Beef
2024 fertiliser N performance during a difficult grass-growing year
There has been much debate as to why grass was not growing as anticipated during the last 4 months with many theories put forward as to the reasons why. Research from Teagasc, Johnstown Castle compares the performance of different nitrogen fertiliser types in this challenging environment.
09 August 2024
Additional places available in National Genotyping Programme
The National Genotyping Programme has reopened to additional applicants, with applications now accepted through the Irish Cattle Breeding Federation (ICBF) website.
08 August 2024
Is finishing some stock off grass an option if fodder is scarce?
Tommy Cox, Teagasc DairyBeef 500 Advisor, offers key advice on identifying the most suitable animals to feed at grass, thus achieving an earlier finish, to free up fodder supplies for the winter ahead.
07 August 2024
Preparing for weaning with Teagasc Vet John Donlon
Teagasc researcher and vet, John Donlon is on this week’s Beef Edge podcast to discuss the main issues that arise around weaning time and how to prevent them.
07 August 2024
Interactive grass silage stock checker available
An interactive grass silage stock checker is available on the Teagasc website to aid farmers in the completion of a fodder budget for the upcoming winter.
06 August 2024
Act Now to Assess Winter Feed Demand and Plan for the Winter Ahead
Guidelines for assessing and planning winter feed requirements for livestock, including calculating fodder needs and managing fertiliser allowances.
06 August 2024
Weather Brings Relief to Newford Farm
At last there has been an improvement in weather conditions and cattle are more content in the fields, up until now Newford Farm would have found most bunches of cattle including the suckler cows were not content due to the harsh, wet and windy conditions.
05 August 2024
Managing weaning begins now
Cathal Gormley discusses preparing spring-born calves for weanling sales amidst a challenging year for grass growth, emphasizing the importance of silage budgeting, concentrate feeding, and the 2024 Beef Welfare Scheme's support for meal feeding and vaccinating calves.
01 August 2024
Monitor your fertilizer allowance for the remainder of the spreading season
Alan Dillon discusses new fertilizer regulations and the need to manage fertilizer applications carefully to avoid penalties and protect payments.
31 July 2024
Research update: Dietary oil to reduce methane
Stuart Kirwan, Neal Folliard and Emily Roskam report on Teagasc Grange research that examined suppressing methane production with dietary oil.
31 July 2024
The benefits of scanning suckler cows
Is it at least 30 days since the last cow in your herd could has been served? If your answer is yes, then you should consider scanning your cows. Catherine Egan, Teagasc Beef Specialist, outlines the benefits of scanning your suckler cows in this article.
30 July 2024
How can the accuracy of fertiliser application be improved?
Setup and calibration of fertiliser spreaders is very important to ensure even distribution of fertilisers when spreading. This involves adjusting the spreader settings to achieve accurate application rates and uniform coverage.
30 July 2024
The grassland improvements at the Tipperary Dairy Calf to Beef Demonstration Farm
Chloe Millar, Jack Spillane, Michael Egan and Ciarán Hearn share details of how the Tipperary Dairy Calf to Beef Demonstration Farm has transformed in terms of grassland management since the lease was signed on the venture in 2022.
28 July 2024
Signpost Series: Calf welfare and TAMS supports
On this episode of the Signpost Series, host Mark Gibson, Teagasc Head of Outreach and Innovation, was joined by Stephanie Ronan and Dr Robert Leonard, Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM), to discuss calf welfare and TAMS supports.
27 July 2024
More options and higher profits from high CBV animals
Animals of a higher Commercial Beef Value (CBV) offer beef finishers more options when selecting the most appropriate finishing strategy for their farm.
27 July 2024
Target of €50 profit per hour worked at Tipperary Dairy Calf to Beef Demo Farm
Established as a joint initiative between Dawn Meat, Shinagh Estates and Teagasc, the Tipperary Dairy Calf to Beef Demonstration Farm aims to demonstrate the best technologies for profitable and sustainable production of beef calves from the dairy herd.
