Beef

Newford Farm Update: Grazing season commences

The latest Newford Farm Update provides an insight on grassland and the plan for spring slurry and fertiliser management. Donal Fahy, Technician at Newford, also gives an update on calving, animal performance and the biodiversity initiatives being undertaken.
04 February 2023

Caution advised as soil fertility levels remain stable in 2022

A recent review of the 2022 soil test results show that for the second year running the number of soil samples taken across Ireland has increased. The largest increase in soil sample numbers was on drystock farms, which increased by 19% in 2022.
03 February 2023

Age at slaughter and in spec traits added to DBI

Additional measures – including a carbon sub-index, age of slaughter and an in spec composite trait – have been added to the DairyBeef Index (DBI) as part of the Irish Cattle Breeding Federation’s latest evaluation of the beef breeding tool for dairy farmers.
03 February 2023

Eamon and Donnchadh McCarthy Soil Fertility Update

Eamon and his son Donnchadh are farming in Carrigeen, Glendine, Youghal, Co. Waterford. Both work part-time on the farm. In addition, Eamonn works as a relief milker and Donnchadh has a full-time off farm job.
03 February 2023

What you need to know about the changes to the new CAP

Teagasc Drystock advisor Niall Kerins joins Catherine Egan on this week’s episode of the Beef Edge podcast to discuss the upcoming changes to the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP).
01 February 2023

Targeting early grass on DairyBeef 500 farms

One of the Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) on the DairyBeef 500 Campaign farms is the early turnout of livestock to grass in the spring, Fergal Maguire, DairyBeef 500 advisor, gives an update on why it is so important in this article.
01 February 2023

September deadline for derogation water quality review

The Nitrates Derogation, the means by which some Irish farmers can surpass a 170kg/ha limit of organic nitrogen on their grassland area, will be reviewed in 2023.
01 February 2023

Eight week window for Nitrates Derogation applications

Farmers availing of the Nitrates Derogation for 2023 have until March 31 to do so, with the application process now available through the Department of Agriculture’s Agfood.ie portal.
31 January 2023

Change brings reduction in herd health issues for dairy-beef farm

Peter O’Hanrahan – a participant in Teagasc’s DairyBeef 500 Campaign – farms in partnership with his father Thomas, operating a calf to beef system, where 200 calves are purchased and carried to beef annually.
30 January 2023

What will the National Fertiliser Database mean for farmers?

A National Fertiliser Database is in the process of being established by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM), with legislation for its creation currently going through the Oireachtas.
30 January 2023

Turnout to housing: Grange dairy-beef calves achieve 0.9kg ADG

The 'Dairy Calf to Beef' research farm system in Teagasc Grange has a land area of 93ac (37.6 ha). Each year, 120 dairy-beef male calves are purchased from dairy farms and are managed under an intensive grass-based system, slaughtering cattle from 19-24 months of age.
29 January 2023

Opportunity to ‘flick a switch’ and create new approach to dairy beef breeding

An opportunity exists to improve the quality of beef being produced from the dairy herd, but it’s going to take buy in from dairy farmers nationally.
28 January 2023

Feed and fertiliser costs hit DairyBeef 500 monitor farm profits

Increased spending associated with higher feed and fertiliser costs were pinpointed as major contributing factors to a reduction in the profits witnessed on DairyBeef 500 monitor farms in 2022.
27 January 2023

The steps to take for a farm transfer

Philip O’Connor and Trevor Boland from IFAC, the Irish Farm Accounts Co-operative Society, are on this week’s Beef Edge podcast to discuss what can be done to help plan a farm transfer.
26 January 2023

6 key changes to nitrates regulations for 2023

The Nitrates Action Programme – the means by which the Nitrates Directive is delivered in Ireland – has undergone a number of changes, with stronger measures introduced for the protection of water quality.
26 January 2023

Budgeting for spring feed requirements

Across some parts of the country, particularly in the southern region, stock have eaten a lot more silage than expected for this stage of the winter.
26 January 2023

Future Beef: A review of weights, grass growth and soil fertility

The Teagasc Future Beef Programme is a network of 24 beef demonstration farms located right around Ireland. 22 of these farms are commercial farms and the other 2 are non-commercial.
25 January 2023

Fertiliser spreader calibration: getting ready for the coming season

Teagasc, in association with Carberry, organised a number of events on fertiliser spreader setup and calibration in West Cork recently.
24 January 2023

Preparing for calving with John Pringle, FutureBeef farmer

John Pringle is a full-time suckler and sheep farmer in Kilacloran, Aughrim Co. Wicklow. He farms with his wife Linda, daughter Lucy and sons William and Scott.
24 January 2023

Teagasc Grass10 Grazing Courses Recommended By 99% Of Farmers!

99% of farmers surveyed in Teagasc Grass10 Grazing Courses said they would recommend it to another farmer.
23 January 2023

Watch: Selecting dairy beef animals for slaughter

Drafting and selecting animals for slaughter is ongoing on Teagasc DairyBeef 500 farms and this management task will continue right throughout the spring.
23 January 2023

Maximising the benefits of slurry and soil sampling on drystock farms

Slurry provides a rich source of nutrients to grow grass and its potential is enhanced on farms in early spring applications. Niall Kerins, Teagasc Tralee, outlines more.
22 January 2023

Delivering what you get paid for

Agriculture must lower its contribution to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and reducing slaughter age is one way to help achieve these targets for beef producers.
22 January 2023

Introducing SCEP: the new suckler scheme for 2023

Applications for the new Suckler Carbon Efficiency Programme (SCEP) – the replacement for the Beef Data and Genomics Programme (BDGP) are expected to open to farmers in March of this year.
21 January 2023

How to reduce nitrogen losses at farm level

The prohibited period when organic fertilisers are not allowed to be spread on 'zone B' farms came to an end on January 15th, Mary Roache, Teagasc advisor in Westport, offers advice on reducing nitrogen losses.
20 January 2023

Sustainable and profitable beef - the key drivers

The two main drivers of profit and efficiency are age at first calving for suckler calf to weanling systems and optimising live weight performance (Average Daily Gain/ADG) for suckler weanling-to-beef systems. John Galvin, Teagasc advisor, discusses further.
20 January 2023

What should I be looking for in a pre-calving mineral?

In advance of calving season, on this week’s Beef Edge podcast, Catherine Egan is joined by Teagasc Head of Dairy, Joe Patton, to find out how to manage cow nutrition in the crucial weeks pre and post-calving.
18 January 2023

The Calm before the Storm on many Suckler Farms

As we move through this month calving will be edging ever closer on many suckler farms so a little planning can go a long way to ensure things run smoother once calving begins.
18 January 2023

Producing a calf for profitable dairy beef key focus of upcoming conference

A DairyBeef 500 Spring Conference will take place at two venues this January and will be of interest to both dairy farmers who want to produce more saleable calves, and beef farmers who have dairy calf to beef enterprises.
17 January 2023

Future Beef Newsletter January 2023

The January newsletter from the Future Beef team features top tips for the month, an update from John Pringle's farm in Co. Wicklow, a grassland update from Olivia Hynes and a soil fertility update from Eamon and Donnchadh McCarthy.
17 January 2023