Dairy Calf-to-Beef International Conference

16 October 2024 17 October 2024 Teagasc with the support of the British Society of Animal Science (BSAS) and ABP are hosting an International Technical Conference in Ireland on the 16th and 17th of October 2024 focusing on the production of beef from the dairy herd.

Click here to book your ticket!  

In recent years there has been a major increase in research efforts to address challenges around the production of beef from the dairy herd, including the development of a number of large-scale joint initiatives with industry partners.

The Dairy Calf-to-Beef International Conference will provide a platform for the dissemination of the latest results from these studies, as well as updates on state of the art technological advances in dairy-beef production, internationally.

In addition, this conference will provide an opportunity for delegates to learn about new innovations to promote sustainability within the sector and to underpin the future viability of dairy and beef sectors.

Leading national and international scientists will compare:

• intensive concentrate-based and pasture-based dairy-beef systems and their impact on financial and environmental sustainability;
• the impact of new developments in beef cattle genetics targeted for use in the dairy herd;
• nutrition of dairy-beef calves in early life;
• health of dairy-beef calves in intensive and pasture-based systems as well as
• measures to support better vertical integration of the dairy-beef industry.

Agenda

Day 1 | Day 2

Day 1 - Wednesday, 16^th October

9am
Registration and coffee

9.45am
Introduction/opening

Professor Frank O’Mara, Teagasc Director

10am - 12noon
Session 1 – Dairy calf to beef production systems

Chaired by Laura Awdry, AHDB

10am
Evolution of Irish dairy-beef production in wake of market and policy change
Dr. Nicky Byrne, Teagasc

10.30am
New Zealand pasture-based dairy beef production
Bob Thomson, AGFIRST, New Zealand

11.00am
UK dairy-beef system performance
Professor Jude Capper, Harper Adams University, UK

11.30am
Discussion

12noon
Lunch and poster viewing

1pm
Field trip - Johnstown Castle and ABP Demo farm

6pm
Return to hotel

7.30pm
Conference dinner

Day 2 - Thursday, 17^th October

8.30am - 10.30am
Session 2 - Health and Welfare

Chaired by James Lynch

8.30am
Bovine respiratory disease management in dairy beef calves
Professor Bart Pardon, University of Ghent, Belgium

9.10am
Parasite control in young cattle
Dr. Dave Leathwick, AgResearch, New Zealand

9.50am
Trends in calfhood diseases
Ciara Hayes, Cork Regional Veterinary Laboratory

10.05am
Calf welfare legislation
Stephanie Ronan, Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM)

10.20am
Summer scour syndrome
Dr. John Donlon, Teagasc

10.30am
Coffee & poster viewing

11.00am - 12.30pm
Session 3 - Panel Discussion on vertical integration of the dairy beef supply chain

Chaired by Phelim O’Neill

Panel Members:

• Kevin Cahill (ABP CEO)
• Gavin Hodgson (Sainsbury’s)
• Professor Jude Capper (Harper Adams University, UK)
• Bob Thomson (AGFIRST, New Zealand)
• Shane Fitzgerald (dairy farmer, Portlaw) 
  

12.30pm
Lunch & poster viewing

1.30pm - 3.00pm
Session 4 - Calf Nutrition – birth to yearling

Chaired by Dr. Alan Kelly, UCD

1.30pm
Calf nutrition: current feeding challenges from birth to yearling
Dr. Maria Devant, IRTA, Catalonia

2:00pm
Impact of early life nutrition on lifetime growth and carcass characteristics of dairy bred beef cattle
Professor David Kenny, Teagasc

2.30pm
The role of grass in the diet of the growing calf post-weaning
Dr. Emer Kennedy, Teagasc

3:00pm
Coffee & poster viewing 

15:15 - 17:00
Session 5 - Breeding and reproduction

Chaired by Michael Doran

3:15pm
Harnessing reproductive technologies to accelerate integration of the dairy and beef sectors
Professor Stephen Butler, Teagasc

3.40pm
The Dairy Beef Gene Ireland programme as a driver of the Dairy Beef Index and Commercial Beef Value in the Irish Dairy Beef industry
Niall Kilrane, ICBF

4.05pm
Experiences and future expectations on breeding schemes targeted beef on dairy
Dr. Jørn Rind Thomasen, Viking Genetics

4.30pm
New paper

4.50pm
Discussion

5.00pm
Close of conference
Professor Pat Dillon, Teagasc

Abstracts

We welcome all industry stakeholders and researchers involved or interested in dairy-beef production research and invite them to showcase their work.

Click below for guidelines around submitting abstracts.  

• Dairy Calf to Beef International Conference - Abstract Author Submission Guidelines
• Dairy Calf to Beef International Conference Abstract Template

Registration fee:
Delegate rate: €250  |  Student rate: €200
Registration fee includes attendance at the two day event, lunch on both days, tea/coffee breaks, gala dinner and proceedings booklet.

Click here to book your ticket!  

For more information about this event, please contact ellen.fitzpatrick@teagasc.ie or margie.egan@teagasc.ie 

Closing date of registration is Friday 11th October at 12 noon