Beef
Balancing silage quality and concentrate supplementation on dairy-beef farms
Grass silage is an important winter feed in dairy-beef systems. Balancing this forage with the correct quantity/quality of concentrate is key to achieving the desired winter weight gains.
02 November 2024
Purchasing concentrates – what ingredients are important?
With housing having occurred or just around the corner on many beef farms, Catherine Egan, Beef Specialist at Teagasc, reminds farmers to focus on the ingredients making up their concentrate feeds.
01 November 2024
Finding value for money in concentrate feeds
The cheapest concentrate mix on a € per tonne basis may not be the best value, writes Catherine Egan, Beef Specialist at Teagasc, who advises farmers to consider the value of the ration based on its feeding value relative to its cost.
31 October 2024
Research update: Feed efficiency in beef cattle
Kate Keogh, David Kenny and Mark McGee of Teagasc report on research that makes one animal more feed efficient than another.
31 October 2024
What should I look out for in concentrate feeds?
When it comes to buying rations, Beef Specialist at Teagasc, Catherine Egan reminds us that it’s important to focus on the basics.
30 October 2024
Winter nutrition and diets with Teagasc Nutritionist, Aisling Claffey
Teagasc Nutritionist, Aisling Claffey discusses winter nutrition and diets on this week’s Beef Edge podcast.
30 October 2024
Potential to double the rate of gain on the Dairy Beef Index of beef sires
Increases in the usage of sexed semen, along with the beef sector’s desire for a more profitable, productive, efficient and sustainable animal has seen a greater focus placed on beef on dairy breeding polices in recent times.
30 October 2024
New Newford Farm in Co. Roscommon
Peter Higgins, B&T Drystock Adviser, Teagasc Galway/Clare, gives us an update on the new Newford Farm in Co. Roscommon, a suckler to beef demonstration farm showcasing sustainable and profitable farming practices, including breeding, calving, and soil management.
27 October 2024
Nearly one in five yet to submit SCEP weights
Farmers participating in the Suckler Carbon Efficiency Programme (SCEP) are reminded that the final date to submit weights to ICBF as part of the programme’s weighing element – a measure worth 20% of the SCEP Payment – is November 1.
26 October 2024
Heavier and more in-spec carcasses - early life nutrition’s role in dairy-beef
Early life nutrition represents a potential period of opportunity for dairy-beef producers, Head of Animal and Bioscience Department at Teagasc, Professor David Kenny told a recent gathering of scientists, beef industry representatives and farmers.
25 October 2024
Additional SCEP in-person training events announced
A further six in-person Suckler Carbon Efficiency Programme (SCEP) training days have been announced by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.
24 October 2024
Search continues for cause of summer scour syndrome
Theories aplenty, but as of yet there has been no clear confirmation of the cause of summer scour syndrome – an ailment of dairy and dairy-beef calves resulting in diarrhoea, ill-thrift and weight loss.
23 October 2024
Is Bluetongue Virus a risk for Ireland?
Dr. Eoin Ryan, Senior Superintending Veterinary Inspector with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, gives an update on the Bluetongue Virus on this week’s Beef Edge podcast.
23 October 2024
Expressions of interest welcomed for dairy-beef course
Are you interested in commencing a dairy calf to beef enterprise or seeking skills and advice to make improvements to your existing enterprise? Fergal Maguire, Advisor on the Teagasc DairyBeef 500 Campaign, writes on an Advanced Dairy Calf to Beef Course, due to commence in December 2024.
23 October 2024
5 steps to becoming an organic farmer
As the Organic Farming Scheme (OFS) has recently reopened for applications, Teagasc Organic Advisor, Orla Walsh provides five key steps farmers must follow when transitioning from a conventional to an organic farming system.
22 October 2024
Maximise weanling performance at housing
Martina Harrington, Manager of the Teagasc Future Beef Programme, provides guidance on preparing weanlings for housing by focusing on disease prevention and minimising stress.
19 October 2024
International Dairy Calf to Beef Conference
An International Dairy Calf to Beef Conference, organised by Teagasc in partnership with ABP and BSAS, is taking place in Co. Wexford.
17 October 2024
250,000 fewer suckler cows since June 2015
The number of suckler cows present on Irish farms in June 2024 declined by over 250,000 head when compared to the same period in June 2015, provisional figures released by the Central Statistics Office (CSO) have shown.
17 October 2024
How this suckler farmer is going the extra mile to protect water quality
Shane Keaveney, a suckler farmer from Ballinlough, Co. Roscommon, is going above and beyond to lessen the impact of his farming practices on water quality – specifically the watercourse bounding his farm.
16 October 2024
Udderly realistic: How calving simulators are ‘moo-ving’ education forward at Kildalton College
Jamie Cahill, Lecturer in Teagasc Kildalton College, writes on the college’s recently acquired calving simulators – valuable pieces of equipment that allow students to practice the calving procedure in a safe environment.
16 October 2024
Comparing dairy beef farming in New Zealand and Ireland
Bob Thomson, a New Zealand Farm Consultant specialising in sheep and beef, joins Catherine Egan on this week’s Beef Edge podcast to discuss some of his insights into dairy beef in Ireland compared to New Zealand.
16 October 2024
Can straw help to buffer tight silage supplies this winter?
It has been a difficult year on grass growth and therefore silage supplies are tight on some farms. Could straw fill some of the gap this winter? Martina Harrington tells us more.
16 October 2024
Have you weighed for SCEP?
The Suckler Carbon Efficiency Programme (SCEP) has a number of key requirements, one of which is the weighing of cow and calf pairs on your farm.
15 October 2024
Making CBV data more accessible
Since its launch, the Commercial Beef Value (CBV) has grown in importance as a tool to allow the purchasers of beef animals - whether they are calves destined for a dairy-beef system or continental weanlings or stores destined entering a finishing system – to make more informed decisions.
14 October 2024
Teagasc National Farm Survey 2023 - Cattle Finishing Enterprise Factsheet
The Agricultural Economics and Farm Surveys Department at Teagasc has recently released a Cattle Finishing Enterprise Factsheet for 2023, which analysed farm financial data, and variability in farm financial and technical performance as witnessed in the 2023 National Farm Survey.
13 October 2024
National Farm Survey 2023 - Single Suckling Enterprise Factsheet
The National Farm Survey 2023 Single Suckling Enterprise Factsheet provides analysis of single suckling enterprises across Ireland, focusing on financial performance, production variations, and emerging trends within the sector.
11 October 2024
Give your stock a clean start before winter housing
Eliminating parasites at housing will ensure optimum livestock performance over the winter. Niall Kerins, Teagasc Beef Specialist, discusses parasite treatment strategies for livestock during the winter housing period, focusing on the importance of proper product use and diagnostics.
10 October 2024
The key things to consider if you’re interested in renting a shed
Niall Kerins, Teagasc Cattle specialist, is on this week’s Beef Edge podcast to discuss winter cattle housing arrangements.
09 October 2024
Award winning Meath dairy-beef farmer prioritises farm-to-farm sourcing
Aidan Maguire, a dairy-beef farmer from Co. Meath, was crowned the winner of the Dairy Beef Category of the Teagasc/FBD Environmental Sustainability Awards 2024 last week.
09 October 2024
Weaning suckler calves: Insights from Michael & Niall Biggins
Michael & Niall Biggins share practical strategies for weaning suckler calves and managing red clover grazing in this farm update.
09 October 2024