DairyBeef 500 farmer, JP Hammersley from Co. Tipperary, is on this week’s Beef Edge with an update on his farm, management of calves at grass and the plan for finishing cattle on the farm.

JP outlines his dairy calf to beef system with cattle finished at 20-24 months of age. All the calves are sourced locally from a nearby dairy farmer. 

He discusses how calves are reared and managed up to now and in the coming weeks. The yearling cattle are at grass since February and JP explains how they will be managed at grass for the coming months and rotated in the paddock system to maximise weight gains.

Good quality silage is very important to the system, and JP says that while there is a lot of silage still left over from last year, his aim is to maximise quality this year if that leads to less yield overall but higher quality.

Herd health planning is also a critical part of the system and JP highlights the vaccination programme being used on the calves and his plan to faecal sample during the year to ensure they are treated for worms timely and correctly.

For more episodes from the Beef Edge podcast, visit the show page at:
https://www.teagasc.ie/thebeefedge

 
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As we are at a critical stage of the breeding season, Dr. David Kenny, researcher in Teagasc Grange, is on this week’s Beef Edge podcast to discuss breeding on spring calving suckler herds and he has key tips to be aware of.

David says that overall this spring has been good and cows were in good condition going to grass early and fit for breeding. 

This spring we have seen the impact of the challenging year last year, with cows calving to second cycle and cows calving later on most farms overall. Body condition score of cows and good nutrition to resume cyclicity is important.

David outlines key tips around AI use and in relation to farmers using a stock bull. It is still important to record when cows are showing heat so that the number of repeats can be monitored. Young bulls should be particularly monitored event though they may be fertility checked.

Talking with farmers, like every year, there are issues with stock bulls cropping up. David explains that if the bull has had an infection or a rise in body temperature, this may cause the bull to become sub fertile.

Scanning of cows may take place after 30-35 days to identify cows that are in calf and the fertility of the bull and to check for any issues.

For more episodes from the Beef Edge podcast, visit the show page at:
https://www.teagasc.ie/thebeefedge

 
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Grass10 Manager, John Maher, is on this week’s Beef Edge to discuss grass management on the farm at this critical stage of the year. 

John gives an update on farms at the moment with some farms having had the best spring in years while other farms are looking for rain. Rain was very localised earlier this week and with not much rain forecast, it will be challenging on some farms.

John says that balancing quality is key at the moment to ensure good animal performance and avoid stem in the sward building up for the season ahead.

Removing surpluses will be important to ensure quality while making top quality silage for next winter. Some farmers depending on stocking rate and allowances may be tempted to stop applying N and John discusses various options with utilising slurry and including sulphur in fertiliser is essential.

The length of time stock spend in a paddock this time of year can also have a big impact on grass growth and quality. The target to maintain is three days per paddock.

First cut silage will be harvested on farms in the coming weeks and John outlines the nutrient requirements for second cut on farms where needed.

For more episodes from the Beef Edge podcast, visit the show page at:
https://www.teagasc.ie/thebeefedge

 
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Stephen Frend from the Newford demonstration herd in Co. Roscommon is on this week’s Beef Edge podcast to give a review of calving, an update on the current breeding season and a look into management for the coming weeks. 

Stephen says that calvings have gone well this spring, cows calved over a compact 10 weeks and went to grass earlier this year in comparison to last year. 

With breeding season underway and 100% AI being used, Stephen discusses the sires being used and heat detection on the farm as well as a synchronisation programme being used on the heifers this year.

In relation to the yearling heifers and steers, Stephen highlights the performance to date and current management. 

Cattle will continue to be rationally grazed over the coming weeks and if a surplus is available paddocks will be removed as baled silage.

Silage ground is closed with the plan to harvest in late May.

For more episodes from the Beef Edge podcast, visit the show page at:
https://www.teagasc.ie/thebeefedge

 
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Chris Maughan, Product and Technical Manager with Whelehan Crop Protection, discusses weed control on grazing and silage ground on this week’s Beef Edge podcast. 

