Beef

Early life health of breeding bulls

Across both beef and dairy sectors, genomic selection has increased the rate at which we can select young bulls that have superior genetics. High demand from farmers, for these high genetic merit, first-season bulls means that there is a high demand for their semen at a young age.
17 June 2023

An update and insights from the ICBF Tully Test Performance Centre

Niall Kilrane from the ICBF Tully Test Performance Centre, is on this week’s Beef Edge podcast to give an update from the research centre, which is the national commercial progeny test centre located on the edge of Kildare town.
14 June 2023

Higher cattle prices boost beef finisher farm incomes in 2022

Improvements in finished cattle prices had a positive impact on the levels of income generated on ‘cattle other’ farms – typically cattle finishing farms – as reported in the National Farm Survey 2022 report, which was published earlier this week.
14 June 2023

What's happening at the ICBF Tully Research Centre?

The Tully test centre is the national commercial progeny test centre, located at the edge of Kildare town. In this article, Catherine Egan, Teagasc Beef Specialist, outlines the work being carried out there.
14 June 2023

Rising gross output fails to lift cattle rearing income in 2022

Although gross output levels increased by 6% on cattle rearing farms in 2022, in part due to improved prices for young stock, the average Family Farm Income declined by 13% to €9,408 on these farms.
14 June 2023

Increase in farm incomes largely confined to dairy and tillage farms in 2022

The results of a new report indicate that the year 2022 produced a mixed outcome for income levels across farm systems in Ireland.
12 June 2023

Safety with bulls during breeding

Health and Safety Authority (HSA) statistics show that from 2012 to 2021 bulls were the cause of 16% of farm workplace deaths.
11 June 2023

Grange Maternal Herd update: 88% submitted for AI in the first 21 days of breeding

The Teagasc Grange Maternal Herd consists of 90 cows made up of Limousin x Simmental or Simmental x Limousin cows. The herd calves from the first week of February to the end of April.
10 June 2023

How to produce high Commercial Beef Value calves

On many dairy farms, the decision of what beef bull to use on cows is often based on having a very low calving difficulty, along with having as short a gestation as possible.
07 June 2023

Parasite control - what do I need to dose for?

Natascha Meunier from Animal Health Ireland is on this week’s Beef Edge podcast to discuss parasite control, managing resistance on farms and the Targeted Advisory Service on Animal Health (TASAH).
07 June 2023

Under 16 month bulls - a profitable system that suits Future Beef farmer Wesley Browne

Wesley Browne farms full time in Leagh, Dunraymond, three miles outside Monaghan town. Farming 58ha of grassland, which is fragmented into three main grazing blocks, the soil type can be described as heavy drumlin, which is typical of the area.
07 June 2023

Managing through the dry spell on drystock farms - your questions answered

As parts of the country are now entering significant soil moisture deficits, the Teagasc Future Beef Programme has prepared a technical note which answers farmers’ questions on managing through the current dry spell.
06 June 2023

Overcoming one of the biggest barriers to dairy beef profits

If someone was to list the main reasons for low levels of profit in a dairy-beef system, a debate about beef sire genetics, cow type, calf price and the cost of the main inputs - such as meal, fertiliser and milk replacer - would ensue.
05 June 2023

Achieving animal performance targets at pasture

Irish beef production is largely pasture-based where collectively grazed and conserved pasture account for almost 90% of the lifetime feed consumption.
04 June 2023

Focusing on sustainability at Newford

Attendees at last week’s open day at Newford farm were told of a number of measures that have been implemented on the farm in recent years to improve sustainability and the farm’s carbon footprint.
03 June 2023

Putting clover to work on Future Beef farms

Along with supporting increased levels of animal performance, the inclusion of clover – both red and white – in silage and grazing swards can reduce a farm’s dependency on chemical nitrogen.
02 June 2023

Early weaning and clover incorporation in action at Newford

The performance achieved from grazed grass offers economic benefits to beef farmers, attendees at last week’s Newford Suckler Open Day heard. However, to maintain quality and performance, grass must be managed correctly.
01 June 2023

Shane Keaveney’s breeding season and farm update

Roscommon Future Beef Farmer Shane Keaveney is on this week’s Beef Edge podcast to discuss the breeding season to date and to give an update on the farm.
31 May 2023

Artificial insemination: Proven, practical and profitable

Three-quarters of all calves born in suckler herds are from stock bulls (ICBF). By not using AI, a lot of farmers are missing out on access to the best genetics at a lower cost than maintaining a stock bull, explains Gabriel Trayers, Teagasc Future Beef Programme Advisor.
31 May 2023

Dosing cattle - habit or necessity?

Aidan Murray, Teagasc Beef Specialist, offers advice on dosing and questions do farmers need to change their dosing practices.
31 May 2023

How’s the breeding season progressing for Future Beef Programme farmers?

Aisling Molloy, Future Beef Programme Advisor, outlines how the breeding season is progressing for some of the farmers enrolled in the Future Beef Programme.
30 May 2023

Watch: Missed the Newford Suckler Open Day?

Hundreds of farmers travelled west earlier this week for the Newford Suckler Open Day, where they learned of the changes and lessons learned since the project was initially set up in 2015.
28 May 2023

The story so far for the Tipperary Calf to Beef Demo Farm

The Tipperary Calf to Beef Demonstration Farm – trading as Ballyvadin Beef Farm Ltd. – was established by Teagasc, in conjunction with Dawn Meats and Shinagh Estates Ltd., to demonstrate the best technologies for profitable and sustainable production of beef calves from the dairy herd.
27 May 2023

Ensuring the successful transition to grass with dairy-beef calves

The busy calf rearing period is coming to an end on dairy calf to beef farms around the country. In this article, Teagasc DairyBeef 500 Advisor Tommy Cox looks at how to minimise setbacks when transitioning calves from indoor to outdoor life.
24 May 2023

What will impact silage quality this year?

Teagasc Grass10 advisor, Joseph Dunphy, is on this week’s episode of the Beef Edge podcast to discuss grazing management on farms at the moment and the dos and don’ts when it comes to harvesting silage.
24 May 2023

Watch: 100% AI and a 10-week breeding season delivering for Newford

Some may be fazed by the thoughts of using 100% artificial insemination (AI) on a fragmented suckler farm. However, this was certainly not the case and in fact the direct opposite for Newford based on the breeding performance of the herd.
23 May 2023

An overview of Newford and the financial performance being achieved

Newford welcomed visitors today, where the changes that have occurred since the farm was established were discussed at detail. Padraig French and Paul Crosson, Teagasc, along with Matthew Murphy, Dawn Meats, provided an overview and discussed the levels of profitability being achieved.
23 May 2023

Watch: Optimising animal performance to achieve a younger age of slaughter at Newford

Attendees at today's open day at Newford heard how a focus on grassland management, genetics and optimising animal performance is resulting in a reduction in slaughter age.
23 May 2023

Earlier finishing reduces GHG Emissions in Newford beef herd

Farmers attending a successful Newford Suckler beef demonstration farm open day in Athenry today, Tuesday, 23 May learned of the changes and lessons learned since the project was initially set up in 2015.
23 May 2023

Angus calf five-point sustainable production plan - from Croke Park to the Ploughing

In the quest for more sustainable beef production, four students from the Mercy Secondary School Kilbeggan, Westmeath have developed a five-point sustainable farm plan in combination with rearing Angus animals.
22 May 2023