September 2025 Future Beef Newsletter

John is pictured with his wife Sarah and their son Jack

John runs a suckler beef farm in Newtown, Nenagh, Co. Tipperary with an 80-cow suckling to weanling/store system. His herd is made up of 50 spring-calving suckler cows and 30 autumn-calving suckler cows.

• The male calves are sold as weanlings.
• Heifers not retained for breeding are sold as stores.

John places strong emphasis on genetics and herd performance. Each year, his aim is to calve down 60% of cows to AI, using mainly Limousin and Belgian Blue sires. A Limousin stock bull is used to cover repeats, ensuring good-quality calves for both the weanling and store markets.

At present, John is focused on a number of important management tasks on his farm, including:

• Calving the autumn suckler herd
• Preparing spring-born calves for weaning
• Administering viral pneumonia vaccinations
• Introducing calf creep feed
• Creep grazing to boost calf performance
• Scanning the spring-calving herd (to check for empty cows and to determine calf sex)
• Getting store cattle ready for sale
• Building grass for autumn grazing

John’s approach highlights the key priorities for Irish suckler beef farmers: good herd fertility, strong calf performance, and effective grassland management. You can read more here.

Watch the video below to see how John is preparing for weaning on his farm.

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Technical Update – Best Practice for Castrating Cattle

Key protocols for humane, effective castration are critical for animal welfare, cattle management, and Irish farming compliance. In Ireland, castration rules allow rubber ring castration (or similar banding techniques) without anaesthesia only up to 8 days of age, and Burdizzo (bloodless castration) without anaesthesia up to 6 months. Beyond these ages, castration must be performed by a veterinary practitioner using anaesthesia and/or analgesia.

Rubber ring castration up to 8 days of age is a labour saving technique used on some of the Future Beef farms

Best practice emphasises carrying out castration at the youngest practical age, as older calves experience greater pain, stress, and reduced welfare. Research demonstrates no growth or carcass benefit from delaying castration—even up to 17 months—making early intervention both welfare-friendly and production-neutral

Three common methods of castration are:

1. Rubber ring/banding, which restricts blood supply until scrotum and testicles drop off;
2. Burdizzo, which crushes the spermatic cords without incisions;
3. Surgical castration, involving scrotal incision and testicle removal, reserved for licensed veterinary practitioners

Other critical factors that are part of the procedure include:

1. Proper calf restraint, hygiene, and health status
2. Tetanus vaccination at least one month beforehand, with a booster on the day for ring castration
3. Post-procedure care, including anti-inflammatory support and follow-up checks to monitor for infection or incomplete castration

Following these guidelines ensures compliance with Irish legislative requirements while promoting ethical and effective beef production.

You can read more details here.

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Technical Update: The Benefits of Scanning Suckler Cows

Pregnancy scans provide valuable information for managing your herd

Pregnancy scanning in suckler cows is a cost-effective management tool, typically costing €3–€5 per cow depending on herd size. Using ultrasound, trained vets or technicians can assess womb and ovary health, detect pregnancy, confirm calving dates, and identify twin pregnancies or fertility issues. The process takes just 1–2 minutes per cow and provides invaluable information for herd planning.

Why use scanning?

Accurate pregnancy detection allows farmers to cull empty cows, rebreed where possible, or plan replacements. It also helps optimise housing, feeding, and vaccination schedules. Scanning can identify uterine infections, ovarian cysts, or other reproductive problems early, reducing long-term losses. Safety is crucial, so cows must be well restrained during scanning.

Fertility management

If more than 5% of cows are barren, underlying fertility problems with the herd or bull should be investigated immediately. Empty cows can be re-served, sold, or finished, while in-calf purchases must be carefully managed for biosecurity. Conversely, high pregnancy rates require planning for space, feed, and calving management.

When to scan?

• Early scans (6–9 weeks): Detect conception, estimate calving dates, and identify twins.
• Mid-pregnancy (12–14 weeks): More accurate foetal measurements and calving predictions.
• Late scans (after 16 weeks): Best for overall herd pregnancy rates but less precise for calving dates.

Key benefits

Scanning saves time and money by avoiding feed waste on empty cows, improves fodder planning, supports scheme compliance, and reduces calving risks. For Irish suckler farmers, it’s a practical investment with long-term benefits for herd fertility, profitability, and efficiency.

Read more here.

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