Teagasc at the Tullamore Show
The Sustainable Livestock Village at this year’s Tullamore Show, taking place on August 9, will highlight practical solutions to improve the profitability, sustainability and future resilience of Irish livestock farming.
Visitors will have the opportunity to engage with Teagasc specialists on three key themes shaping the future of the sector.
Age of first calving
A major focus will be on calving suckler-bred heifers at two years of age. Research and on-farm experience show that achieving first calving at 24 months can significantly improve lifetime productivity, reduce rearing costs and increase the number of calves produced over an animal’s lifetime. Advisors will discuss the management, nutrition and breeding practices required to successfully achieve this target.
The Commercial Beef Value
The village will also showcase the importance of Commercial Beef Value (CBV) when selecting dairy-beef calves. Using CBV enables beef farmers to identify calves with greater genetic potential for growth, carcass performance and overall profitability. Dairy farmers also have a key role to play by selecting higher Beef Sub-Index AI sires, helping to produce calves with stronger CBV values and improved performance throughout the beef production system.
Generational renewal
Generational renewal will be a central theme, highlighting the importance of early succession planning and encouraging young farmers to take on increasing responsibility within the family farm business. Open communication and clear planning can help ensure a smooth transition, supporting both farm viability and family wellbeing.
Talks and interactive Q&A sessions
In addition, a dedicated Speakers’ Corner within the village will host a series of Teagasc talks and interactive Q&A sessions, with a particular focus on generational renewal. These sessions will provide farmers and their families with the opportunity to engage with experts, ask questions and receive practical guidance on succession planning for their family farm. A dedicated session on water quality will also feature, where three farmers will share their experiences and outline the practical measures they have implemented on their farms to protect and improve water quality.
Demonstrations
Throughout the day, visitors can also attend live demonstrations, including a soil decomposition test and a visual assessment of soil structure, showcasing the importance of healthy soils in sustainable farming systems. Water Quality staff from ASSAP and the Better Farming for Water Campaign will be on hand to assist visitors in locating their local catchment through their “Where Catchments meet Counties” map display.
Teagasc Organics at the Tullamore Show
In Ireland, organic farming is enjoying increasing interest from farmers in recent years. At farm level, the sector has experienced a large influx of new farmers with presently 5,500 farmers now farming approx. 5.5% of the utilisable agricultural area. Organic farming can suit all systems regardless of soil type or location.
To discuss if organic farming is an option for your farm, what are the key factors to consider, and what are the steps involved when converting to organics, call and have a chat with advisors from the Teagasc Organic Team who will be in the NOTS (National Organic Training Skillnet) Organic Village located at Stand L4 – Livestock.
Teagasc Forestry at the Tullamore Show
The dedicated Forest and Energy Section has been a popular attraction in the show since 2005. This year, twenty-one companies and organisations will be on hand to provide information and demonstrations at the dedicated Forest & Energy village.
The Teagasc Forestry Development Department will again have their own stand within the Forest and Energy Section. Teagasc forestry advisors will be on hand to discuss all aspects of forestry especially in relation to forest creation and management of existing forests. Teagasc research staff will also be there to discuss the important applied projects that they are currently undertaking. There will be plenty of opportunities to engage with Teagasc, in its dedicated stand and explore the many interactive props and information boards that will be on display.
We will also have a virtual reality to experience, where attendees can walk virtually though a forest as it matures. There will be an opportunity to access the latest forestry leaflets and information, including fact sheets for those engaged in timber harvests. There something there for everyone on the day so why not visit us at Rows X & W (Teagasc Forestry W 441)
For more information on Teagasc’s presence at the Tullamore Show 2026, visit here.