Beef
Watch: Farmers share actionable measures to improve water quality
The Teagasc Better Farming for Water Campaign, a multifaceted approach to support and accelerate the adoption of actions on all farms to improve all water bodies to Good or High Ecological Status, centres on 8 actions for change.
31 May 2024
6 factors to consider for this year’s silage season
With silage feeding not that far in the rear view mirror on a lot of farms, James Fitzgerald, Drystock Advisor, Teagasc Ballina, explains why the time is now to take first cut-silage, if possible, to set your farm up as best you can for the year ahead.
30 May 2024
Trevor Boland’s update from his autumn-calving herd
Future Beef Farmer, Trevor Boland is on this week’s Beef Edge podcast providing an update on his autumn-calving system, included is an update on silage harvesting and management of grass in the coming weeks.
29 May 2024
Quality over Quantity - Silage 2024
Nollaig O’Dowd, B&T Drystock Advisor, Teagasc Galway/Clare, discusses the importance of creating a fodder budget, ensuring high-quality silage for optimal animal performance, and timing the harvest correctly to balance quality and quantity.
25 May 2024
89% of herd bred in the first three weeks at Newford
Michael Fagan provides an update on breeding from Newford, where the policy of using 100% AI is being continued into 2024.
23 May 2024
Tipperary Dairy Calf to Beef Demonstration Farm launched
The Tipperary Dairy Calf to Beef Demonstration Farm was officially launched this week. This joint initiative between Dawn Meats, Shinagh Estates and Teagasc was established to demonstrate best practice in breeding, rearing and finishing dairy-beef animals.
22 May 2024
Olivia Hynes’ successful mixed grazing in Co. Roscommon
For this joint Beef Edge and OviCast podcast with Catherine Egan and Ciaran Lynch, Olivia Hynes, a Future Beef Farmer from Roscommon, discusses how she is managing grass this year and how mixed grazing is working on her farm.
22 May 2024
New Teagasc study highlights the low environmental impact of small farms in Ireland
A new Teagasc study investigates the economic, environmental and social sustainability of small farms, using data collected through the Teagasc National Farm Survey (NFS).
21 May 2024
Over 13,000 sign up to improve dairy-beef breeding
A total of 13,155 applications were received for the CSP Dairy Beef Welfare Scheme, a scheme which offers a financial incentive to dairy farmers to use sires of higher genetic merit.
21 May 2024
Getting back on track in south Mayo
Michael Biggins and his son Niall farm just outside the village of Glencorrib in south Mayo. Gabriel Trayers, Teagasc Future Beef Advisor, tells us how they are getting back on track after a difficult spring, focusing on replenishing silage stocks, introducing a red clover sward and breeding.
18 May 2024
Summer dosing strategies for dairy beef animals
An important factor in achieving the desired levels of animal performance on calf-to-beef systems during the grazing season is ensuing they are free from parasites. Due to its grass-based nature, dairy beef animals are particularly exposed to outbreaks of stomach worms and lungworm.
16 May 2024
An update from the Tipperary Dairy Calf to Beef Demonstration Farm
It has been a busy few weeks on the Tipperary Dairy Calf to Beef Demonstration Farm, writes Chloe Millar who updates us on infrastructure improvements, calf rearing, animal performance and grassland management.
16 May 2024
How to maximise the breeding season on your farm
Teagasc Researcher, David Kenny is on this week’s Beef Edge podcast to discuss how to deal with current breeding issues and the key tips to be aware of.
15 May 2024
How this Future Beef Farmer plans to make quality silage
Teagasc Future Beef Programme participant, John Dunne has plans to replenish his silage stocks after a long winter. Along with ensuring sufficient fodder is available, he’s targeting the production of high-quality silage in the first cut.
15 May 2024
Key tips on building a fodder reserve this summer
Following a wet spring and a prolonged winter housing period, silage and fodder reserves on many farms are now completely exhausted. Silage stocks will need to be replenished to provide adequate fodder for next winter and for any unplanned times of wet weather or drought conditions.
