Beef
Mapping the direction of travel of dairy beef systems
Mapping the direction of travel of dairy beef systems An increase in the national dairy herd since milk quota removal in 2015 has changed the dynamic within the Irish beef industry. Animals of dairy origin now account for ~60% of Ireland’s beef throughput. Through a combination of the correct genetics, calf health […]
25 January 2024
Sustainability focus areas for 2024
Sustainability focus areas for 2024 Dr Siobhan Kavanagh from the Signpost Programme is on this week’s Beef Edge podcast to discuss what areas you can focus on to make your farm more sustainable in 2024. The Signpost Programme is a multi-annual campaign to lead climate action by all Irish farmers. The programme […]
24 January 2024
Watch: A guide on drafting cattle
Watch: A guide on drafting cattle Drafting cattle for slaughter when they are actually fit to kill is a key management component of successful calf-to-beef systems. At a fat score of 3+, the carcass weight potential of Holstein Friesian steers is maximised. Moving too early or too late can result in penalties […]
24 January 2024
Answering the key questions on the National Genotyping Programme
Answering the key questions on the National Genotyping Programme ICBF is writing to farmers, providing an information booklet, to answer the key and frequently asked questions they may have in relation to the National Genotyping Programme (NGP). The programme, operated by the ICBF, offers farmers the opportunity to genotype their herd at […]
24 January 2024
Beef calves coming earlier in the dairy calving season
Beef calves coming earlier in the dairy calving season Due to the breeding policies in play on dairy farms, beef-sired calves from the dairy herd tended to reach the market in the second half of the spring calving season. Now through the adoption of key technologies such as sexed semen, the use […]
23 January 2024
Limit sources when buying dairy-beef calves
Limit sources when buying dairy-beef calves An essential factor in developing profitable dairy-beef systems is the protection and maintenance of health. For many dairy-beef producers, this starts on the day the calf is purchased. To prepare farmers for the upcoming rearing period, the Teagasc DairyBeef 500 Campaign hosted a webinar on Tuesday, […]
19 January 2024
Stakeholders gather for consultation on dairy calf to beef action plan
Stakeholders gather for consultation on dairy calf to beef action plan Key stakeholders in the dairy and beef sectors will gather in Portlaoise, today, January 18th, for a seminar on dairy calf to beef, and the launch of a consultation process on a draft action plan for the dairy beef industry. The […]
18 January 2024
Converting existing sheds for calf housing
Converting existing sheds for calf housing Whether building a new calf shed from scratch or adapting an existing shed for the purpose of housing calves, there are a number of critical factors to consider. Joining a Teagasc DairyBeef 500 webinar on Tuesday, January 16th, Martin Kavanagh, a vet and Business Development Manager […]
18 January 2024
Regulation heightens need for nutrient management planning on drystock farms
Regulation heightens need for nutrient management planning on drystock farms Changes introduced under Ireland’s fifth Nitrates Action Programme in 2023 have heightened the need for nutrient management planning on many drystock farms nationally. As part of this programme, soil tests became compulsory from January 2023 for holdings with a grassland stocking rate […]
17 January 2024
Young bull production – implementing tweaks to improve efficiency and profitability
Young bull production – implementing tweaks to improve efficiency and profitability As the New Year starts, Future Beef Programme Advisor, Gabriel Trayers explains why it is a critical time in the lifetime of a young bull, while highlighting how Shane Keaveney has made tweaks to his system to improve efficiency and profitability. […]
17 January 2024