Teagasc Green Acres Dairy Calf to Beef Programme Launched
The second phase of the Teagasc Green Acres Dairy Calf to Beef Programme was launched by Teagasc Director, Professor Gerry Boyle at a function in the Tullamore Court Hotel on Tuesday 9th April.
The first phase of the programme clearly demonstrated that where the participating farmers focused on the key drivers of profitability in calf to beef systems, there was a substantial increase in both their output and profitability per hectare.
The second phase of the Teagasc Green Acres Dairy Calf to Beef Programme was launched by Teagasc Director, Professor Gerry Boyle at a function in the Tullamore Court Hotel on Tuesday 9th April. The programme aims to share information from 14 participating farmers with beef producers right across the country to help them improve the performance of their businesses. This is a joint industry funded initiative that is supported by MSD Animal Health, Volac, Corteva Agriscience, Liffey Mills, Munster Bovine, Drummonds and AgriLand.
The programme will follow the progress made over the next three years by 14 beef farmers who are all buying dairy bred calves. It follows on from the very successful first phase of the programme that ended in 2018. Two dedicated full-time programme advisors will work closely with each of the farmers where they will focus on improving their overall farm profitability through better grassland management, calf rearing skills, animal health, financial management and overall farm planning.
Speaking at the launch Professor Gerry Boyle said: “I’m delighted to launch the second phase of the Teagasc Green Acres Calf to Beef Programme. I would like to thank all of the beef farmers and their families who have agreed for their farms to be used as demonstration farms. I would also like to thank our industry partners who are funding this innovative programme, and our media partner, AgriLand.”
The first phase of the programme clearly demonstrated that where the participating farmers focused on the key drivers of profitability in calf to beef systems, there was a substantial increase in both their output and profitability per hectare.
General Manager of MSD Animal Health Ireland, Fergal Morris said: “On behalf of the industry sponsors of the Teagasc Green Acres Dairy Calf to Beef Programme we are delighted to be involved in sponsoring this exciting farm programme. Demonstrating best practice on beef farms, from purchase through to finish of dairy bred calves, in systems that are sustainable and profitable is a key goal of the programme”.
Each of the farms will have the performance of their stock monitored on a regular basis, will complete a Teagasc eProfit Monitor annually, will record their grass covers weekly on PastureBase Ireland and will have a three year plan including a whole farm nutrient management plan drawn up for them.
Alan Dillon, Teagasc Cattle Specialist and manager of the new programme said: “One of the main objectives is to disseminate the information generated on these 14 farms to the wider audience of beef farmers who are practicing, or considering a calf to beef enterprise on their farm. This will be done through a variety of methods including media, technical notes and on-farm events over the three years of the programme”.
Agriland Managing Director, Cormac Farrelly welcomed their involvement as media partner to the programme; “We’re hugely excited to be working with Teagasc and the stakeholders on such an innovative programme. We hope to set a new standard of how these media partnerships work and, as always, intend to bring new innovation to ensure that the key messages and learnings from the programme are brought to as wide an audience as possible”.
To learn more about the Teagasc Green Acres Dairy Calf to Beef Programme and to meet the participating farmers visit www.teagasc.ie/GreenAcres