14 May 2024
John Pringle: Preparations for winter silage after a challenging spring
Spring 2024 has been long and hard, and has tested the resolve of most farmers in Ireland. John Pringle will be ensuring he has enough silage for the coming winter.
13 May 2024
A stitch in time - actions taken during challenging weather pay off at breeding
Aonghusa Fahy discusses how he managed bad weather conditions, maintained the body condition of cows ahead of the breeding season and tailored his bull team to match the needs of his herd.
11 May 2024
Adding continental sires to the dairy breeding mix
After mastering their replacement heifer breeding strategy, Kevin and Enda Farrell have doubled down on their beef breeding strategy to produce quality calves.
11 May 2024
Diary date: ‘Securing your future’ key theme of BEEF2024
Taking place on Wednesday, June 26, Teagasc’s major beef open day BEEF2024 was launched at the Teagasc, Animal & Grassland Research and Innovation Centre, Grange, Co. Meath.
09 May 2024
In-person SCEP training planned for summer
To address the concerns raised by farmers following the launch of online SCEP training recently, the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue T.D, confirmed that a number of in-person SCEP training events will be held later this summer.
08 May 2024
Management tips for dairy-beef farms for the coming weeks
DairyBeef 500 Advisor, Tommy Cox is on this week’s Beef Edge podcast with an update on the programme farms, management tips for the coming weeks and advice on weaning.
08 May 2024
Ken Gill's plans for grazing and fodder management
Ken is firmly focused on catching up on field work since the weather has improved. He has spring oats, a pea/wheat combination crop mix and grass seed to sow across 47 acres on the farm. However, he has been planning for next winter’s feed since early spring.
07 May 2024
A breeding plan to improve beef merit and maintain calving traits
Limerick dairy farmer, Niall Moloney places a firm focus on calving ease and gestation length when selecting beef sires for use on his dairy herd, but that doesn’t mean the beef merit of the calves produced can’t be improved.
04 May 2024
A review of calving at Newford
The calving season came to a close on Newford Farm on April 15, where 82% of the cows calved within the first six weeks, Michael Fagan provides an overview of how the season progressed.
02 May 2024
Upcoming DairyBeef 500 Farm Walk
Next Tuesday, May 7 at 6pm, the Teagasc DairyBeef 500 team will hold a farm walk on the farm of Peter Byrne, Newtown, Castledermot, Co. Kildare. Eircode R14 R763. This event will be of great interest to both dairy and beef farmers alike.
02 May 2024
All you need to know about the SCEP course
Margaret Brennan, Assistant Principal Officer over Beef Schemes with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, is on this week’s Beef Edge podcast to discuss the Suckler Carbon Efficiency Programme (SCEP) course.
01 May 2024
A game of thirds - splitting the beef team by gestation
Milking 170 cows on a 55ha grazing platform in Kilconieron, Co. Galway, David Gannon will follow a beef breeding programme to enhance the beef characteristics and merit of his calves – especially those born in the shoulders of the calving season.
01 May 2024
Mandatory training course for SCEP participants launched
The launch of an online training course for participants in the Suckler Carbon Efficiency Programme (SCEP) was yesterday, April 29, announced by the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue, T.D.
30 April 2024
DairyBeef 500 Ambassador shares 2024 beef breeding plan
On this week’s episode of the Dairy Edge, Stuart Childs is joined by David Gannon, Aurivo Joint Programme Monitor Farmer and DairyBeef 500 Ambassador, and John McCabe, Monitor Farm advisor with the Aurivo Joint Programme, to discuss the beef breeding plan for David’s farm for 2024.
29 April 2024
Breeding for Profitability and Labour
Trevor Boland based in Dromard in Sligo is a part time farmer, calving 50 suckler cows from July to September. He sells the bull calves at 11-12 months of age and the heifers at 1.5 – 2 years old. Trevor discussed breeding and genetics with Chris Daly of ICBF on a recent Future Beef webinar.
29 April 2024