Building a more profitable suckler enterprise

Edwin Carroll, Teagasc Research Technologist, and Martina Harrington, Future Beef Programme Manager, are on this week’s Beef Edge podcast to give an update on the suckler beef research taking place in Teagasc Grange and how this is being implemented on the Future Beef Programme farms.

Insights into the Maternal and Derrypatrick herds at Teagasc Grange is provided by Edwin, while the key factors that underpin profitable suckler beef production systems are outlined by Martina. The most important drivers of suckler herd profitability, particularly breeding performance, are also discussed.

Silage quality has a huge impact on winter performance and Edwin discusses how silage harvesting is going and removing surplus bales, while Martina highlighting the benefits that the Furture Beef farmer participants are seeing in implementing a paddock system.

Additionally, they preview the upcoming National Beef Open Day, BEEF2026, taking place on July 1 in Teagasc Grange.

On July 1, visit the Suckler Beef village where you can find out about:

• Research trial updates from Teagasc Grange
• Breeding the ideal suckler cow
• Synchronisation to improve fertility & labour efficiency
• Herd health: cows & calves from birth to weaning
• Derrypatrick and Maternal Research Herds
• Newford Demonstration Herd

For further insights, listen to the Beef Edge podcast below:

For further details on BEEF 2026, visit here.

For more episodes from the Beef Edge podcast, visit the show page.

Produced on behalf of Teagasc by LastCastMedia.com