Chris highlights the opportunity to control weeds, particularly docks in silage ground and grazing paddocks.

Nettles and thistles are possibly the most common weed on farm and he outlines the best control method. 

Chickweed is also an issue on some farms, maybe more so in new leys and Chris advises on treatment options. 

In relation to reseeds, Chris says post-emergence spray is critical. However, in red clover and multispecies swards, it is more difficult to control weeds in these swards. 

In addition, he outlines some options for condoling ragwort and rushes also.

Finally, Chris highlights the regulations as well as the health and safety aspects of springs and maintaining a buffer of 3 metres.

For more episodes from the Beef Edge podcast, visit the show page at:
https://www.teagasc.ie/thebeefedge

 
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Mary McEvoy, Technical Development Manager with Germinal, joins Catherine Egan and Ciaran Lynch on this week’s joint episode of the Beef Edge and OviCast podcasts to discuss all aspects for carrying out reseeding.

Given the weather this spring, in comparison to previous years, many farmers across the country are considering carrying out reseeding on their farm. 

Mary outlines the important points to consider before reseeding such as soil fertility, yield of paddocks and quality of the swards. 

Mary explains there are numerous benefits to reseeding in the late spring versus in the autumn. 

She discusses the various methods and key tips for preparing the seedbed. Using the Pasture Profit Index is key when it comes to selecting varieties suitable for delivering for grazing, silage and soil type. 

With the inclusion of clover in mixes increasing, Mary advises a mix of small and medium leafed clover for grazing on beef and sheep farms. 

She also describes the key management tasks post-reseeding with the use of post emergence sprays and good grazing management.

There are a number of reseeding events taking place at the moment across the country and for further details go to: 

https://www.teagasc.ie/news--events/news/2025/grass-reseeding-events.php 

For more episodes from the Beef Edge podcast, visit the show page at:
https://www.teagasc.ie/thebeefedge

 
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Beef farmer, Sophie Tyner, from county Wicklow, is on this week’s Beef Edge podcast to discuss her beef system, her plans in the coming weeks closing for silage and how good quality silage is so important on her farm.

Given that all the cattle are finished on the farm, good quality silage is very important to her system to reduce concentrates fed. 

Sophie discusses winter performance achieved on the farm and how the crop is fertilised and discusses the importance of N,P & K and Sulphur. 

Silage is harvested mid-May, ensiled correctly and the pit is sealed to avoid silage heating and waste.

Silage season is a very busy period on farm and Sophie also discusses key steps in relation to health and safety on the farm.

For more episodes from the Beef Edge podcast, visit the show page at:
https://www.teagasc.ie/thebeefedge

 
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Margaret Brennan, Assistant Principal Officer over Beef Schemes with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, joins Catherine Egan on this week’s Beef Edge podcast to discuss the new Dairy Beef Weighing Scheme that was announced recently and to give an update on all things scheme related.

Dairy Beef Weighing Scheme

Margaret, outlines the 2025 Dairy Beef Weighing Scheme which is open for applications. It is open to dairy farmers rearing their own dairy-beef calves or farmers rearing dairy beef progeny from the dairy herd, and a total of €4 million has been allocated to the scheme, resulting in payment rates of €20 per eligible calf. 

To be eligible, participants must have a minimum of five eligible calves, while the maximum payment rate is on 50 calves. 

Applications for the 2025 Dairy Beef Weighing Scheme must be lodged online through agfood.ie before midnight on Thursday, 15 May 2025. 

Late applications will be accepted, subject to payment deductions, until midnight on Monday, 9 June 2025.

These eligible calves must have been:

-       At least 12 weeks of age at the time of weighing and has been registered on the holding s/he is being weighed on for a minimum of 10 days prior to the date of weighing;

-       In the applicant’s herd for at least 10 days before weighing;

-       Born between 1 July 2024 and 30 June 2025.

