Beef
Watch: Gearing up for calving with Future Beef farmer Ruairi Cummins
Preparations for calving have been underway on Ruairi Cummins’ Future Beef farm in Kilmoganny, Co. Kilkenny, since cows were housed in early November.
06 January 2024
An update on drafting from the Tipperary Dairy Calf to Beef Demonstration Farm
The main focus for the Tipperary Dairy Calf to Beef Demonstration Farm for the coming weeks, writes Chloe Millar, is the finishing of the remaining 2022-born animals and preparing for the arrival of 340 dairy-beef calves this spring.
05 January 2024
‘Knowledge gap’ in organic conversion to be addressed in new research project
A new research project, which is a collaboration between Teagasc and UCD, and supported by funding from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM), aims to support the sustainable growth and development of the organic farming sector.
04 January 2024
What’s in store in 2024?
Teagasc Cattle Specialist Aidan Murray is on this week’s Beef Edge podcast to give an insight into the outlook for the coming year and what farmers can expect.
03 January 2024
Avoiding poor winter thrive - the factors to consider
Farmers often comment in the spring, when animals are returned to grass, that they are disappointed with how their animals have performed over the winter period, with average daily gains of as low as 0-0.3kg/day a common theme.
03 January 2024
Livestock safety - understanding livestock behaviour
Understanding the behaviour of livestock will facilitate handling, reduce stress, and improve both handler safety and animal welfare, writes Serena Gibbons, Education Officer, Teagasc Galway/Clare.
02 January 2024
Make safety at calving a priority for 2024
Accidents relating to livestock on farms are not inevitable and can be prevented through careful planning and task organisation during the busy times of the farming year. Livestock-related incidents account for 25% of Irish farm accidents and 15% of farm mortality among older farmers.
01 January 2024
Feed a good pre-calving mineral
What price do you put on cows that calve down with no issues, no retained cleanings, plenty of milk, a vigorous calf, don't suffer from milk fever and most importantly, go back in calf?
31 December 2023
Signpost cattle farms lead the way
Dr. Siobhán Kavanagh, Signpost Programme Communications & Engagement Specialist, discussed the Signpost Programme, which aims to help cattle farmers adopt sustainable practices to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) and ammonia emissions at the Teagasc Beef Conference 2023.
29 December 2023
An ideal time to review performance on your beef farm
Now is the time to reflect on the strengths of your beef farming enterprise in 2023, and to identify any changes or improvements that can be made in the year ahead, writes Catherine Egan, Teagasc Beef Specialist.
27 December 2023
DairyBeef 500 join forces with AHI’s CalfCare Programme for on-farm events in January 2024
A series of 18 on-farm calf care events for farmers will take place nationwide throughout the month of January.
21 December 2023
An update from the Derrypatrick herd
Peter Doyle, Research Officer at Teagasc Grange, brings us up to date with the happenings on the research farm’s Derrypatrick herd on the final episode of the Beef Edge podcast for 2023.
20 December 2023
Time to act on your paddock system
If you are thinking of putting a paddock system in place or even modifying your existing paddocks, now is the time to take action, Fergal Maguire, DairyBeef 500 Advisor, tells us more.
20 December 2023
The potential of grass-based, dairy-beef heifer systems
Dr. Ellen Fitzpatrick presented findings on low-input, high-output, grass-based, dairy-beef heifer systems at the Teagasc National Beef Conference 2023.
20 December 2023
Watch: Monitoring body condition score at Teagasc Grange
Suckler farmers should aim to body condition score (BCS) their cows at least three times per year, housing, pre-calving and breeding, writes Colin Byrne, Research Officer at Teagasc Grange.
17 December 2023
The trends for beef prices in 2024
Rupert Claxton, Livestock Director from GIRA Consultancy, is on this week’s Beef Edge podcast with his presentation from the Teagasc National Beef Conference.
16 December 2023
The Irish Pollinator Monitoring Scheme
Seven farmers participating in the Teagasc Future Beef Programme are participating in the Irish Pollinator Monitoring Scheme. Aisling Molloy, Future Beef Advisor, informs us of the programme and highlights what is being recorded.
13 December 2023
Future Beef Farmer Ed Curtin demonstrates his housing and handling facilities
Ed Curtin farms in partnership with his mother Breda in Rowels, Meelin near Newmarket, Co. Cork. He runs a suckling to weanling system consisting of 24 autumn-calving suckler cows.
10 December 2023
Tipperary Dairy Calf to Beef November Update
Chloe Millar, Teagasc, gives an update on the Tipperary Dairy Calf to Beef herd, covering grassland, weanling and finishing cattle performance.
10 December 2023
What’s been happening at Ballyvadin
Chloe Millar, Teagasc, gives an update on the Tipperary Dairy Calf to Beef herd, covering grassland, weanling and finishing cattle performance.
10 December 2023
Learnings from France: How farmers can be paid for reducing their carbon footprint
Anaïs L’Hote from the French Livestock Institute is on this week’s bonus edition of the Beef Edge podcast with her presentation from the Teagasc National Beef Conference.
09 December 2023
Newford Farm update: Lifetime concentrate halved for finishing heifers
Stephen Frend, Farm Manager of the Newford herd, tells us what’s happened on the Newford Farm over the month of November and how 2022-born heifers have performed when finished.
08 December 2023
Agriculture must work to meet skills and labour shortages
Agriculture is one of seven Irish sectors facing skills and labour shortages, Teagasc researcher Marion Beecher told the Teagasc National Dairy Conference, while highlighting the need for the sector to “work harder” to ensure the correct steps are taken to make farms a more attractive workplace.
07 December 2023
Don’t forget to record SCEP Survey Data
With all the change and confusion over the EuroStar Indices in recent weeks and the focus on meeting the 50% female replacement requirement in SCEP, Aidan Murray, Teagasc Beef Specialist, reminds farmers not to overlook the need to complete the survey data on the calves and suckler cows.
06 December 2023
Steps to assess your feed options this winter
Aisling Molloy, Teagasc Future Beef Programme Advisor, details how farmers enrolled in the programme are managing fodder supplies and outlines a number of simple steps to assess your feed options this winter.
03 December 2023
IBR: impacts and control
As a bonus Beef Edge episode, Dr. Maria Guelbenzu from Animal Health Ireland (AHI) who presented at the Teagasc National Beef Conference, discusses the prevalence of Infectious Bovine Rhinotracheitis (IBR), and why Ireland needs to move towards a national eradication programme.
02 December 2023
Teagasc National Farm Survey 2022 - Single Suckling Enterprise
The 2022 Teagasc National Farm Survey (NFS) recorded data on 795 farms, 201 of which were single suckling farms.
02 December 2023
Dairy-beef weighing scheme payments to commence next week
Payments under the National Dairy Beef Welfare Scheme, which offers herd owners grant aid to weigh up to 50 calves at a payment rate of €20 per head, will commence on December 4, the Minister for Agriculture, Charlie McConalogue told a full house at the Teagasc National Dairy Conference.
01 December 2023
Newford herd finds new home in Roscommon
The Newford suckler demonstration farm was established by Teagasc and Dawn Meats in 2015 on 65ha of land in Athenry, Co. Galway, with support from McDonald’s.
30 November 2023
Time to winter dose on dairy-beef farms
With dairy-beef animals now indoors well over a month on many farms, Tommy Cox, DairyBeef 500 Advisor, writes that now is good time for farmers to start thinking about their parasite control programmes.
29 November 2023