September 2023
The following articles appeared in the September edition of the DairyBeef 500 newsletter
Download the newsletter: DairyBeef 500 newsletter September 2023 (PDF)
Farm Walk on farm of Pat Collins, Co. Cork
The theme of the farm walk on September 12th was ‘Dairy breeding for beef feeding’, which was be of great interest to both dairy farmers and those interested in rearing dairy-bred stock. Topics on the day included:
- current farming system and financial performance;
- grassland management, including red clover and multi-species swards;
- winter feeding options for finishing and weanling animals.
Read more about Pat’s farm and event here
Farmer Profile – Irvine Allen
It has being a tricky grass year for Dairybeef 500 farmer Irvine Allen, but performance is good
Irvine is farming in Mount Temple just outside Moate in County Westmeath. He farms 58 hectares of land in 2 blocks and purchases 120 predominantly Friesian bull calves each year. Fergal Maguire, Teagasc DairyBeef 500 Advisor, tells us more on his farming year.
Read more about Irvine’s farm here
Planning now for Early Spring Grass
As we enter the final third of the year and the final few weeks of the grazing season, now is the ideal time to put a plan in place to have high quality grass available for your stock next spring.
It is impossible to predict what the weather and ground conditions will be like next February and early March for grazing, but the one certainty is that you will have plenty of stock available to take advantage of high quality grass if it is available.
Get more information on planning for early spring grass here
Dairy Beef 500 Farm Review from farm of Austin and Jarlath Ruane
From modest beginnings in 2016 when 10 calves were purchased, Jarlath and Austin Ruane have developed their calf-to-beef enterprise considerably over recent years.
Now purchasing – 80 calves annually – a mix of Holstein Friesian, Angus, Limousin and Hereford males – the Ruanes’ journey into dairy-beef was outlined as part of a recent DairyBeef 500 Campaign farm walk.
Farming a total of 34ha today, with 28.5ha attributed to beef production, the farm is home to a dairy-beef enterprise and a lowland ewe flock. In a throwback to the previous store-to-beef production system, a small number of store cattle are purchased annually and are also finished on farm.
As one of 15 demonstration farms enrolled in the DairyBeef 500 Campaign, the Ruanes are working to improve animal health, animal performance and grassland management, with the overall aim of improving on-farm profitability. In addition to this, a central focus is placed on the sustainability credentials of the farm, as the Ruanes are also participants in the Teagasc Signpost Programme.
Read more about Ruanes and their farming system
Students graduate from Teagasc Dairy Calf to Beef Courses
Congratulations to the first groups of farmers who graduated this week from two Teagasc Dairy Calf to Beef courses which were run as part of the Teagasc Dairy Beef 500 programme and commenced in October last year.
There will be more regional calf to beef courses starting again shortly. If you are interested in completing a Dairy calf to beef course in the future register below or contact Fergal Maguire on 0851585993 for more info.
Find out more and express an interest in the course
Beef Edge Podcast with Pat Collins
In this episode of The Beef Edge Podcast, Catherine Egan interviews Pat Collins, to discuss his farming system and talk about his upcoming farm walk