The Teagasc DairyBeef 500 Campaign

By Gerry Cregg,

Beef Advisor,

Teagasc Castlerea.

 

Teagasc has developed a new initiative which focuses on management practices for technically-efficient, dairy-beef systems called DairyBeef 500. The DairyBeef 500 Campaign will aim to promote the adoption of best practice at farm level to increase the future viability and sustainability of the Irish beef sector. It will promote greater integration of the dairy and beef sectors, the aim is to improve the beef merit of calves from the dairy herd, and to provide an attractive business option for beef farmers. The programme targets a net margin of €500 per hectare, excluding land and family labour on farms through the increased adoption of best practices, especially in relation to grassland management and calf rearing. With the ultimate aim to establish a cohort of profitable and environmentally sustainable dairy-beef producers.

A core element of the DairyBeef 500 Campaign is Knowledge Transfer between advisors and farmers. Discussion groups will be one of the main channels used for transferring the main messages of operating a successful dairy calf to beef enterprise. Currently discussion groups are been set up across all Teagasc advisory regions for those who are operating or those planning on implementing a dairy calf to beef enterprise on their farm. The groups will be delivered by the Teagasc team of advisors and specialists, and will focus on important aspects of farm management such as calf rearing, grassland management, financial management, animal health, labour and time management, animal nutrition, animal performance, as well as any other important aspects of running a successful Dairy calf to beef enterprise. Once set up groups will meet 6/7 times annually at timely stages throughout the year. The local Teagasc dairybeef 500 demo farms will be used initially during the group start-up phase and then the group will expand to other member farms as well as the opportunity to visit some of the dairy calf to beef research farms. The groups will give farmers the opportunity to share ideas, solve problems and acquire technical expertise. A timetable/schedule of the dates, venues and topics for the discussion group will be developed at the start of the year and this will provide a platform for the group for the year. While on farm meetings will be the primary mode of interaction among farmers the discussion groups will also utilise a range of methods of communications such as WhatsApp groups, Zoom, and various other method of communication technology.

To facilitate this initiative the farm of Martin Connolly , Ballintubber, will be used as a focal point to aid discussion and to examine best practise in calf rearing and grassland management. Martin has introduced a number of new initiatives to improve the viability of this Calf to Beef unit including sowing Red Clover silage, stitching white clover into grazing paddocks and has significantly  improved his silage quality. Martin presently rears over 100 friesian bull calves to beef at 20 months of age . The farm has focused on key practises to improve the profitability of this unit.

We intend holding the first meeting for the group in the last week of February  so if you intend rearing  dairy calves in the next few months and could benefit with some advisory support  in improving  your practises in calf rearing  we will delighted if you join us. Contact Gerry Cregg, Teagasc Office Castlerea (Tel: 094 9620160) email; Gerard.Cregg@teagasc.ie