Beef
Beef cattle finishing age reductions have stalled
Supported by strong evidence, reducing the average age of finish for beef cattle is an essential element for Irish agriculture to meet its greenhouse gas emission reduction targets. Worryingly, however, much of the progress that had been made in previous years stalled in 2023.
27 November 2024
Making sustainability real - a Ballyhaise experience
Alastair Pollock, College Teacher, discusses Ballyhaise College’s role of educating our future farmers on sustainability, while also exploring the measures delivering a reduction in carbon footprint on the college’s beef and dairy enterprises.
27 November 2024
Lowering emissions without hampering profitability
Farmers enrolled in the Future Beef Programme – Teagasc’s flagship suckler demonstration farm programme – have achieved significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions without impacting on farm profitability.
26 November 2024
Bluetongue: What are the risks for Irish cattle farmers and what can we do about it?
At the recent National Beef Conference, Dr. Eoin Ryan, Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) presented on 'Bluetongue: What are the risks for Irish cattle farmers and what can we do about it?'
25 November 2024
Technology can make earlier detection of pneumonia possible
Bovine respiratory disease (BRD) is a significant health problem of Irish suckler weanlings, resulting in morbidity, production losses and mortality in severe cases.
24 November 2024
Lime - an old but gold technology
Although one of the older technologies available, the correction of soil pH through the application of lime to acidic soils still remains a practical nutrient management solution and is the foundation for addressing soil fertility challenges on Irish farms.
23 November 2024
Drafting underway at Newford
Providing an update from the Newford Farm, Michael Fagan examines the performance of the 26 heifers and eight steers drafted off the farm since November 1.
22 November 2024
Economic sustainability of upland farms in a precarious position
Dr Emma Dillon, Economist and Senior Research Officer in the Teagasc Rural Economy & Development Programme, provided food for thought on the economic and social dynamics of upland farm at the Uplands Symposium, an event jointly organised by Teagasc and CAFRE on November 12.
21 November 2024
Don’t lose faith in protected urea
Although its performance has been questioned by some in the last year, protected urea does maintain grass growth when compared head-to-head with other forms of nitrogen fertiliser.
21 November 2024
Early positives from Derrypatrick’s clover systems study
Research ongoing in the Derrypatrick herd located at Teagasc Grange is examining the role clover - both red and white – can play in efficient suckler calf-to-beef production systems.
20 November 2024
Practical nutrient management solutions on beef farms
Research specific to Irish soils and conditions is offering valuable tools and strategies to help farmers tackle the issues of reducing greenhouse gas and ammonia emissions, minimising nutrient losses to water while, at the same time, ensuring the sustainability of their farm businesses.
17 November 2024
4 key winter housing considerations
Niall Kerins, Beef Specialist at Teagasc, outlines the key considerations and best practices for providing effective winter housing for cattle.
17 November 2024
Test your silage for better winter management
With housing taking place on farms across the country, it is the start of an expensive few months ahead. Silage quality should be tested, as this informs each farm of the correct amount of concentrates to feed to each animal group.
16 November 2024
Pneumonia: the silent killer
In the most recent all-island animal disease surveillance report pneumonia was diagnosed in 47.6% of suckler weanlings submitted for post mortem. Pneumonia (also known as bovine respiratory disease (BRD)) is the most significant infectious disease challenge in suckler weanlings.
15 November 2024
Bluetongue: What are the risks for Irish cattle farmers?
Although no cases of bluetongue have been detected in Ireland, Beef Specialist at Teagasc, Catherine Egan reminds us that Irish cattle and sheep remain at high risk from the disease.
14 November 2024
Meeting the ‘in-spec’ criteria for finishing cattle
Aisling Molloy, Future Beef Programme Advisor, shares tips and advice for farmers finishing cattle over the winter months, highlighting the importance of monitoring performance, understanding the payment grid and what to look for when drafting animals for sale.
13 November 2024
Listen: Staying resilient on the farm through stressful times of the year
Health & Wellness coach, Shane Pearson joins Catherine Egan on this week’s Beef Edge podcast to discuss key tips to staying resilient on the farm through stressful times of the year.
13 November 2024
Higher levels of liver fluke in factory cattle
Animal Health Ireland’s (AHI’s) Beef HealthCheck Programme has identified an increase in the level of liver fluke being witnessed in cattle sent to beef processing plants this year.
13 November 2024
Setting the scene for the Teagasc National Beef Conference
The countdown is on to the Teagasc National Beef Conference, scheduled to take place on Tuesday, November 19 in Landmark Hotel, Carrick-on-Shannon, Co. Leitrim.
12 November 2024
Management and Performance Update with Ger McSweeney
Ger McSweeney provides an update on the management and performance of livestock on farm, focusing primarily on the weaning and nutrition of spring-born bulls and heifers.
10 November 2024
100% AI on Olivia Hynes Farm
Olivia Hynes is making changes to her farm management as she works to rebuild her herd and improve efficiency. After facing challenges with a sub-fertile bull, she has decided to transition to 100% AI for next year’s breeding season.
09 November 2024
Reviewing the Ballyhaise herd performance and preparations for the winter ahead
Liam McWeeney and Noel Prunty from Teagasc Ballyhaise Agricultural College join Catherine Egan on this week’s Beef Edge to discuss the beef system, review of the performance to date and preparing for winter ahead.
09 November 2024
Autumn calving and animal health on John Barry’s farm
John Barry, Future Beef farmer, describes farming practices on his farm. He details seasonal calving with 50–55 cows in spring and 30–35 in autumn, housing schedules, and health management protocols.
07 November 2024
9 management tips when feeding dairy-beef animals this winter
Are you feeding dairy-beef animals this winter? Gordon Peppard, DairyBeef 500 Advisor, shares nine key tips to maximise performance, limit costs and ensure animals remain healthy over the winter months.
06 November 2024
SCEP mandatory training course deadline November 15 2024
Are you one of the over 5,000 Suckler Carbon Efficiency Programme (SCEP) participants yet to complete the mandatory training element? Beef Specialist at Teagasc, Catherine Egan reminds farmers of the upcoming deadline to have training completed and the implications of non-adherence.
05 November 2024
The key principles of feeding concentrates to growing-finishing cattle
With an indoor winter period required on practically all Irish farms, Mark McGee and Edward O’Riordan, Teagasc Grange, share principles on concentrate feeding – a key component of beef production systems.
04 November 2024
Dairy calf to beef: It’s good to talk
Discussion groups specific to dairy calf to beef farmers are now running in Teagasc regional units across the country. Teagasc DairyBeef 500 Advisor, Gordon Peppard tells us more in this article from Today’s Farm.
03 November 2024
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