Beef
The Importance of Fertility Testing and Completing a Bull NCT for Suckler Farmers
For suckler farmers a healthy bull is key to a productive herd. Fertility testing and the Bull NCT help spot issues early. A subfertile bull could cost you €90 per cow. Martina Harrington tells us more.
26 March 2025
Maximising Beef without Compromising on Calving
Beef from the dairy herd makes up nearly 66% of the national kill in Ireland. This proportion will likely increase in the future. Stuart Childs, Teagasc Dairy Specialist, and Dan O’Riordan, ICBF, explain how farmers can balance easy calving with strong beef traits, getting the best of both worlds.
24 March 2025
Farm Update with Cathal Irwin, Future Beef Farmer
Grass growth is the big challenge this year on Cathal Irwin's beef farm, he is focusing on soil fertility, slurry management, and feed quality to maximise productivity and keep his herd thriving.
23 March 2025
Research update: National beef cattle performance
Paul Smith, Mark McGee, Bernadette Earley, Edward O’Riordan, Paul Crosson and David Kenny of Teagasc Grange, and Alan Kelly, UCD, report on national beef cattle performance in 2024.
21 March 2025
The happenings on Gareth Peoples’ DairyBeef 500 farm in Co. Donegal
Gareth Peoples, a participant in Teagasc’s DairyBeef 500 and Signpost Programmes, fills us in on the latest happenings from his farm in Co. Donegal.
20 March 2025
Benefits of AI and the use of Synchronisation in Suckler Herds
The calving season is coming to an end on farms and the focus will soon turn to the breeding season. Currently AI usage is low on beef farms with only 20% of all calves born to suckler herds by AI sires. James Mullane tells us more.
19 March 2025
Future Beef farmer, Proinnsias Creedon, on managing grass this spring
Teagasc Future Beef farmer, Proinnsias Creedon, and his advisor, James Mullane, are on this week’s Beef Edge Podcast with an update on the farm and how Proinnsias is managing grass this spring.
19 March 2025
Spring fertiliser plan delivering grass at Newford
A combination of making the best use of cattle slurry and applying protected urea only when the conditions were correct have formed the bedrock of Newford Farm’s spring fertiliser plan, Michael Fagan tells us more.
19 March 2025
Getting the calf rearing basics right
The increased price of restocking farms this spring may entice more farmers to look at rearing calves. For farmers contemplating such a move, Drystock Advisor in Teagasc Mullingar, Stephen O’Callaghan provides a refresher on the basics of calf rearing.
19 March 2025
The common causes of scour and when do they occur
Scour represents a significant health challenge to suckler calves. Caused by a wide array of bugs or viruses, understanding when the disease is likely to occur can aid in identifying the cause, Future Beef Programme Manager, Martina Harrington tells us more.
18 March 2025
Key management strategies for reducing respiratory disease on dairy-beef farms
Bovine respiratory disease (BRD), also known as pneumonia, is one of the most prevalent diseases of dairy-beef calves, and is caused by a range of bacteria and viruses.
15 March 2025
A teaser bull’s role in maximising breeding success
Teaser bulls can help improve heat detection, shorten calving intervals, and boost breeding efficiency.
15 March 2025
‘A farmers’ guide to suckler breeding’ focus of upcoming webinar series
The Future Beef team is hosting a series of webinars this March and April, which will focus on a farmers' guide to suckler breeding.
14 March 2025
Delivering a more fertile suckler herd
Regardless of your suckler production system, whether that be producing weanlings, selling stores or carrying all progeny to finish, having a herd of fertile suckler cows is a cornerstone.
14 March 2025
Reviewing the 2024 profitability of the Future Beef Programme
Teagasc Future Beef Programme Advisor, Aisling Molloy is on this week’s Beef Edge podcast to give an update on the Future Beef Programme and to review profitability for 2024.
12 March 2025
Calving difficulty scores - do they deliver?
Suckler farmers, stemming from the necessity of producing a live calf annually with minimal intervention, have become more attuned to the calving difficulty scores of the sires used on their farms.
12 March 2025
Testing for anthelmintic resistance on Irish farms
Dr. Orla Keane of Teagasc Grange, Co. Meath is part of new project that will test for anthelmintic resistance in Ireland.
12 March 2025
Time to turn priority stock out to grass
March is a crucial time to maximise grass in the diet and beef farmers are being encouraged to take advantage of improved weather and ground conditions to get priority stock out to grass.
11 March 2025
A productive start to the year for Ger McSweeney
The calving season is going well, with strong performance in breeding, young bull development, and calf health. Ger is focusing on improving carcass weights, colostrum management, and overall herd efficiency.
10 March 2025
Grazing management for dairy-beef systems
Achieving the desired levels of animal performance at pasture is critical for dairy-beef systems. Target weight gains can be achieved from grass-only diets where the correct management practices are implemented.
08 March 2025
Is my winter fluke control programme working?
With most cattle now indoors for more than 12 weeks and turnout fast approaching, Beef Specialist at Teagasc, Catherine Egan explains why now is the time to check the effectiveness of your winter fluke control programme.
07 March 2025
Parasite control and anthelmintic resistance
Teagasc Researcher, Orla Keane is on this week’s Beef Edge podcast to discuss parasite control and anthelmintic resistance.
05 March 2025
Setting heifers up for a successful breeding season
With the 2025 calving season well underway at Newford, attentions are now turning to this year’s breeding season. Michael Fagan outlines how the replacement heifers are being managed to maximise success.
05 March 2025
Rearing dairy-beef calves this spring - have you done your sums?
Did you know that at current costs, it will cost close to €60,000 to buy and rear 100, two-week old early-maturing calves to weaning at 10-12 weeks of age? Gordon Peppard, DairyBeef 500 Advisor, tells us how this is the case.
05 March 2025
National cattle herd down 3.3% in December 2024
According to the Central Statistics Office (CSO), the Irish national cattle herd was 3.3% or 217,700 head lower in December 2024 when compared to the corresponding period in 2023. Reductions were also recorded in the national pig herd and sheep flock.
04 March 2025
Everything farmers need to know about putting solar panels on sheds
Barry Caslin highlights how farmers, blessed with extensive roof areas ideal for solar panel installations, can turn these underutilized areas into energy-generating assets. This can help meet their energy needs & provide the potential to contribute to the national grid.
03 March 2025
Getting the most from your slurry
Organic manure is a valuable source of plant nutrients. To get the most from the phosphorus (P) & potassium (K) content, as well as the nitrogen (N) in slurry, it must go to the right place at the right time & be spread at the right rate. Using slurry also helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions
03 March 2025
Increasing the profitability of dairy-beef using the Commercial Beef Value
In recent years, there has been a notable increase in dairy-beef cattle in Ireland. Historically, beef farmers lacked important information regarding the ‘genetic quality’ of dairy-bred cattle. However, the introduction of the Commercial Beef Value (CBV) has addressed this gap.
02 March 2025
New Teagasc Cattle Specialist Appointed
David Argue has been appointed as a Teagasc Cattle Specialist based at Teagasc Ballyhaise and will cover the North East of the country.
27 February 2025
Put lime at the top of your fertiliser shopping list
Drystock farmers have been encouraged to make spreading lime a priority on their farms this year.
27 February 2025