National Beef Conference to Explore How Farmers Can Improve Profitability
How can the profitability of cattle farming be improved while achieving a work life balance? The Teagasc National Beef Conference brings together leading industry experts, researchers and farmers to address these issues. Beef farmers are being encouraged to attend this year’s conference on Monday, 30 November, at 5pm in the Hodson Bay Hotel, Athlone, County Roscommon.
With the theme ‘Profitable Beef Farming, Balanced Lifestyle’, this year’s conference will focus on practical strategies to improve beef farm profitability, maximise performance from birth to slaughter and help farmers achieve a better balance between their farming responsibilities and family life.
The conference will bring together progressive beef farmers to share the latest research, practical advice and real-life experiences from the sector. Opening the conference, Teagasc Director Professor Frank O’Mara will address attendees on the main challenges and opportunities facing the sector.
The first session, titled ‘Driving Performance and Profit from Birth to Slaughter, will include Teagasc Cattle Specialist Martina Harrington who will explore how suckler farmers can increase profitability by €600 per cow. Teagasc Researcher Dr. Paul Smith, from the Teagasc Animal and Grassland Research and Innovation centre, Grange, will examine how to maximise animal performance from weaning through to slaughter, drawing on the latest findings from the Beef Quest research project.
A panel discussion will follow, examining opportunities to maximise output and performance throughout the beef production system. The panel will include Teagasc Ruminant Nutritionist Dr. Aisling Claffey, University College Dublin’s Dr. Marijke Beltman, MRCVS, and Brian Jordan of Castle Forbes Estate, County Longford, along with Martina Harrington and Dr. Paul Smith.
The second session, ‘Better Beef, Better Balance’ is chaired by TV presenter Helen Carroll, and will explore how farmers can make beef farming work alongside family and other commitments. Suckler beef farmer Aonghusa Fahy, from Ardrahan, County Galway, will share his experience of teaching full-time, while farming part-time, highlighting how to make the beef farm fit around family life.
The discussion, ‘Making Time for Better Beef Farming’, will include Aonghusa Fahy, suckler and sheep farmer Olivia Hynes from County Roscommon, dairy calf-to-beef farmer Colin Callanan from County Galway, Teagasc Schemes Support Unit Specialist Seamus Nolan and Ger Hartnett of the Health and Safety Authority (HSA).
Speaking in advance of the conference, Pearse Kelly, Head of Drystock Knowledge Transfer in Teagasc said; “the conference promises to deliver valuable insights for beef farmers looking to improve the technical and financial performance of their enterprises while making time for family, health and life outside the farm gate. I would encourage all cattle farmers to attend this important event on Monday, 30 November.”