Beef
Watch: Optimising animal performance to achieve a younger age of slaughter at Newford
Watch: Optimising animal performance to achieve a younger age of slaughter at Newford Attendees at today’s open day at Newford heard how a focus on grassland management, genetics and optimising animal performance is resulting in a reduction in slaughter age. Irish agriculture is obliged to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 25% […]
23 May 2023
Proinnsias Creedon Future Beef Farm Update
Proinnsias Creedon Future Beef Farm Update Proinnsias farms with his wife Máire and sons Ciarán, Aodhán and Diarmuid. The farm is located in Barrathanaknock, Clondrohid, Macroom, Co. Cork. Here Aisling Molloy, Future Beef Programme Advisor, gives us an update on his farm. Grassland The biggest weed burden on the farm is from […]
22 May 2023
Building winter feed reserves with Future Beef farmers Eamon and Donnchadh McCarthy
Building winter feed reserves with Future Beef farmers Eamon and Donnchadh McCarthy Eamon McCarthy and his son Donnchadh are farming in Carrigeen, Glendine, Youghal, Co. Waterford. Both work part-time on the farm. Here Aisling Molloy, Future Beef Programme Advisor, gives us an update on nutrition and performance on their farm. Nutrition The […]
21 May 2023
The factors affecting bull fertility
The factors affecting bull fertility David Kenny, Teagasc Animal & Grassland Research and Innovation Centre, Grange, Co. Meath, reports on some of the factors affecting the fertility of bulls. Irish statistics suggest that the main reasons for the culling of natural service breeding bulls in beef herds were: injury (23.2%); locomotory issues […]
21 May 2023
Controlling docks with Future Beef farmer Michael McGuigan
Controlling docks with Future Beef farmer Michael McGuigan Michael McGuigan has worked hard to control docks on his farm. Docks are the major weed of intensively-managed grassland. Despite the best efforts of many farmers to control them, their persistence is stubborn and unyielding. There are many species of docks, but the most […]
19 May 2023
Ticking the beef breeding boxes down Wicklow way
Ticking the beef breeding boxes down Wicklow way Located just outside Aughrim, Co. Wicklow, John Pringle operates a mixed suckler and sheep farm on 62.48ha of grassland. The suckler herd consists of 45 mainly Simmental-sired cows, while a lowland flock of 225 ewes are also carried. John, a participant in the Teagasc […]
19 May 2023
Mid-season dosing for dairy-bred calves
Mid-season dosing for dairy-bred calves Dairy-bred calves may have been at grass for 5-6 weeks. Despite the poor weather, lungworm and gut worm exposure may result in the requirement for treatment for these animals at this stage of the year, Alan Dillon, DairyBeef 500 Campaign Co-Ordinator tells us more. Parasites of importance […]
17 May 2023
Making quality silage to offset the rising meal price
Making quality silage to offset the rising meal price It is difficult to predict next winter’s concentrate prices. Beef farmers who have been growing or finishing cattle will need to offset the rising meal price by improving the quality of silage they make, which will allow them to feed less meal per […]
16 May 2023
Breeding management and fertility – the main factors to consider
Breeding management and fertility – the main factors to consider A key aspect of running an efficient suckler system is good breeding management and herd fertility. Cow nutrition, bull fertility, the incidence of calving difficulty and herd health are some of the main factors that affect fertility in the herd. The traits […]
13 May 2023
Readjusting the silage plan with Future Beef farmers Michael and Niall Biggins
Readjusting the silage plan with Future Beef farmers Michael and Niall Biggins Changeable weather during the months of March and April delayed the closing of silage ground on most drystock farms, which may result in a later cutting date. In this article, Gabriel Trayers outlines why high-quality silage (+70% DMD) is required […]
12 May 2023