25 July 2024
Grazing advice: Act now as key actions need to be taken
After a testing year thus far for grass growth, Teagasc Grass10 Advisor, Niamh Doyle gives an update on the current grass situation, providing management tips for the coming weeks. on this week’s Beef Edge podcast hosted by Catherine Egan and OviCast podcast hosted by Ciaran Lynch.
24 July 2024
Valuing a standing crop of silage
With second-cut silage underway or nearing harvest, Manager of the Teagasc Future Beef Programme, Martina Harrington provides key figures and tips on how to value a standing crop of silage.
24 July 2024
Drystock incomes hit by higher costs and lower output in 2023
Higher production costs and declines in output over the course of 2023 had a negative impact on the incomes generated on drystock farms nationally, results published through the Teagasc National Farm Survey (NFS) 2023 have shown.
23 July 2024
Ensuring you have enough fodder for winter 2024-2025
Following a wet start to 2024 and a prolonged winter housing period, silage and fodder reserves on many farms were completely exhausted this spring. Grass growth to date in 2024 has been poor with further supplementary feeding of fodder taking place in recent weeks on some farms.
22 July 2024
Farmers reminded to use slurry additives with a ‘solid scientific backing’
Slurry additives can help reduce emissions, but farmers attending the Farming for a Better Future Open Day at Teagasc Johnstown Castle were told to only use slurry additives with a solid scientific backing.
19 July 2024
Fence water courses to prevent cattle access
Fencing off watercourses to prevent cattle access is recognised as one of the ‘8-Actions for Change’ within the Teagasc Better Farming for Water Campaign, and visitors to the recent Farming for a Better Future Open Day, held in Teagasc Johnstown Castle, heard of the benefits it can bring.
18 July 2024
Reducing the finishing age nationally
Reducing the mean finishing age of prime beef cattle from 26 to 22-23 months by 2030 is fundamental to achieving Ireland’s 25% reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from agriculture. On this week’s episode of the Beef Edge podcast, Teagasc researcher Paul Smith discusses this topic.
17 July 2024
Best practices to protect your herd against TB
Roisin Scully, KT Masters Student, Teagasc Ballinrobe, shares key areas to manage within your farm gate to reduce the incidence of TB.
17 July 2024
Difficult year hits Newford weights
A combination of a cold and wet year has resulted in a reduction in animal performance at Newford, Michael Fagan tells us more.
16 July 2024
Livestock an important part of our overall food system – Teagasc Director
The benefits of livestock inclusion in the overall food system were outlined by Professor Frank O Mara, Director of Teagasc, on the recent Signpost Series webinar titled: ‘Cultivating a sustainable future for Irish agriculture’.
15 July 2024
What is your fodder situation?
Aidan Murray, Beef Specialist, emphasizes the importance of creating a winter fodder budget early, assessing available silage, calculating winter feed requirements, and planning accordingly to ensure sufficient feed reserves.
14 July 2024
Managing Grass Shortfall on Trevor Boland's Beef Farm
Grass growth on Trevor's farm has declined, leading to below-target average farm covers and necessitating measures such as fertilization, supplemental feeding, and potential stock reduction to manage the shortfall until conditions improve.
13 July 2024
Growing Organics: Sucklers, sheep and tillage in Donegal
Cathal McCauley, Teagasc Organics Advisor, shares insights from John Hamilton’s farm in Co. Donegal, the host of a recent Growing Organics farm walk and home to a suckler, sheep and tillage enterprise.
12 July 2024
Redefining the image of organic beef farming
Ken Gill, an organic suckler farmer and a participant in the Future Beef Programme, was posed an interesting question as part of the ‘Securing your future in beef farming forum’ at the recent BEEF2024 Open Day in Teagasc Grange – ‘Do you get a lot of interest from other farmers?’
11 July 2024