Review of Beef 2022 Open day
The Beef 2022 open day took place just a month ago on the 5th July. If you missed the open day tune into an episode of the beef edge podcast to get the key messages for your beef system. Catherine Egan, Teagasc Beef Specialist reviews key points from the day with a series of Beef Edge podcasts here
View or Download Beef2022 - Supporting Sustainable Beef Farming - Open Day Booklet (PDF)
Suckler System
Teagasc Advisor, Alan Nolan, based in Ballinrobe Co. Mayo, joins Catherine Egan on this week’s Beef Edge podcast to review key messages for suckler farmers from Beef2022. Alan highlights the big focus of the day on was on improving reproductive performance, through genetics, AI, heat synchronisation and calving at 24 months. There was a big discussion in the suckler village on the day in relation to how a farmer narrows the selection of replacement females. Alan also describes the main actions needed and the most important traits for a replacement female in your herd.
Growing & Finishing System
Dr Eddie O’Riordan, Teagasc Researcher, discusses the key points from Beef2022 for growing and finishing cattle farmers. Topics on the day included silage quality, concentrate supplementation, herd health and the drafting of cattle. Silage Quality will have high influence on performance and costs and Eddie explains there is a difference of €100 in costs moving from 60 – 75 DMD silage for a weanling to gain 0.5kg over the winter period.With the rise in concentrate prices, the key point for farmers to keep in mind is to test silage and then balance with concentrates as required.
Reducing age of slaughter was also discussed and Eddie highlights how the national figures have changed over the past eleven years and says that, while it is a challenge, there are more reductions that can be made in the future. Eddie describes the key aspects of drafting cattle for finish to avoid the costs of putting on fat.
Herd health is a critical area to maximise the lifetime performance of the animal, particularly purchasing stock, and Eddie discusses the topics outlined by AHI based on the beef health check analysis, parasite control by Orla Keane, Researcher at Teagasc Grange, and the health plan by the vet on the day.
Dairy calf to beef System
DairyBeef 500 campaign manager, Alan Dillon, reviews the key messages from Beef2022 for dairy beef farmers; plus he discusses the lessons learned from the Green Acres Programme and outlines the new five year DairyBeef 500 campaign that was launched recently. Alan first explained how building a sustainable dairy-beef system was highlighted at Beef2022 by incorporating grass, genetics and herd health to support an economic and environmentally sustainable system.
The Green Acres programme has now drawn to a close and analysis of the past three years’ data showed a net margin increase from €100/ha to €650/ha (excluding subsidies). Live weight output increased from 994 kg/ha in 2019 to 1,427 kg/ha in 2021.
Over the course of the Green Acres programme, grass production increased by 19%, while there was a huge focus on silage and DMD increased by 4% units, helping achieve an ADG of 0.6 kg over first winter. The indoor winter periods were identified as being the main area for improvement on farms.The average number of source herds reduced from 10 farms to 6, resulting in improved calf health, while the genetic merit improved slightly across calves purchased, it is the most difficult area to improve.
The Dairy Beef 500 campaign was launched recently with a target of €500/ha net profit and Alan outlines all that is to be achieved over the next five years. The Ballyvadin Demonstration Farm will be a key component of the campaign located in Fethard Co. Tipperary. 300 calves will be purchased and a heifer and steer finishing system will be operated comprising of a number of breeds. Farmers will get an opportunity to visit the farm and see the progress being made.
The DairyBeef 500 farmers are located across the country and there will be four new farms added in addition to the rollover of farmers from the Green acres programme. There will be a number of courses arranged over the campaign for farmers to attend along with regional discussion groups and further details will be available on the Teagasc website and social media channels.
BEEF 2022 Forum ‘Supporting Sustainable Beef Farming
On the 5th July the forum at Beef 2022 was an informative engaging event. It was addressed by the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Charlie McConalogue and was moderated by Ivan Yates. If you missed it or were unable to attend Beef 2022 there is a full recording below.
The theme of the forum was ‘Supporting Sustainable Beef Farming’ that concluded the open day in Teagasc Grange on the 5th July. It was an open discussion with:
- Professor Alice Stanton, RCSI,
- Michael Biggins, Future Beef Farmer from Co. Mayo,
- Professor Frank O'Mara, Teagasc Director and
- Phelim O'Neill, Irish Farmers Journal.
This recording is also available on two episodes of Beef Edge Podcast below
For more episodes from the Beef Edge podcast, visit the show page at: www.teagasc.ie/thebeefedge
Download the Beef2022 - Supporting Sustainable Beef Farming - Open Day Booklet (PDF)
****The Teagasc Beef Specialists issue an article on a topic of interest to Suckler and Beef farmers every Wednesday here on Teagasc Daily. Teagasc provides a Local Advisory and Education service to farmers. Find your local Teagasc office here ****