The Beef Edge

It was a very challenging August this year and for the monthly Grass10 update, Niamh discusses how farmers have fed silage out over the past few weeks.

Calves have been creep grazed in front of cows to break the bond and concentrates supplemented earlier as well as calves being weaned earlier in September versus late September. Supplement introduced 4 weeks pre weaning and will be continued 2 weeks post weaning and possibly longer on some farms.

Most of the farmers in the Future Beef programme have scanned and given the difficult spring, overall scanning rates were good so various options are being discussed for empty cows to sell live and, depending on the farm where fodder is available, they will be finished on farm.

Finishing stock have been housed and speaking with farmers they were lighter than cattle this time last year. They will be built up over the coming weeks and the plan is to have them finished before Christmas which will be a challenge on some farms due to the poor weather impacting on performance and late turn out last spring.

Niamh also highlights the management of red clover swards in coming weeks and the key points for managing grass in the coming weeks are:

·      Empty slurry tanks when possible

·      Assess growth on farm versus demand

·      Review fodder budget

·      Visit ploughing stand to meet the Grass10 team and Teagasc staff  

Niamh also advises the last day for spreading chemical fertiliser is 14th September.

For more, 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

Roscommon Future Beef farmer, Shane Keaveney, features on this week’s Beef Edge podcast discussing management of his suckler to beef system and the upcoming National Beef walk taking place on his farm on Wednesday, 11th September at 6pm.

Shane explains that he farms with his wife Gráinne and 3 children and operates a suckling to finishing system with bulls finished under 16 months and heifers that are not kept as replacements sold as stores. Shane aims to finish the bulls at 680-700kgs at under 16 months of age and have a minimum fat class of 2+.

He discusses the breeding performance on the farm and is hitting all the key performance indicators. Shane has targeted to reduce the age of slaughter by pushing the bull weanlings earlier and by feeding a high quality red clover silage over the winter.

Shane will discuss his system, physical & financial performance in detail at the walk on Wednesday 11th September at 6:30pm. The focus of the event will be 'Opportunities in Suckler Farming'. 

Shane will also detail how red clover is helping him meet his winter weight targets. Plus, the new EIP Island River Catchment scheme will be outlined to explain what opportunities there are for local farmers. 

Castlerea Livestock Mart Manager Brendan Egan will discuss the beef market outlook for the coming months along with Anthony O'Dowd from Dawn Meats.

There will be a number of industry stakeholder available to meet and discuss any queries you may have and refreshments will be served. 

Further details at:

https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/beef/demonstration-farms/future-beef-programme/events/

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

 
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Aidan Maguire, DairyBeef 500 farmer from Navan, Co. Meath, is on this week’s Beef Edge podcast to discuss management on his farm and his upcoming National Beef open day taking place on September 5th at 6pm.

Aidan, alongside his son Luke, runs a dairy calf to beef enterprise on their farm, in conjunction with a contracting business. The farm stretches to over 70ha, with 54ha in grass and the remainder in forestry.  

Up until 1999, Aidan operated tillage and suckler cow enterprises. Having initially changed to a calf to store system, Aidan then moved to a dairy calf to beef system through which approximately 100 calves were purchased and finished each year. 

The predominant breeds purchased were Aberdeen Angus, Hereford and Friesian animals. Annual calf purchases have now increased to 150-170, a mixture of autumn and spring-born. Even though the number of calves has increased, there has been no increase in health issues associated with the rearing of these extra calves.

Since joining the Teagasc DairyBeef 500 Campaign, the Maguires source all their calves from four local dairy farmers and finish their heifers at around 18-19 months and bullocks at less than 24 months of age. The target is to have heifers at over 550kgs live weight at the end of the finishing period and for bullocks to be 600kg, leaving a minimum carcass weight of 270kg for heifers and 300kg for bullocks.

On Thursday, September 5th at 6pm, Aidan Maguire will host a DairyBeef 500 farm walk and live forum on his farm. All are welcome to come along and see his dairy calf to beef system in action. On display on the evening will be his 2023 autumn born and 2024 spring born calves, yearling steers and heifers and his finishing animals.

The theme of the event is ‘Making the winter gains‘, which will be of great interest to both dairy farmers and those interested in rearing dairy bred stock. 

