Growing and Finishing Cattle
First winter nutrition: silage digestibility and concentrate supplementation to maximise compensatory growth
In beef production systems, feed provision is the single largest direct cost incurred, accounting for approximately 75% of total costs of production; therefore, focusing on feed (cost) efficiency enhances farm profitability. Of the predominant feedstuffs available, grazed grass is lowest cost, purchased concentrate is the most expensive and grass silage and other conserved forages are […]
1 July 2026
Nutritional management of finishing beef cattle
In 2025, the national average finishing age of prime beef cattle was 26.5 months. To improve environmental sustainability of Irish beef production systems a goal, embodied in the national Climate Action Plan, is to reduce mean age at finish by ~three months by 2030 relative to 2018. This can be achieved by improving animal nutrition, […]
1 July 2026
Methane-reducing feed additive research in beef cattle
The microbial ecosystem residing in the rumen or forestomach of ruminant animals facilitates the conversion of human-inedible plant material into high-quality meat protein. However, this fermentation process results in methane production as a metabolic by-product. Methane is the second most important greenhouse gas (GHG) after carbon dioxide and accounts for approximately 74% of Irish agricultural […]
1 July 2026
Finishing cattle housing: space allowance and floor type
A series of experiments were conducted at Teagasc, Grange to examine the effects of space allowance and floor type on cattle performance and welfare. The research primarily involved finishing steers, with additional studies using heifers, bulls, and weanlings. Across experiments, treatments included concrete slatted floors (CS), different rubber mat types overlaid on concrete slats (RM), […]
1 July 2026
Health management of purchased weanlings and store cattle
Beef farming in Ireland is characterised by many different production systems and repeated animal movements are an inherent feature. The structure of the sector typically involves cattle moving through several holdings before slaughter, often transferring from dairy or suckler herds to specialist rearers and subsequently to finishing farms. While this system supports efficient use of […]
1 July 2026
Digital approaches for beef carcass characterisation
The meat industry is increasingly seeking automation to address challenges such as labour shortages, worker welfare in abattoir environments, stringent hygiene requirements for non-contact processing and the need to minimise waste. Over the past few years, automation in poultry and pork processing has advanced considerably; however, the beef sector continues to lag due to several […]
1 July 2026
Measuring beef quality: from EUROP grid to consumer-driven eating quality and emerging technologies
Beef production is one of the most economically and culturally significant food industries in Europe, contributing to food security, sustainable land use and diverse national cuisines. Yet EU beef consumption has declined by approximately 13% over two decades – from 11.1 kg per capita in 2004 to 9.6 kg in 2024 – and is projected […]
1 July 2026
Developing premium Irish beef through dry aging and novel processing technologies
Irish beef is well-known around the world and is synonymous with being high quality, flavoursome and nutritious, thanks to our pasture-based farming systems. Considering this high-value raw material, industry is increasingly seeking opportunities to further enhance the eating quality and consumer acceptance of Irish beef. Extensive research has been carried out on this area at […]
1 July 2026
Market outlook for Irish beef and livestock, summer 2026
Producer price developments The year 2025 will be remembered fondly by most beef farmers, as Irish cattle prices reached new record levels, rising by an average of 39% year-on-year. Unfortunately, however, producers have experienced considerable downward pressure on the value of their animals over recent months, and many are questioning whether there are any signs […]
1 July 2026