Beef
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
Preparing for calf rearing with DairyBeef 500
The Teagasc DairyBeef 500 team, along with stakeholders and programme farmers, will host two live online webinars on preparing for calf rearing this spring on Tuesday, January 16, and Tuesday, January 30. Both webinars begin at 8pm.
13 January 2024
Top five tips for January on beef farms
From preparing your sheds and getting ready for calving, to understanding how changes to nitrates rules impact your farm, Martina Harrington, Manager of the Teagasc Future Beef Programme, offers her top five tips for the month of January.
10 January 2024
The key points for sourcing, rearing and weaning calves
With calving kicking off on many dairy farms, Teagasc DairyBeef 500 Advisor, Tommy Cox features on this week’s Beef Edge podcast to discuss the key areas you need to focus on when sourcing, rearing and weaning calves.
10 January 2024
Newford Farm: A Year in Review
December was a relatively quiet month on Newford Farm spent getting used to our new surroundings in Athleague. Stephen Frend tells us more about the past year at Newford, and plans for the future.
09 January 2024
Optimizing Suckler Farming: Wesley Browne's Approach
Farming just outside Monaghan Town, Wesley Browne calves 90 cows in spring with all males finished as under-16 month old bulls and yearling heifers sold as breeding stock.
08 January 2024
Ireland toe to toe with France in the race to 2050
Peter Higgins, Teagasc B&T Drystock Adviser, tells us that the recent National Beef Conference in Ballinasloe showcased cutting-edge research, including updates on Irish beef breeding and low-input dairy-beef systems.
07 January 2024
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