Topics on the day will include: Aidan’s current farming system and his financial performance; grassland management tips, including red clover swards; animal health; and winter feeding options for finishing and weanling animals.

The DairyBeef 500 Farm Walk and Live Forum will take place on Aidan Maguire’s farm, Antylstown, Co. Meath, Eircode: C15 W4C2 on September 5th at 6pm and further details on the event are available at:

https://www.teagasc.ie/news--events/national-events/events/db500farmwalkliveforum.php

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

Billy Gilmore, Grass10 Grassland Farmer of the Year Drystock category winner, is on this week’s Beef Edge podcast to discuss his farm system and grassland management on his farm. In recognition of the award, Billy will host a farm walk on Tuesday, 27th August @ 6.30pm.  

Billy, along with his wife Anne, operates a contract heifer rearing system rearing over 200 heifers a year. The system has changed over the years, from a mixed system, an autumn-calving suckling system, a spring-lambing flock and tillage enterprise.

‘‘I took over the farm at the age of 15,” Billy explains. “And shortly after, I remember I cycled to my first farm walk. The discussion back then was around the principle of growing grass in three weeks and grazing it in three days, setting up paddocks and applying lime. Fast forward 50 years and the principles are still the same that drive the success of any farm system.”

Billy outlines how he has managed grass on the farm this year and is now building covers for the autumn. Quality silage is important to the system as well as the inclusion of clover to reduce fertiliser input.

Pic: Independent.ie

For further details on the upcoming walk go to:

https://www.teagasc.ie/crops/grassland/grassland-events/

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 

Margaret Brennan, Assistant Principal Officer for Beef Schemes with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, discusses and explains the 2024 Beef Welfare Scheme on this week’s Beef Edge podcast.

The 2024 Beef Welfare Scheme (BWS) will support farmers in meal feeding suckler calves before and after weaning, and in vaccinating against clostridial diseases and calf pneumonia. Calves eligible to the scheme are those born to eligible suckler cows in the period from July 1st 2023 to 30th June 2024.

While the meal feeding action is mandatory for scheme participants, farmers must indicate that they are selecting the optional vaccination action at application stage if they wish to be considered for payment under this action. 

Farmers can then decide during the implementation phase, where appropriate, in consultation with their veterinary surgeon, which disease they wish to target depending on the health status of their herds.

Action 1 – Meal Feeding (Mandatory): the rate of payment is €35 per eligible calf up to a maximum of 40 eligible calves.

Action 2 – Vaccination (Optional): The rate of payment is €15 per eligible calf up to a maximum of 40 eligible calves.

Applications must be made on agfood.ie

The closing date for applications is 23.59hrs on 24 September 2024.

Further information on the terms and conditions are at: 

https://www.gov.ie/en/service/8c827-beef-welfare-scheme-2024/

For further queries email and contact telephone details are:

Email: [email protected]

Phone number: +353 (0) 57 86 74422

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 

Teagasc researcher and vet, John Donlon, is on this week’s Beef Edge podcast to discuss the main issues that arise around weaning time and how to prevent them.

It’s been a difficult year for cows and calves and performance of some calves has been impacted by the extended spring and grazing conditions and weather. John says that many calves may have had health issues in the spring and it is important to reduce stress now at weaning.

He explains that delaying weaning will only further cause issues by a number of actions taking place in a shorter period of time, along with the weaning process, such as housing, if weather conditions are poor.

John highlights that there are a wide range of weaning protocols. However the principals are similar to the fact that the maternal bond is broken gently by forward creeping calves, concentrates are introduced 4 weeks pre-weaning, dosing for lungworm and or stomach worms is carried out prior to weaning and only removing a third of the cows a week to ensure calves are not stressed.

John also discusses the key points to consider when implementing a vaccination programme with the vet to reduce the incidence of pneumonia when housing takes place.

Further information from AHI on ‘Management of the Suckler Calf at Weaning to Prevent Pneumonia’ can be found at:

https://www.animalhealthireland.ie/ckfinder/userfiles/files/20120919%20CAC%20Suckler%20Final%20Webversion(2).pdf

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 

Teagasc Grass10 advisor, Niamh Doyle, gives her monthly update discussing grass management tips for the month ahead. 

Currently, growth is ahead of demand on farms and Niamh highlights management and targets for the coming weeks.

