01 January 2025
Part three: A look back at Future Beef walks, webinars and open days
In part three of the series, Beef Specialist at Teagasc, Catherine Egan reminds us of some of the key Future Beef Programme highlights from 2024.
The Future Beef team hosted a series of farm walks and webinars throughout the year. The aim of Future Beef is to demonstrate to beef farmers how they can produce a quality product as efficiently as possible to make beef farming more profitable, while also making it more environmentally and socially sustainable.
The whole programme hinges on the network of 22 Future Beef demonstration farms, who all have a very positive attitude towards suckler farming. They are willing to take on new technologies and develop efficiencies to improve profitability and reduce the negative effects of agriculture on the environment around them.
National Farm Walks 2024
These demonstration farms also serve as a hub for learning and knowledge sharing for farmers. One way by which this is achieved is through the hosting of National Farm Walks and Open Days, and a number of these events took place this year.
On July 12, Ken Gill opened the gates of his farm in Clonbullogue, Edenderry, Co. Offaly for a National Farm Walk centred on the topic of ‘Profitable organic suckler beef farming’. Access the booklet from Ken Gill’s farm walk here (PDF).
On July 26, Eamon and Donnchadh McCarthy, Carrigeen, Glendine, Youghal, Co. Waterford, hosted a National Farm Walk which focused on ‘Profitable suckler beef farming’. Access the booklet from Eamon and Donnchadh McCarthy farm walk (PDF) here.
Moving into September, Shane and Grainne Keaveney, Ballybane, Ballinlough, Co. Roscommon, hosted an event focused on the ‘Opportunities in Suckler Farming’. The booklet from the Keaveney event is available here.
Again in September, Aonghusa Fahy, Tullira, Ardrahan, Co. Galway, hosted a Getting Winter Ready event. The booklet (PDF) from the Aonghusa Fahy event is available here.
The final Future Beef National Open Day for the year took place on the farm of Ruairi Cummins, Rossenarra, Kilomoganny, Co. Kilkenny. Another Getting Winter Ready event, the booklet (PDF) from Future Beef Open Day is available to view here.
BEEF2024 – National Beef Open Day
A combined effort from Teagasc researchers, specialists, advisors and the Future Beef team also delivered a dedicated Suckler Beef Village at BEEF2024. Some of the key highlights included: suckler systems – key performance indicators; using the Terminal and Replacement Indexes; optimising health and welfare for suckler-bred cattle; reducing finishing age of suckler beef cattle; and information on the Derrypatrick and Newford herds.
Find out more about the Suckler Beef Village at Beef 2024 here.
Forums
Also a part of BEEF2024, Future Beef Programme participants Aonghusa Fahy and Shane Keaveney took part in the Future Beef Forum. On the day, Aonghusa and Shane outlined the latest technologies they are using on their farm to increase the profitability and sustainability of their suckler beef systems.
At the same event, Eamon and Donnchadh McCarthy and Ken Gill joined the ‘Securing your future in beef farming’ forum, where the main opportunities and challenges facing the sector and beef farm families were discussed.
A recording of the ‘Securing your future in beef farming’ forum is available to view below:
National Beef Conference
Farmers enrolled in the Future Beef Programme have achieved significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions without impacting on farm profitability. As part of the Teagasc National Beef Conference, held on November 18, Manager of the Future Beef Programme, Martina Harrington detailed how this is being achieved, and discussed the key technologies being implemented on the 22 suckler demonstration farms enrolled in the beef industry supported programme.
Watch a recording of Martina Harrington’s presentation to the National Beef Conference below:
Martina Harrington’s full paper from the Teagasc National Beef Conference is available here.
Breeding webinar series
The Future Beef team also hosted a breeding webinar series titled: ‘A Farmers’ Guide to Suckler Breeding’. Occurring over three nights in March 2024, the webinar topics included: Journey to profitability – farmers stories; getting the cow back in calf; and Genetics for the future.
The first webinar in the Future Beef Webinar series took place on Wednesday, 20 March and focused on journey to profitability – farmer stories. The webinar, which was chaired by Martina Harrington, Future Beef Programme Manager, featured Shane Keaveney, Ruairi Cummins and Ken Gill, Future Beef Farmers. The panellists were interviewed by Gabriel Trayers. Topics discussed included: achieving key breeding targets; practical management tips; compact calving; calf per cow per year; and the replacement policy.
Watch webinar recording below:
The second webinar in series took place on Monday, 25 March and focused on getting your cow back in calf. The webinar, which was chaired by Martina Harrington, FutureBeef Programme Manager, featured John Dunne and Aonghusa Fahy, Future Beef Farmers and Professor David Kenny, Head of the Teagasc Animal & Bioscience Department. The panellists were interviewed by Aisling Molloy, Future Beef Programme Advisor. Topics discussed included: managing your cow; AI/heat detection technologies; and is your bull fit for purpose.
Watch webinar recording below:
The third and final webinar in the Future Beef Webinar series focused on genetics for the future. The webinar was again chaired by Martina Harrington, Future Beef Programme Manager. It featured Wesley Browne and Trevor Boland, Future Beef Farmers. The panellists were interviewed by Chris Daly, ICBF. Topics discussed included: breeding a more efficient cow; meeting market specification; and carbon footprint.
Watch webinar recording below:
Webinar Series 2025
In 2025, the Future Beef team will host a two part webinar. Part 1, Pre-Calving takes place on Tuesday, 21 January at 8pm. Part 2, Calving and Post-Calving Management takes place on Thursday, 23 January at 8pm. Further details on the 2025 webinar series are available here.
Keep up to date: Are you on the newsletter list?
A Future Beef Newsletter will be issued on a regular basis throughout the year. The newsletter will have relevant time critical information and advice. If you would like to receive the newsletter, register your interest here.
For more information on the Future Beef Programme click here.