Beef

Creating a farm plan that secures your future in farming
Sometimes in order to be successful, a business must reset – Bob McNair. Farmers are a resilient breed - they have faced many challenges over the last few years. Farmers who hope to improve their business must plan. Farm Management Specialist James McDonnell has some advice and guidance
06 February 2021

Virtual Farmyard Tours
Due to COVID lock down restrictions,for farmers currently in the planning stages of building a new milking parlour one of the challenges is not being able to go and visit other farms. In the absence of farm visits Teagasc has started building a library of virtual farm tours on its website. See below
05 February 2021

What Milk and Concentrates Should be in the Diet of the Calf?
During Animal Health Ireland & Teagasc Calf Care Virtual Week held recently, Pauline O’Driscoll, Dairy advisor Skibbereen, asked Teagasc Researcher Dr Emer Kennedy & Dr Joe Patton Teagasc Nutritionist to discuss the guidelines for feeding milk and concentrates in the diet of the calf.
04 February 2021

Spring Nitrogen, How much and where?
For a small country we have huge variation in conditions, from Wexford to Donegal, from south to north Wexford and even within our own farms. Therefore we cannot have a one fits all recommendation on fertiliser or grazing for the spring. Martina Harrington, Beef Specialist advises on Spring Nitrogen
03 February 2021

The Importance of Knowing the Nutritional Value of Silage
Eamonn Dempsey, Teagasc Kerry, highlights the importance of knowing the nutritional value of silage and discusses analysis by visual & lab assessment, while Gerard Cregg, Teagasc Roscommon, focuses on the differences in silage quality from grass cut at different times and locations
03 February 2021

Newford Suckler Demonstration Farm - Pre-Calving 2021
Iarlaith Collins, Farm Manager and Michael Fagan, Teagasc Technician to the Newford Suckler Demonstration Farm give an insight into how the farm is preparing for the 2021 calving season. There are 92 cows to calve down this year on the farm and are all in-calf to 5 star terminal bulls.
01 February 2021

Teagasc Online Slurry Spreader Calibration Calculator
Many farmers will use Low Emission Slurry Spreading (LESS) methods such as a dribble bar, for the first time in place of the traditional splash plate. When using a new application method it's important to apply the slurry accurately as Francis Quigley, Teagasc Farm Machinery Specialist explains
29 January 2021

Calving time is here- prepare your farm
Feeding pregnant heifers and cows the majority of their daily ration as late as possible in the evening has been shown to minimise the number of animals calving at night and is increasingly becoming common practice in many suckler herds. Alan Dillon, Beef Specialist has more calving tips.
28 January 2021

Farming for Water Quality
The prohibited period when slurry, FYM and fertiliser spreading is not allowed to be spread will come to an end after the 31st January for all farms. Zone C: Donegal, Leitrim, Cavan & Monaghan, have the longest closed period. Ivan Kelly, ASSAP Advisor, Teagasc, Galway/Clare talks on water quality
26 January 2021

Teagasc highlight Farm Diversification Opportunities
Farm Diversification is the establishment of a new enterprise on farm. It usually refers to a non-agricultural or novel enterprise. Many farmers and rural dwellers are interested in diversifying their farm enterprise. Teagasc has a suite of 79 Farm Diversification Factsheets and videos to help
21 January 2021

What milk and concentrates should be in the diet of the calf?
As part of the Animal Health Ireland & Teagasc Calf Care Virtual Week Teagasc researcher Emer Kennedy & Joe Patton Teagasc nutritionist join Catherine Egan on the Beef Edge podcast to discuss the guidelines for feeding milk and concentrates in the diet of the calf. The detail is outlined below.
21 January 2021

The importance of taking a proper soil sample
The principle of soil analysis is to determine the average nutrient status of an area and to show the available nutrients in the soil. Once known you can then apply nutrients to bring your soils to optimum fertility. Martina Harrington, Teagasc Beef Specialist advises on proper soil sampling below
14 January 2021

Body Condition Scoring and Minerals Vital Pre-Calving
Keith Fahy, Drystock Adviser, Teagasc Galway/Clare outlines and recommends body condition scoring of suckler cows in the run up to calving. As minerals in silage can vary, Keith also stresses the importance of feeding minerals 4 to 6 weeks prior to calving to benefit both cow and calf health.
14 January 2021

Let's Talk Cattle 2021
The Teagasc Drystock Specialists invite you to join them in a new series of Cattle and Sheep webinars for 2021. These are live monthly interactive webinars. The first is Let's Talk Cattle on Thursday 14th January at 8 pm focusing on Care of the Purchased Dairy Beef Calf. Registration details below
13 January 2021

Next Few Months Critical to Spring Fertility
Getting management of the suckler cow right in the January to April period will be critical in determining the success of the 2021 breeding season. Most Spring calving suckler cows are either just freshly calved or will calve in the next 8-12 weeks. Aidan Murray Beef Specialist has all the advice
13 January 2021