Through the scheme, participants will be required to weigh eligible calves and submit weight data to the Irish Cattle Breeding Federation (ICBF). 

Weight data should be submitted within seven days of weighing and before 17.30 hours on 1 November 2025. 

Farmers should note that they will only be paid on the number of calves in respect of which they submit liveweight data.

SCEP

In relation to the Suckler Carbon Efficiency Programme (SCEP), 2025 is an important year for farmers involved in this scheme as applicants are required to ensure that by the 31st October 2025 at least 65% of their yearly reference number are eligible females that are genotyped 4 or 5 stars on the replacement index (on a within or across breed basis) at the time of purchase (for replacements brought into the herd) or at the time of genotyping (for those replacements bred within the herd).

Finally Margaret also highlighted the deadline for the Basic Income Support for Sustainability Scheme (BISS) is May 15th.

For more episodes from the Beef Edge podcast, visit the show page at:
https://www.teagasc.ie/thebeefedge

 
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Teagasc researcher, Sarah Burke, is on this week’s Beef edge podcast to discuss her latest research on grass-white clover and multi-species sward systems. 

A source of inefficiency in beef cattle production systems is the failure to meet live weight targets throughout the animals’ lifetime, resulting in animals being older at slaughter. Consequently, lifetime production costs, which are mainly feed-related, and the associated environmental emissions, particularly methane and nitrogen, are increased. 

Nationally, mean age at slaughter for late-maturing suckler-bred steers, the predominant breed type from the suckler herd, is 28-months. This is five months later than achieved in grass-based research systems and high-performing commercial farms. Within beef production systems, older animals at slaughter are generally less profitable and have a substantially higher environmental footprint.

Sarah highlights that for many decades, perennial ryegrass has been the dominant, sometimes the only, constituent included in grass seed mixtures used to renew grassland. More recently, white clover has been included. Compared to ‘grass’ based swards, Teagasc Grange research has shown the capacity of white clover inclusion to fix atmospheric N, resulting in annual savings of chemical fertiliser, equivalent to 100-150kg N/ha, for beef cattle grazing systems. 

There is now increasing interest in using ‘multi-species’ swards to further exploit complementarity between pasture species which include:

·      grasses - perennial ryegrass and other grasses

·      legumes - white and red clover

·      herbs/forbs - e.g chicory and plantain

Sarah’s research investigated the growth and carcass characteristics of late-maturing suckler steers genetically divergent for carcass fatness, produced on grass-white clover and multi-species sward systems and finished at 19, 23 or 26 months of age. 

It was based on the two years data collected to date at Teagasc Grange and it concluded that growth performance of suckler beef cattle grazing grass-clover and multi-species swards, or offered silages conserved from these pastures, was similar.

Sarah also discussed how the Fat-EBV steers achieved greater carcass fat scores and a similar carcass weight compared to lean-EBV steers.

Sarah will be presenting her research at the British Society of Animal Science 2025 conference next week 8-10 April in Salthill in Galway where the theme will be ‘Supporting Livestock’s Role in a Global Society’. 

For further details go to: 

https://www.bsas.org.uk/conference-2025

For more episodes from the Beef Edge podcast, visit the show page at:
https://www.teagasc.ie/thebeefedge

 
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Grass10 Advisor Niamh Doyle has her grassland management tips for the month ahead.

Niamh comments on current grazing conditions, grazing  the first rotation and regrowths on the first paddocks.

She also discusses closing up for silage and the importance of completing a fodder budget and using slurry efficiently. It is critical to assess the correct balance between quality and quantity.

You can subscribe to the Grass10 newsletter here:

https://www.teagasc.ie/crops/grassland/grass10/grass10-enewsletter/

For more episodes from the Beef Edge podcast, visit the show page at:
https://www.teagasc.ie/thebeefedge

Produced on behalf of Teagasc by LastCastMedia.com