sons Ciarán, Aodhán and Diarmuid. The farm is located in Barrathanaknock, Clondrohid, Macroom, Co. Cork. Here Aisling Molloy, Future Beef Programme Advisor, gives us an update on his farm.
22 May 2023
Building winter feed reserves with Future Beef farmers Eamon and Donnchadh McCarthy
Eamon McCarthy and his son Donnchadh are farming in Carrigeen, Glendine, Youghal, Co. Waterford. Both work part-time on the farm. Here Aisling Molloy, Future Beef Programme Advisor, gives us an update on nutrition and performance on their farm.
21 May 2023
The factors affecting bull fertility
David Kenny, Teagasc Animal & Grassland Research and Innovation Centre, Grange, Co. Meath, reports on some of the factors affecting the fertility of bulls.
21 May 2023
Come see what is new at Newford suckler farm
The Newford suckler farm is a suckler calf-to-beef demonstration unit located in Athenry, Co. Galway. The farm was established by Teagasc and Dawn Meats, with the support of the Irish Farmers Journal and McDonald’s in 2015.
20 May 2023
Controlling docks with Future Beef farmer Michael McGuigan
Michael McGuigan has worked hard to control docks on his farm. Docks are the major weed of intensively-managed grassland. Despite the best efforts of many farmers to control them, their persistence is stubborn and unyielding.
19 May 2023
Ticking the beef breeding boxes down Wicklow way
Located just outside Aughrim, Co. Wicklow, John Pringle operates a mixed suckler and sheep farm on 62.48ha of grassland. The suckler herd consists of 45 mainly Simmental-sired cows, while a lowland flock of 225 ewes are also carried.
19 May 2023
Reminder: Deadline for SCEP applications approaching
Applications to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine’s Suckler Carbon Efficiency Programme (SCEP) will close early next week.
18 May 2023