Using PastureBase to Benefit the Farmer & the Environment
Creating a Win–Win Scenario for the Farmer & the Environment using PastureBase Ireland by reducing fertiliser costs and increasing nutrient use efficiency (NUE). This is the theme of this Grass10 and Pasturebase webinar on Wednesday 13th January at 7pm. Follow the link to register below.
11 January 2021

Preventing Deaths with Slurry
The Slurry Spreading season commences in many parts of the Country after the 12th January. With 10% of deaths being slurry-related in the 10 year period to 2020, John McNamara and Francis Bligh, Teagasc Health and Safety Specialists discuss the dangers and prevention of deaths with slurry
11 January 2021

Complete the Profit Monitor now
Early January is a great time to reflect on the year gone by and prepare a Profit Monitor. The Profit Monitor will look at the financial performance of your business in detail. Specialist George Ramsbottom outlines the benefits and process.
11 January 2021

Getting farm safety culture right
In 2020 19 farm workplace deaths took place on Irish farms.This compares with an annual average of about 20 per year over the last decade. Farm workplace injuries are particularly associated with tractors and machinery, livestock, falls from heights and objects falling as John McNamara points out.
10 January 2021

Farmers are rapidly upskilling in Information Technology
Charlie Devaney Teagasc Advisor Roscommon, encourages all farmers not to be afraid of change, to embrace technology and discover the benefits of accessing information and meetings online. Farmers and advisors alike are adapting to IT which has been accelerated through the Covid-19 lock-downs.
10 January 2021

Hemp for a Sustainable Future – Teagasc award at BTYSTE 2021 announced
Cian Walsh, a transition year student at St. Brogan's College, Kilbrogan, Bandon, Co. Cork, is the winner of the Teagasc award at the BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition 2021 (BTYSTE). Cian’s project looked at the social, economic and environmental benefits and drawbacks of growing hemp
10 January 2021

5 Steps to taking a soil sample
Here in just five easy steps Edward Egan & Tara Heaney, Teagasc Meath Advisors, take us through the process of taking a soil sample correctly in order to get a reliable soil result.
08 January 2021

Teagasc at the BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition (BTYSTE 2021)
Visit the Teagasc virtual stand in the ‘World of Science and Technology’ at BTYSTE 2021, taking place each day from 6th - 8th January at 9 am - 5.30pm. Find out more about the Teagasc prize that is awarded each year to an agricultural or food related project.
07 January 2021

Stay positive in January and get work done
Happy New year to you all. Martina Harrington, Beef Specialist, encourages a positive outlook for January and focuses on 10 jobs to be undertaken now to get ahead on the beef farm, from vaccinations to calving preparations, farm repairs to profit monitors, weighing, soil sampling and more.
06 January 2021

Aim for Zero Farm Accidents in 2021
Aim for Zero farm accidents every day in 2021. An accident causes tragedy and leads to tragedy, pain and suffering, and possibly lifelong disability. It is in everyone’s best interests to put time and effort into preventing accidents.This is the message from John McNamara Health & Safety Specialist
02 January 2021

Virtual Beef Conference 2020 - Day 3: Irish grass fed beef
Exploiting the full potential of Irish grass fed beef is the theme of Day 3 of the Virtual Beef Conference 2020, held at 8pm Thursday 3rd December. The last of three nights of webinars featured presentations by Dr. Edward O’Riordan & Dr. Aidan Moloney, Teagasc, Grange and Padraig Brennan, Bord Bia
06 December 2020

Virtual Beef Conference 2020 - Day 2: Improving beef health and welfare
Improving Beef health and welfare is the theme of Day 2 of the Virtual Beef Conference 2020, held at 8pm Wednesday 2nd December. The second of three nights of webinars featured presentations by Dr. Bernadette Earley from Teagasc Grange and Dr. Doreen Corridan from Munster Bovine
04 December 2020

Virtual Beef Conference 2020 - Day 1 Achieving target performance
Achieving target performance for weanlings during their first winter is theme of Day 1 of the Virtual Beef Conference 2020, held at 8pm Tuesday 1st December. The first of three nights of webinars featured presentations by Mark McGee, Teagasc Grange and Martina Harrington, Teagasc Beef Specialist
03 December 2020

Teagasc National Beef Conference goes virtual
This year’s Teagasc National Beef Conference moves online with a series of three virtual events to take place across three days, on Tuesday 1st, Wednesday 2nd, and Thursday 3rd December at 8pm each day. The focus is on winter nutrition, animal health and beef markets while improving sustainability.
27 November 2020

The Embrace Farm Accident Support Network and how it can help
From 2010 - 2019, 214 farmers lost their lives through a farming accident. On this week’s episode of the Beef Edge Podcast, founding member of Embrace FARM (Farm Accident Support Network) Norma Rohan outlines the services it offers.
18 November 2020