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National Beef Conference

‘Beef Farming 2025: Value, Profit and Renewal’

Tuesday, 18th November  | Athenry, Co. Galway

The National Beef Conference took place on on Tuesday, 18th November in the Raheen Woods Hotel, Athenry, Co. Galway. The theme of this year’s conference was ‘Beef Farming 2025: Value, Profit and Renewal’.

View the conference proceedings here

Conference Programme

Session 1: High-Value Weanlings: From Breeding Decisions to Market Demand

Chair: Keith Fahy, Drystock Advisor & Host of Country Life, Galway Bay FM

Managing the Suckler Cow Pre- and Post-Calving for Fertility and Performance
Professor David Kenny, Head of Animal & Bioscience Research Department, Teagasc

The Myostatin Gene in Beef Breeding: Balancing Muscling and Calving Ease
Dr. Katie Quigley, Geneticist, Irish Cattle Breeding Federation (ICBF)

Panel Discussion

How to breed, feed, and sell weanlings the market wants

  • Dr. Katie Quigley, ICBF
  • Professor David Kenny, Teagasc
  • John Barry, Future Beef Programme Suckler Beef Farmer, Tipperary
  • Thomas O’Connor, Beef Finisher, Kildare
  • Brendan Egan, Castlerea Mart Manager

Session 2: Beef 2025 and Beyond: Prices, Profits and Passing on the Farm

Chair: Damien O’Reilly, Former RTÉ Radio 1 Countrywide presenter and journalist with RTÉ Radio

Global Beef Markets: What’s Driving Prices and What’s Next
Rupert Claxton, Meat Director, GIRA

Beef Farm Profits in 2025: Tax Planning for This Year and Beyond
Trevor Boland, Beef Farmer & Accountant, IFAC

8pm – Panel Discussion

Generational Renewal on Irish Beef Farms: Challenges and Solutions

  • Dr. Emma Dillon, Senior Research Officer – Economist, Teagasc National Farm Survey
  • Ruth Fennell, Collaborative Farming Specialist, Teagasc
  • Trevor Boland, Beef Farmer & Accountant, IFAC
  • Eamonn & Donnchadh McCarthy, Future Beef Programme Suckler Beef Farmers, Waterford