Beef
Top tips on managing the suckler cow - pre and during calving
In the first of a two-part series, Teagasc Researcher and vet, John Donlon joins the Beef Edge podcast to give his insights and top tips in relation to managing the cow before and at calving.
07 February 2024
Future Beef farmers take opportunity to commence grazing
Aisling Molloy, Future Beef Programme Advisor, asks: Is there an opportunity for you to save feed, save money and increase performance by letting stock out on your farm? She also provides an update from Ger McSweeney's farm in Co. Cork.
07 February 2024
Hedge and Tree Planting Requirements for ACRES Tranche 1
Martina Donnelly, B&T Drystock Adviser, Teagasc Galway/Clare, tells us that many farmers have now begun preparing for their tree and hedge planting options under ACRES, and explains the hedge and tree planting requirements of the scheme.
05 February 2024
What do dairy-beef farmers want in potential calves?
Purchasing decisions made on calf to beef farms in the coming weeks can have positive or negative impacts on the level of performance achieved throughout the animal’s life cycle and the resulting profit returned from the venture.
02 February 2024
Further flexibility granted for SCEP herds
Further flexibility has been granted for participants in the Suckler Carbon Efficiency Programme (SCEP) whose herds may be impacted by the ICBF evaluation changes which came into effect on November 28, 2023.
01 February 2024
Completing a profit monitor
Catherine Egan, host of the Beef Edge podcast and Ciarán Lynch from Teagasc’s Ovicast sheep podcast discuss financial management tips on drystock farms with Teagasc Financial Specialist, Kevin Connolly.
31 January 2024
Keeping calves healthy as calf rearing kicks off
In recent years over four hundred thousand calves are traded annually between dairy and beef farmers around the country. With calving in full swing on dairy farms, the coming weeks will see large numbers of calves move between both enterprises. Tommy Cox tells us how to keep calves healthy.
31 January 2024
Farmers urged to prioritise safety at calving
With data from the HSA showing that attacks by a cow with a calf account for a third of all livestock fatalities and cows with calves were involved in more fatal incidents than bulls over the 10-year period of 2014-2023, farmers have been urged to prioritise safety during the busy calving season.
30 January 2024
How to source the right calf
Starting well is half the battle when buying and rearing calves for beef. Tommy Cox, Teagasc DairyBeef500, spoke with Olivia and Keith Lowry who gave their best tips and advice for sourcing calves.
28 January 2024
Check list to prepare for purchasing calves
Alan Dillon, DairyBeef500 campaign manager, writes about the most important considerations when preparing for purchasing calves.
27 January 2024
Farmers encouraged to carefully manage their winter-feed requirements
An online meeting of the National Fodder and Food Security Committee (NFFSC) took place Wednesday, 24th January to update members on the livestock fodder and feed situation on farms. Challenges around the availability of straw was also a strong recurring message.
25 January 2024
Mapping the direction of travel of dairy beef systems
An increase in the national dairy herd since milk quota removal in 2015 has changed the dynamic within the Irish beef industry. Animals of dairy origin now account for ~60% of Ireland’s beef throughput.
25 January 2024
Action needed to avoid ‘uphill battle’ on future nitrates derogations
The future of Ireland’s nitrates derogation is dependent on farmers making the right choices and implementing measures to improve water quality, according to Eoghan O’Brien, Teagasc Sustainability Advisor.
25 January 2024
Sustainability focus areas for 2024
Dr Siobhan Kavanagh from the Signpost Programme is on this week’s Beef Edge podcast to discuss what areas you can focus on to make your farm more sustainable in 2024.
24 January 2024
Answering the key questions on the National Genotyping Programme
ICBF is writing to farmers, providing an information booklet, to answer the key and frequently asked questions they may have in relation to the National Genotyping Programme (NGP).
24 January 2024
Watch: A guide on drafting cattle
Drafting cattle for slaughter when they are actually fit to kill is a key management component of successful calf-to-beef systems. At a fat score of 3+, the carcass weight potential of Holstein Friesian steers is maximised.
24 January 2024
Beef calves coming earlier in the dairy calving season
Due to the breeding policies in play on dairy farms, beef-sired calves from the dairy herd tended to reach the market in the second half of the spring calving season.
23 January 2024
Views on dairy calf to beef action plan sought
Stakeholders of the beef and dairy sectors gathered in Portlaoise on Thursday, January 18th, for the launch of a 10-point action plan on supporting dairy calf to beef systems in Ireland.
22 January 2024
Livestock safety ahead of calving season key focus of HSA campaign
The Health and Safety Authority (HSA) will begin a two week farm safety inspection campaign on Monday, January 22, with a focus on the safe management of livestock during calving season when the risk of injury to farmers increases significantly.
19 January 2024
Limit sources when buying dairy-beef calves
An essential factor in developing profitable dairy-beef systems is the protection and maintenance of health. For many dairy-beef producers, this starts on the day the calf is purchased.
19 January 2024
Stakeholders gather for consultation on dairy calf to beef action plan
Key stakeholders in the dairy and beef sectors will gather in Portlaoise, today, January 18th, for a seminar on dairy calf to beef, and the launch of a consultation process on a draft action plan for the dairy beef industry.
18 January 2024
Converting existing sheds for calf housing
Whether building a new calf shed from scratch or adapting an existing shed for the purpose of housing calves, there are a number of critical factors to consider.
18 January 2024
Transitioning to LESS
With the recent changes to nitrates regulations there are a large number of farmers who will be moving from the traditional splash plate to using Low Emission Slurry Spreading (LESS) for the first time. Francis Quigley, Farm Machinery & Milking Machine Specialist, tells us more.
17 January 2024
Regulation heightens need for nutrient management planning on drystock farms
Changes introduced under Ireland’s fifth Nitrates Action Programme in 2023 have heightened the need for nutrient management planning on many drystock farms nationally.
17 January 2024
Young bull production - implementing tweaks to improve efficiency and profitability
As the New Year starts, Future Beef Programme Advisor, Gabriel Trayers explains why it is a critical time in the lifetime of a young bull, while highlighting how Shane Keaveney has made tweaks to his system to improve efficiency and profitability.
17 January 2024
Slurry spreading advice for farmers and slurry contractors
As the slurry spreading season opens across the country over the coming week, Noel Meehan, ASSAP Manager, outlines why it is very important that farmers and agricultural contractors apply slurry very carefully so as to prevent nutrient losses to water.
15 January 2024
Breeding better beef calves for sale
With uncertainty facing the future of calf exports and the potential need for some dairy farms to move animals earlier on account of nitrates changes, Alan Dillion, DairyBeef 500 Co-Ordinator, explained that the onus is on dairy farmers to breed a better quality beef calf to ensure repeat custom.
15 January 2024
SCEP: Knowing the worth of full compliance
Modifications to the calculation of the EuroStar indexes for cattle have left many suckler farmers in a state of confusion, particularly those enrolled in the Suckler Carbon Efficiency Programme (SCEP), writes James Fitzgerald, Drystock Advisor, Teagasc Ballina.
14 January 2024
Time to appreciate the value of your cattle slurry
Joining Teagasc Dairy Edge host Dr Emma-Louise Coffey on a recent episode of the weekly podcast, Dr William Burchill, FBD Lecturer in Sustainable Agriculture at UCC, said that a rethink on the way slurry is managed on some farms is required.
13 January 2024
Planting hedges and enhancing biodiversity on John Barry's farm
John joined the Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme (ACRES) in 2022 and selected a number of actions to help water quality and promote biodiversity on his farm.
13 January 2024