The Beef Edge

As part of Sustainability Week, on the latest Beef Edge podcast, DairyBeef 500 farmer, James O’Sullivan from West Cork, discusses the steps he’s taking to improve the sustainability of his farm by increasing animal performance and incorporating clover and multi-species on his farm. 

James highlights the steps he takes from purchasing calves and management on the farm.  Maximising weight gain from grass is very important and James outlines the steps he takes to have good quality grass available.

Having incorporated multi-species, white and red cover into his system, James highlights how the benefits have resulted in reducing chemical nitrogen whilst also maintaining yields. 

Going forward James intends to incorporate more of these swards on his farm.

For more information go to:

https://www.teagasc.ie/environment/climate-change--air-quality/signpost-programme/events/sustainability-month-2023/

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

With the housing of animals coming around again, farmers’ thoughts are turning to parasite control, and on this week’s Beef Edge podcast, Dr. Natascha Meunier, Beef Health Check Programme Manager with Animal Health Ireland, discusses the parasites to look out for and how to treat them, as well as top tips for housing this winter.

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

Future Beef farmer, Proinnsias Creedon, gives an insight into his beef system and how he maximises performance over the winter. 

Proinnsias farms with his wife Máire and sons Ciarán, Aodhán and Diarmuid. The farm is located outside Macroom, Co. Cork and he is farming 33.31Ha of variable land with a good bit of rough grazing ground.  

There is a lot of heavy soil in the farm with some reclaimed over the past few years. The farm is in one block and is situated roughly 720ft above sea level and gets an average rainfall of 55-60 inches per year. 

It’s been a difficult few months and Proinnsias discusses how he is managing grass at the moment. The ground conditions have made it difficult for finishing heifers at grass this year resulting in silage being fed and heifers housed for a number of weeks. 

Proinnsias outlines his health plan on the farm and his selection process at housing weighing and penning stock according to weight. Gaining as cheap weight gain as possible is important, and Proinnsias says that lying space, ventilation, water and nutrition are important to maximise performance over the winter period.

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

Aidan Murray, Teagasc Beef Specialist, is on this week’s Beef Edge podcast to discuss what beef price you can afford to pay for stock, what impact costs have on the bottom line and what price will be needed to cover these costs.

Aidan first compares the figures to date to show that the national kill has decreased from the same time last year. 

While beef prices for purchasing are increasing, the variable costs have decreased since last year. 

Aidan then outlines a number of different beef systems and the expected prices.

For a full breakdown of the beef budgets launched this week at the National Ploughing Championships visit Teagasc.ie.

Contact your local Teagasc advisor to discuss further:

https://www.teagasc.ie/about/farm-advisory/advisory-regions/

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

As the grazing of the last rotation approaches, on this week’s Beef Edge podcast, Catherine Egan is joined by the Grass10 team, John Maher, Joseph Dunphy and John Douglas, with tips and advice.

Grazing has been difficult nationwide however recent weather conditions have made a huge difference and John Maher says don’t be tempted to graze paddocks that are closed first in the rotation. 

Meanwhile, John Douglas and Joseph Dunphy advise on multispecies and clover swards.

For further details visit: 

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

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

DairyBeef 500 farmer, Pat Collins, from Castlemarter Co. Cork, is on this week’s Beef Edge podcast to give his personal experiences of his dairy calf to beef system, management on the farm and his upcoming open day.

This year there were 300 calves reared on the farm. Pat discusses how his beef system has changed over the years.

It’s been a difficult few months weather wise and Pat describes how he is managing grass on the farm and red clover swards.  He also outlines how the bulls are being managed at their finishing stage.

Pat will host an open day on September 12th at 5pm with a live forum in which Chris Daly, from ICBF, will discuss the new Commercial Breeding Value; Martin Kavanagh, from Munster Bovine, will discuss animal health issues; while Laurence Shalloo, Teagasc, will give his views on the future of the dairy industry and the outlook/options for dairy calves being produced in the future.

The forum will be chaired by Doreen Corridan, Munster Bovine.

Further details available at: 

https://www.teagasc.ie/news--events/national-events/events/dairybeef500-patcollins.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

Future Beef suckler farmer, Ger McSweeney, from Millstreet Co.Cork, is on this week’s Beef Edge podcast  to give an update on his beef system, plus he discusses how AI on his farm is increasing performance and reducing age to slaughter and previews his upcoming open day. 

Ger operates a spring calving suckler system with bulls finished U16 months and heifers U21 months. 

There is 100% AI used on the farm which has allowed Ger increase his replacement index and match each cows to a particular sire. 

Ger discusses how he has managed grass on the farm and the performance of the heifers and the calves. 

With weaning around the corner, he also discusses how he reduces stress on his farm at weaning time and how he implements the herd health plan.

Ger will host an open day on his farm on September 7th @ 2pm.
For further details go to:
https://www.teagasc.ie/news--events/national-events/events/futurebeefwalk-mcsweeney.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

On the latest Beef Edge podcast, John O’Connor from Kildalton Agricultural College gives an update on the suckler farm, and Joe Day teacher in Kildalton, discusses the upcoming open day. 

John describes how it’s been a difficult summer and how grass is being managed at the moment in Kilkenny.

He highlights the breeding performance of the herd this year and how the finished cattle have performed and John also reflects on his career and we wish him every health and happiness on his retirement.

Joe Day then discusses the upcoming open day on the farm on 8th September 2023 @ 2:30pm with further details here:

https://www.teagasc.ie/news--events/national-events/events/autumn-beef-event.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

Michael Cunniffe from Co. Roscommon joins Catherine Egan on this week’s Beef Edge podcast to discuss his in-calf heifer system and grassland management.

Michael buys in approximately 150 each year, all of different types and breeds to meet his customers’ demands. The heifers are vaccinated and dosed when purchased. They are fed on a grass only diet on a paddock grazing system and silage only over the winter. 

The heifers are selected based on their characteristics to run with a Limousin stock bull. The heifers are then sold to farmers across the country operating different farm systems.

Michael discusses his paddock system and efforts he has made to increase soil fertility on the farm. In recent years clover and multi-species are being incorporated on the farm to help reduce nitrogen input on the farm .

Charlie Devaney local Teagasc advisor also outlines the farm walk being held on Michael’s farm at Mount Prospect, Co. Roscommon on Thursday, 31st August at 6:30pm which will discuss his heifer system and management of grass on the farm. 

For further details:

https://www.teagasc.ie/news--events/national-events/events/cunniffefarmwalk.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

Teagasc researcher Peter Doyle joins Catherine Egan on this week’s Beef Edge podcast to give an update on the Derrypatrick herd in Grange.   

Peter discusses how calving went this spring and how breeding season went on the farm. The pre-breeding scan was well worthwhile this year, Peter explained, and helped resolve any issues before they arose. Perter discussed the traits that sires were selected on and which sires were used.

Being the wettest July on record Peter also discusses the impact this has had on performance and getting second cut of silage harvested.

With a lot of clover sown this year Peter explains how he went about over-sowing it. He also outlined all the areas of focus for the coming month in advance of weaning and the herd health protocol.

We also wish Michael McManus well in his new post and wish Niamh Doyle all the best in Derrypatrick.

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