Beef

Managing through the dry spell on drystock farms – your questions answered

0 Managing through the dry spell on drystock farms – your questions answered As parts of the country are now entering significant soil moisture deficits, the Teagasc Future Beef Programme has prepared a technical note which answers farmers’ questions on managing through the current dry spell. Question 1: I’ve just cut first-cut silage […]
6 June 2023

Overcoming one of the biggest barriers to dairy beef profits

0 Overcoming one of the biggest barriers to dairy beef profits If someone was to list the main reasons for low levels of profit in a dairy-beef system, a debate about beef sire genetics, cow type, calf price and the cost of the main inputs – such as meal, fertiliser and milk replacer […]
5 June 2023

Achieving animal performance targets at pasture

0 Achieving animal performance targets at pasture Irish beef production is largely pasture-based where collectively grazed and conserved pasture account for almost 90% of the lifetime feed consumption. As spring-calving predominates nationally, suckler and dairy-bred progeny taken through to slaughter spend at least two seasons at pasture and in most cases have two […]
4 June 2023

Focusing on sustainability at Newford

0 Focusing on sustainability at Newford Attendees at last week’s open day at Newford farm were told of a number of measures that have been implemented on the farm in recent years to improve sustainability and the farm’s carbon footprint. For example, in May 2021, 8ha of grassland were over sown with white […]
3 June 2023

Putting clover to work on Future Beef farms

0 Putting clover to work on Future Beef farms Along with supporting increased levels of animal performance, the inclusion of clover – both red and white – in silage and grazing swards can reduce a farm’s dependency on chemical nitrogen. Over the last number of weeks, farmers participating in the Teagasc Future Beef […]
2 June 2023

Early weaning and clover incorporation in action at Newford

0 Early weaning and clover incorporation in action at Newford The performance achieved from grazed grass offers economic benefits to beef farmers, attendees at last week’s Newford Suckler Open Day heard. However, to maintain quality and performance, grass must be managed correctly. There has always been a big emphasis on grassland management in […]
1 June 2023

Shane Keaveney’s breeding season and farm update

Shane Keaveney’s breeding season and farm update Roscommon Future Beef Farmer Shane Keaveney is on this week’s Beef Edge podcast to discuss the breeding season to date and to give an update on the farm. The breeding season is underway and Shane discusses using AI. He outlines the sires used on the […]
31 May 2023

Artificial insemination: Proven, practical and profitable

Artificial insemination: Proven, practical and profitable Three-quarters of all calves born in suckler herds are from stock bulls (ICBF). By not using AI, a lot of farmers are missing out on access to the best genetics at a lower cost than maintaining a stock bull, explains Gabriel Trayers, Teagasc Future Beef Programme […]
31 May 2023

Dosing cattle – habit or necessity?

Dosing cattle – habit or necessity? Aidan Murray, Teagasc Beef Specialist, offers advice on dosing and questions do farmers need to change their dosing practices. As we near the end of May with stock out grazing, there is something very satisfying about seeing cattle clean up, stretched out and thriving on good […]
31 May 2023

How’s the breeding season progressing for Future Beef Programme farmers?

How’s the breeding season progressing for Future Beef Programme farmers? Aisling Molloy, Future Beef Programme Advisor, outlines how the breeding season is progressing for some of the farmers enrolled in the Future Beef Programme. Ruairi Cummins, Kilmoganny, Co. Kilkenny Farming 35ha of owned land, split into two main blocks, Ruairi Cummins carries […]
30 May 2023