A look back at the happenings from Future Beef

Throughout the year, Future Beef hosted numerous beef events, webinars, compiled publications and issued various technical updates. In case you missed them, we take a look back at some of the highlights.

A Farmers’ Guide to Suckler Breeding Webinar Series

The Future Beef team hosted a series of webinars, which focused on a farmers’ guide to suckler breeding, covering topics such as pre-breeding essentials, breeding the ideal cow, and the latest technologies & how to use them properly. Further details below:

Pre-breeding essentials webinar:

Breeding the ideal cow

The Latest Technologies & How to Use Them Properly

National Events

A Future Beef Farm Walk took place on Wednesday, 3 September on the farm of programme participants Michael & Niall Biggins, Ballynalty, Headford, Co. Mayo. Read the proceedings from the event here – Future Beef Farm Walk – Michael and Niall Biggins (PDF). A Future Beef Farm Walk also took place on Friday, 25 July on the farm of programme participant Kay O’Sullivan, Mourneabbey, Mallow, Co. Cork.

The Future Beef team organised a series of Getting Winter Ready events in October.

Topics discussed included:

Nutrition: Using silage quality to determine meal feeding levels
Animal Health: Correct use of anthelminthics & pneumonia vaccination programmes
Housing: Correct lying space and improving shed ventilation
Breeding: Choosing bulls for the autumn calving herd
Environment: Improving water quality on beef farms

The booklet from the event on Newford demonstration farm, Skrine, Athleague, Co. Roscommon is available here.

A Future Beef Newsletter is issued on a regular basis throughout the year. The newsletter has relevant time critical information and advice. If you would like to receive the Future Beef Newsletter here.

Labour savings

The Future Beef Programme also launched a new series of short videos highlighting practical labour-saving tips and technologies for beef farmers. The series, featuring Future Beef farmers from across the country, showcases simple, effective measures that can help farmers improve efficiency, reduce workload, and enhance safety on beef farms.

Further episodes from the Future Beef Labour Saving Series are available here.

We would like to thank all our Future Beef Programme farmers for all that they have done throughout the year, hosting events and discussion groups and their continued hard work and support. We wish them and all their families a Happy Christmas and health and happiness in 2026.