Beef
Suckler herd breeding season success
A successful breeding season within a suckler herd hinges on a number of key factors, Professor David Kenny, Head of Animal and Bioscience Department at Teagasc, told a recent Future Beef Webinar titled: ‘Getting your cow back in calf’.
28 March 2024
DairyBeef 500 financial and slaughter performance update
DairyBeef 500 Manager, Alan Dillon is on this week’s episode of the Beef Edge podcast with some tips for rearing calves at this time of year, the financial performance update for 2023 as well as slaughter performance.
27 March 2024
Coping with another bad spring on beef farms
2024 is starting on a similar bad note to 2023, writes Alan Dillion, DairyBeef 500 Manager, with incessant rainfall in the early part of the year leading to some serious issues on farm in terms of fodder supply, bedding supply, slurry storage and grazing.
27 March 2024
A trilogy of tools to aid dairy-beef breeding, mating and trading
The expansion of the national dairy herd, improved dairy cow fertility, and the rapid growth in the use of sexed semen to generate dairy replacements will contribute to a greater quantity of Irish beef originating from dairy herds.
26 March 2024
Slow and steady approach delivers for suckler herd fertility
The correct breeding policy lays the foundation for profitability within suckler systems. Once you get it right, you are heading in the right direction.
25 March 2024
Reducing age of slaughter in beef cattle
Dr. Peter Lawrence, Teagasc Tinahely, discusses strategies for farmers to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by lowering the slaughter age of cattle through improvements in genetics, nutrition, and health.
23 March 2024
€25 million scheme to improve beef progeny from the dairy herd unveiled
A €25 million scheme to incentivise the use of genotyped and genetically superior beef sires for breeding dairy beef calves has been unveiled.
21 March 2024
10 years of experience in an organic beef system
Ken Gill operates an autumn calving, organic suckler to beef system in Co. Offaly and he joins Catherine Egan on this week’s Beef Edge podcast to explain his system.
20 March 2024
Time to bite the bullet on grazing?
On beef farms, Mícheál Kelly, B&T Drystock Advisor, Teagasc Galway/Clare writes, there is lots of grass available, but farmers have been unable to get cattle out to grass due to a combination of poor ground conditions and erratic, harsh weather.
20 March 2024
Getting ready for the calving season
Shane Devaney, Beef Advisor, discusses the importance of preparation for the calving season, emphasising organisation, proper equipment maintenance, calving pen readiness, the significance of colostrum for newborn calves, and the need for safety around calving cows to prevent accidents.
20 March 2024
Webinar series to focus on profitable, functional cows and genetics for the future
The Teagasc Future Beef team will host a series of webinars over the month of March, which will centre on a farmers’ guide to suckler breeding.
19 March 2024
March Update: Grassland Management and Livestock Progress at Tipperary Farm
Chloe Millar gives an update on the Tipperary Dairy Calf to Beef Demonstration Farm. She provides an update on grassland conditions, livestock management, and recent developments on the farm, including the arrival of 2024 born calves.
19 March 2024
Silage quality improvements - Ten point plan
On dairy calf to beef farms all animals are priority stock. It is essential that all animals are gaining weight every day. As silage can make up to at least 1/4 of the annual diet on these farms, animals should be fed very high quality silage during the winter housing period.
16 March 2024
Teagasc BEEF2024 Open Day in Grange planned for 26 June
The Teagasc BEEF2024 Open Day will take place on Wednesday, 26 June at the Teagasc, Animal & Grassland Research and Innovation Centre, Grange, County Meath.
14 March 2024
Keeping Calves Healthy this Spring
Stephen O’Callaghan, Walsh Scholar, Teagasc Meath, discusses the critical aspects of calf rearing, emphasizing the importance of calf health for achieving growth targets and ensuring animals thrive.
14 March 2024
Why Michael Mcguigan is moving to Spring Calving
Michael McGuigan farms 23.5 ha in Clongiffen, outside Longwood in Co. Meath. In the last couple of years he has been calving the 35 cows in the months of October until the end of December, writes Gabriel Trayers.
13 March 2024
What is the right Teagasc course for me?
When it comes to this time of year, the question of doing an agricultural course arises and with so many on offer it can be difficult to decide what Teagasc course suits best.
13 March 2024
Newford Farm Calving Season
Michael Fagan discusses the recent calving activity at Newford Farm.
13 March 2024
Strategic Breeding with James Skehan
James changed the calving season for his herd in 2023 to match the grass growth on his farm. This year he really enjoyed the break between Christmas and when calving started in early February, so he plans to continue it.
10 March 2024
Maximizing Efficiency with Future Beef Farmer Trevor Boland
Trevor farms part-time in the picturesque setting of Bunnafedia, Dromard, Co. Sligo. He is married to Tara and is farming in a Registered Farm Partnership with her and his father Joseph.
09 March 2024
Spring Grassland Management on DairyBeef 500 Farms
Grazed grass will continue to be the cheapest feed available to beef animals. Turning animals out early to spring grass will improve animal performance and reduce cost of production.
07 March 2024
The importance of genetics in the dairy-beef system to maximise performance & profitability
This week it’s a joint episode between the Beef and Dairy Edge podcasts with dairy farmer Paul Delaney joining Emma-Louise Coffey & Catherine Egan to discuss the importance of genetics in the dairy-beef system to maximise performance and profitability.
06 March 2024
Grassland management for Spring 2024
The weather finally looks like improving and we will be heading to grass with cattle soon. Hopefully we can finally call an end to the winter, writes Martina Harrington.
06 March 2024
Optimizing Spring Grass Management with Cathal Irwin
Despite having a heavy type farm, Cathal aims to get stock out early in spring. When ground conditions were dry in January, he managed to get yearling heifers out for 13 days of grazing. In this article we get an update on the happenings on his farm.
06 March 2024
Does white clover increase beef animal live-weight gain?
Through the Derrypatrick herd, researchers in Teagasc Grange are examining how white clover inclusion in grassland swards effects animal performance, Peter Doyle, Research Officer, tells us more.
05 March 2024
Diary dates: Spring beef grass walks
The Teagasc Beef Specialist team, along with the local advisory service, is hosting a series of spring beef grass walks across the country.
04 March 2024
Getting Ready For Your Bord Bia Audit
Ciaran Beatty, Teagasc Drystock Advisor, shares his top tips when preparing for your Bord Bia audit.
03 March 2024
Calving season in full swing at Newford Farm
Newford Farm has been a hive of activity, particularly in the calving department. Michael Fagan gives an update on the farm.
02 March 2024
Grassland management tips for this spring
With a difficult spring leading to challenging grazing conditions, Teagasc Grass10 Manager, John Maher is on this week’s Beef Edge podcast with his top tips in relation to grassland management this spring.
28 February 2024
Calf rearing: Getting the basics right
Gordon Peppard, Teagasc DairyBeef 500 Advisor, looks the important performance targets for calf rearers this spring, while also providing a guide on the typical variable costs associated with calf rearing.
28 February 2024