Teagasc Beef2022 Open Day Launched
The official launch of the Teagasc Beef2022 Open Day, planned for Tuesday, 5th July, took place at the Teagasc, Animal & Grassland, Research and Innovation Centre, Grange, County Meath, today, Monday, 23 May. The Beef2022 Open Day is supported by FBD Trust.
The theme of this year’s event is ‘Supporting Sustainable Beef Farming’, where all aspects of sustainability - economic, social and environmental, will be addressed. The open day is taking place against the backdrop of unprecedented rises in costs of fertiliser, feed and fuel inputs as a result of extremely high energy prices and exacerbated by the war in Ukraine. At Beef2022 on 5th July, we will be directly addressing the implication for beef farmers.
Pictured at the official launch of the Teagasc Beef2022 Open Day, planned for Tuesday, 5th July, at the Teagasc, Animal & Grassland, Research and Innovation Centre, Grange, County Meath, and sponsored by FBD Trust were: Martina Harrington; Teagasc Future Beef programme; Professor Frank O Mara, Teagasc Director; Paul Crosson, Teagasc Beef Enterprise Leader; Michael Berkery, FBD Trust; Orla Keane, Teagasc Researcher, Grange.
Launching the Open Day, Teagasc Director, Professor Frank O’ Mara said; “There are significant challenges in relation to overall profitability, market disturbances, CAP reform, climate change policy and input price rises, however, the market for grass-fed beef as a high quality, sustainable human food protein source is strong.”
Paul Crosson, Beef Enterprise leader, Teagasc Grange, said; “The focus of the BEEF2022 Open Day will be on the application of technologies that will help beef farmers increase the profitability and environmental sustainability of their family farm businesses. Technologies in relation to grazing management, animal nutrition, beef genetics, reproductive management, animal health and farm planning will be essential to increase the competitiveness and sustainability of the Irish beef sector.”
Michael Berkery, on behalf of FBD, the main sponsor of the open day, said; “Research and education are the lifeblood of the modern and progressive farming sector we have in Ireland today. The flow of research-backed knowledge, and new technologies onto family farms, is critical to enhancing the sustainability of the beef sector. As Ireland’s leading farm insurer, FBD are proud to support the Teagasc Beef2022 Open Day in Grange.”
Head of the Teagasc Drystock Knowledge Transfer Department, Pearse Kelly said; “A key concern at present is the historically high input prices that have impacted on production costs for beef farms. The implications of these price rises, and strategies to mitigate their impacts on farm profitability, will be discussed in detail and highlighted at our open day on 5th July.”
The format of the day will consist of four main stands which will address the key issues facing beef farmers, followed by ‘Technology Villages’ which will provide detailed information on latest research and management practices for efficient beef production systems.
Main Stands
- What is the most suitable beef system for my farm?
- What are the most important performance targets for beef production systems?
- How do I achieve these performance targets?
- Optimizing beef farm profitability in the context of significant price volatility.
Beef 2022 Technology Villages
Environment - ‘Signpost Farms’
- Pathways to carbon neutrality
- Improving water quality
- Managing biodiversity on your farm
Grassland Demo
- Grassland management & budgeting
- Clover and multi-species pastures
- Making quality silage
Suckling Systems - ‘Future Beef Programme’ (part of the Signpost programme)
- Cow type and sire selection
- Calf health and welfare
- Derrypatrick and Newford suckler herds
Dairy-Beef Systems - ‘DairyBeef 500 Campaign’ (part of the Signpost programme)
- Improving calf quality
- Calf rearing and housing
- Grange dairy calf-to-beef system
Growing & Finishing Cattle
- Grass-based and indoor finishing strategies
- Reducing slaughter age of beef cattle
- Anthelmintic use and parasite control
Meat Quality
- Factors affecting meat quality
- ‘Grass-fed’ beef and PGI
- Quality-assured beef
Advisory, Education & Policy
- Pathways for a career in agriculture
- Succession and inheritance
- Implications of CAP reform for beef farms
Farming Lifestyle
- Health and safety on beef farms
- Health and wellbeing for farm families
- Achieving work-life balance
Key industry representatives including the Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine, the Irish Cattle Breeding Federation, Animal Health Ireland, Bord Bia, Meat Industry Ireland, Meat Technology Ireland, University College Dublin and the Health & Safety Authority will be participating at the Open Day.
BEEF2022 is your opportunity to see first-hand the results of Teagasc’s comprehensive research and innovation programme and to meet Teagasc research, advisory and education staff.
For more details of the planned Open Day, see www.Teagasc.ie/beef2022
Watch the BEEF2022 promo video below