Previous Future Beef Events
2024
Autumn Farm Walks – ‘Getting Winter Ready’
Friday, 1st November | 11am | Kilkenny
Farm of Ruairi Cummins, Rossenarra, Kilomoganny, Co. Kilkenny.
The booklet is available here: Getting Winter Ready – RC Booklet
Topics discussed included:
- Housing requirements
- Winter nutrition
- Animal health
- Water quality
Friday, 27 September | 3pm | Galway
Farm of Aonghusa Fahy, Tullira, Ardrahan, Co. Galway.
The booklet is available here: Getting Winter Ready – AF Booklet (pdf)
View accessible version of Aonghusa Fahy Winter Housing Farm Walk Booklet (pdf)
Topics discussed included:
- Housing requirements
- Winter nutrition
- Animal health
- Water quality
National Farm Walks 2024
Wednesday, 11 September | 6pm | Roscommon
Farm of Shane & Grainne Keaveney, Ballybane, Ballinlough, Co. Roscommon.
The focus of the event was ‘Opportunities in Suckler Farming’.
The booklet is available here: Farm Walk Booklet – Shane K.
Topics discussed included:
- Producing quality weanlings for the farm system
- Red clover silage – meeting winter weight targets
- The new EIP Island River Catchment scheme
- An opportunity for local farmers?
- Physical & financial performance of the farm
- Beef Market Outlook with
- Brendan Egan, Castlerea Livestock Mart
- Anthony O’Dowd, Dawn Meats
In the short clip below, Shane provides an overview of the farm and outlines topics that were discussed on the day.
Friday, 26 July | 3pm | Waterford
Eamon & Donnchadh McCarthy’s farm, Carrigeen, Glendine, Youghal, Co. Waterford
Profitable suckler beef farming
Topics covered on the day included:
- Financials
- Breeding strategy & Sensehub technology
- Development of a paddock system
- Actions to safeguard water quality
- Bull beef system
View the booklet from the farm walk here: Eamon & Donnchadh McCarthy – Farm Walk Booklet – July 26th 2024
Friday, 12 July | 6:30pm | Offaly
Ken Gill’s farm, Clonbullogue, Edenderry, Co. Offaly. Eircode: R45 HT67.
Profitable organic suckler beef farming
Topics covered on the day included:
- Beef profits & organic payments
- Breeding strategy
- Birth to finishing performance
- Red clover management
View the booklet from the farm walk here: Ken Gill – Farm Walk Booklet – July 12th 2024 (pdf)
Stands at the farm walk included organic farming, water quality, biodiversity, forestry & more
Spring Walks 2024
Friday, 12 April | 5:30pm | Sligo
On the outfarm of Trevor Boland, Skreen, Co. Sligo.
Topics discussed included:
- Bull choices & breeding plan
- Making quality silage in 2024 to reduce costs
- Getting the most from grass
See booklet from the day here: Feeding & Breeding Walk Booklet – Trevor Boland
Thursday, 21 March | 2pm | Clare
Feeding & Breeding Farm Walk
Farm of James Skehan, Ballynevin, O’Briensbridge, Co. Clare.
Topics discussed:
- Bull choices & breeding plan 2024
- Getting the most from grass
- Making quality silage in 2024 to reduce costs
See booklet from the day here: JS Booklet Spring 2024.
2023
Teagasc/ AHI Autumn Beef Health Walks 2023
The Teagasc Beef Specialist and local Advisory team hosted a series of Autumn Beef Health Walks in association with Animal Health Ireland (AHI). Topics discussed included: Housing Requirements; Winter Nutrition; Animal Health; Farm Safety.
Proinnsias Creedon, Barrathanaknock, Clondrohid, Macroom, Co. Cork hosted a farm walk on Thursday, 2 November. View the booklet here: Getting Winter Ready Booklet PC (PDF).
National Farm Walks
Thursday 7th September | 2pm – Ger McSweeney, Tooreenbawn, Millstreet, Co. Cork.
See Ger McSweeney – Farm Walk Booklet.
Topics discussed included:
- Breeding progress 2018-2023
- Improving grass management
- Financial performance
- Future plans to reduce carbon footprint
Breeding Farm Walks
Topics discussed included:
- Maximising suckler cow performance
- Replacement strategies to improve your herds breeding performance
- Meeting the requirements of the new Suckler Carbon Efficiency Programme (SCEP)
- The role for synchronisation and sexed semen in suckler herds
Monday 3rd April | 2pm – Eamon & Donnchadh McCarthy, Youghal, Co. Waterford hosted a farm walk on Monday, 3rd April 2023. View the booklet here: E&D McCarthy Breeding Walk Booklet (PDF).
How to save money on your farm this spring
Wednesday, 1st March | 2pm
Farm of John Barry, Mill Road, Newtown, Nenagh, Co. Tipperary. Eircode: E45 Y967.
Topics discussed included:
- How to get more live weight gain on your cattle
- How to save money on fertiliser
- Demo: How to calibrate your fertiliser & slurry spreaders– Frances Quigley, Teagasc Kildalton
- Beef outlook for 2023 & ABP Advantage Beef Programme
Read the booklet from this event: Beef Grass Walk: How to save more money on your farm this spring (PDF).
2022
Calving Heifers at 24 Months – Workshops
Calving heifers at two years of age significantly increases the net margin per suckler cow compared to calving at 30 to 36 months of age. Reducing the age at which heifers calve is also one of the most efficient ways to reduce carbon emissions from a suckler herd.
Teagasc and ICBF ran a series of workshops across the country in October and November 2022.
The topics covered at the workshops included: Why calve at 2 years of age; Busting the myths around earlier calving; Target weight gains and how they can be achieved; Heifer health management; Affordable synchronisation options for heifers; Selecting the right sires for use on heifers.
View the booklet from one of the workshops which took place in Teagasc Kildalton College on Friday, 11th November below:
Future Beef Programme Workshop Kildalton College – November 2022 (pdf)