Beef Newsletter – February 2024

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In this month’s edition:

• Fertiliser and slurry use
  Early nitrogen (N) is beneficial for spring growth, but timing is critical. We cannot waste N because of its cost and potential environmental impact.
• Research Update – Cow-calf bond development
  Noeleen Brereton, Mark McGee, Colin Byrne and Bernadette Earley report on the effect of suckler cow breed type and parity on the development of the cow-calf bond post partum and its relationship with calf passive immunity.
• SCEP reference for 2024
  Within the Suckler Carbon Efficiency Programme (SCEP) you can alter your yearly reference number. You may want to reduce the 2023 figure by
  up to 20%.
• Health and Safety – Slurry safety
  February brings an increase in workload and associated risk. Slurry spreading presents two particular safety problems – drowning and gas poisoning. Drowning is by far the most common cause of slurry death. Only agitate where there is good air movement.