BEEF2022 Supporting Sustainable Beef Farming
Type Media Article
By Catherine Egan, Beef Specialist, Teagasc
Teagasc Beef 2022 open day takes place on Tuesday 5th July in Teagasc Grange Co. Meath. The theme of this year’s event is ‘Supporting Sustainable Beef Farming’. 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. The focus of BEEF2022 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 which will form the main focus of the day. This major Open Day will provide the roadmap to deliver these goals for the Irish beef industry.
What’s happening on the day?
There will be four main stands highlighting beef systems for your farm, performance targets and achieving the targets while optimizing beef profitability. Following on there will be variety of technology villages such as the environment ‘signpost programme’ focusing on pathways to carbon neutrality, improving water quality and managing biodiversity on your farm. Grassland management and budgeting, clover and multi-species pastures will be demonstrated in the grassland village. If you operate a suckling system there is a village on suckling systems to visit with cow type and sire selection being discussed on the day. Calving at 24 months workshops will be run throughout the day. Speak to some of the ‘Future Beef’ programme participants and get updates from Derrypatrick and Newford suckler herds.
The new DairyBeef 500 campaign will feature on the day with topics such as calf quality, calf rearing and housing being discussed and the latest findings from the Grange dairy calf-to-beef system. If you are buying weanlings/stores or finishing cattle the growing and finishing cattle village will be of interest with demonstrations on maximising performance and a cattle display on meeting carcass specifications. It’s well worth a visit.
Producing quality beef is key to the success of the industry. Factors affecting meat quality, Grass-fed’ beef and PGI and quality-assured beef will be the topics of the day in the meat quality village. The Teagasc advisory, education and policy village will be focused on pathways for a career in agriculture succession and inheritance and implications of CAP reform for beef farms. Call in to meet with advisory and education staff and see what Teagasc has to offer.
A must visit for all attending is the farming lifestyle village focusing on health and safety on beef farms, labour, work life balance , well-being, plus lots more. There will be a live re-enactment of a farm accident along with machinery demonstrations.
In the afternoon there will be a forum with a panel of experts who will address supporting the sustainability of Irish beef farming.
Live Demonstrations:
There will be live displays in relation to low emissions slurry application, grazing management and health & safety throughout the day. There will be demonstrations in relation to the use of protected urea fertilisers, reseeding and farm infrastructure
Visit the Anaerobic Digestor:
Anaerobic digestion (AD) is a natural process whereby anaerobic bacteria convert organic compounds to a mixture of methane, carbon dioxide and other trace gases. The mixture of gases produced is called ‘biogas’ and can be used to replace fossil fuels. Teagasc Grange have recently completed a pilot-scale Anaerobic Digestor and this plant and associated research, will be available to visit on the day.
Teagasc acknowledges with gratitude the support of FBD Trust who will be available on the day to meet attendees. On the day there will be an opportunity of meet with 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.
If you are a beef farmer, BEEF 2022 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.
BEEF2022 on Tuesday 5th July in Teagasc Grange is a free event and is a day not to be missed. Further information www.teagasc.ie/beef2022