Experiments
Experiments
The Teagasc/ABP dairy beef programme (2015-2019)
The current Teagasc/ABP dairy beef programme builds on the previous Teagasc Dairy Beef production systems trial work completed from 2010 to 2015. The aim is to identify the most suitable beef bull genetics for crossing on the dairy herd, to genetically improve main breeds supplying beef bulls to dairy herd, and thereby improve the efficiency and profitability of dairy beef production.
Read more:
The ICBF Gene Ireland Dairy Beef Programme (PDF) plays an important part in the programme, enabling the distribution of dairy beef straws to dairy farmers as well as carrying out performance testing of progeny from the programme in their centre in Tully, Co. Kildare.
Herbage Allowance Trial (2015-2020)
The aim of this trial is to establish the optimum herbage allowance that can increase the carcass output, while also investigating the environmental impacts of reducing the herbage allocation.
- Herbage allowance Trial 2015-2020 (PDF).
Previous Experiments
Previous research at carried out at Johnstown Castle since 2010 has evaluated the performance of dairy calves across varying production systems. These trials included:
- Male dairy calf to beef production systems
- Early maturing calf to beef production systems
- The supplementation of calves during their first season at grass
The purpose of these studies was to establish profitable blueprints of production for producers. The trials included dairy bull, steer and heifer systems, and early maturing heifer and steer systems.
Concentrate supplementation to calves during their first season at pasture
A research study was conducted to evaluate the influence and potential benefits of additional concentrate supplementation to calves during their first season at grass, see –
Calf performance during their first grazing season (PDF).
Alternative finishing strategies for male Friesian calves
Finding the optimal targets and production blueprints, and ultimately the most profitable system, for male dairy calves has been a large focus of the dairy beef research. The performance results, profitability and blueprints for optimum systems are outlined here Finishing Strategies for male Friesian calves (PDF).
Production systems for early maturing crossbred calves
The early maturing dairy calf-to-beef trials investigated the effects of date of birth (early and late spring born) and slaughter age of both steers and heifers in low input pasture based production systems. The performance results, profitability and blueprints for optimum systems are outlined here Production systems for early maturing crossbred calves (PDF).
Herbage production of calf to beef production systems
A key element of profitable dairy calf-to-beef and early maturing crossbred systems is the efficient utilisation of grazed grass. The variation in the feed budgets for grass, grass silage and concentrates for each production system can be found here Herbage production, calf to beef (PDF).