Second cut harvested in the past few days indicates the yields are back around the country and for farmers that will need a third cut, Niamh advises to apply 2,500 gallons of slurry and 1 bag 38%N.  

For more, 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 

Teagasc Beef Specialist, Aidan Murray, discusses beef management tips for the month ahead on the latest Beef Edge podcast.  

Aidan says that farmers with autumn calving herds should keep cows fit prior to calving, ensure minerals are supplemented pre-calving, particularly iodine and copper, and he explains ways to avoid mastitis and create awareness at this time of year.

Aidan recommends that cows should be scanned in the spring calving herd to help reduce farm demand and discuss options to sell live or to feed on and finish. 

Aidan also highlights the implications of selling cows or calves prior to five months of age for the Suckler Carbon Efficiency Programme penalties.

He then outlines different options for bulls and heifers for finishing in the coming months.

Calves on dairy beef farms are weaned and being rotated at grass, and Aidan says to use faecal sample results and treat calves accordingly. Plus Aidan discusses treatment options if calves are currently coughing.

Finally, Aidan goes through various options for farmers to consider if they are short on fodder. As sourcing straw is an area of concern for farmers, Aidan outlines the steps farmers can take now and other alternatives to consider.

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 

This week’s Beef Edge podcast is a joint episode with Ciaran Lynch from Ovicast and we are joined by Grass10 advisor Niamh Doyle to get an update on the current situation and discussing management tips for the coming weeks.

Niamh says there have been many factors that have limited grass growth over the last number of months such as lower temperatures, especially at night, harsh winds, high rainfall and  high levels of poaching due to the wet spring with poor conditions for grazing.

Niamh explains the long term Nitrogen fertiliser type trial at Teagasc, Johnstown Castle which provides an insight as to how different fertiliser types/formulations have performed under the same conditions and with N applied at the same time at the same rate. Overall total grass dry matter yield to date was similar across fertiliser nitrogen products.

Niamh emphasises that reducing demand by scanning early to remove empty cows and cull ewes would help decrease the demand on the farm.  Introducing creep to lambs and weanlings would also help lower demand.

Coming into August, it is important to focus on building grass covers. By having a plan and applying fertiliser in early August when response is good will help build autumn grass covers and may allow surplus grass to be removed if fodder is needed.

Second cut silage is also being cut at the moment. It is important to target slurry that has yet to be spread to be applied to these paddocks and as per the farm nutrient management plan, to ensure tanks are emptied and P and K is applied where needed. 

Completing a fodder budget, walking the farm now and applying fertiliser are the key tips for the coming weeks for farmers to keep in mind

For further information:

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

Subscribe to the Teagasc 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 

Reducing the mean finishing age of prime beef cattle from 26 to 22-23 months by 2030 is fundamental to achieving Ireland’s 25% reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from agriculture and on this week’s episode of the Beef Edge podcast, Teagasc researcher Paul Smith discusses this topic.

Paul explains the main messages relating to reducing age at slaughter from the BEEF2024 Open Day and future research surrounding the grass-based beef research in comparison to commercial high performing beef farms.

He outlines the important talking points from the greenhouse gas village at BEEF2024 and he also discusses the finishing village which aimed to highlight carcass specifications, in particular the correct fat score.

Nationally, mean age at finishing is six to nine months later than on grass-based research and high-performing commercial farms. There is an urgent need to identify and quantify factors impeding Irish beef farms from achieving potential liveweight targets throughout the animal’s lifetime. 

Collaborative research from the Teagasc-led Beef-Quest project aims to investigate the effect of nutrition, health and on-farm environment factors constraining animal growth performance and finishing age of beef cattle, and assess their impacts on GHG emissions. 

In collaboration with the Irish Cattle Breeding Federation (ICBF) and UCD, this project will use data available within the industry. A new large-scale on-farm study is planned to generate new data and expressions of interest for participant farms will be sought in the coming months. 

Beef-Quest will identify, quantify and rank the primary on-farm technical and behavioural-related issues negatively impacting finishing age. Using this new information, more targeted, high-impact and deliverable solutions can be proposed and disseminated to reduce finishing age, thus improving the Irish beef’s sustainability.

If you are interested in participating please contact [email protected]

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