The Beef Edge

Teagasc Researcher Dr. David Wall is on this week’s Beef Edge podcast with top tips to manage soil fertility for the rest of the year plus details on the upcoming Johnstown Castle Open Day.  

David highlights that putting a plan in place now is important as high prices are forecast for next year. There is an increase in lime being applied on farms to correct pH and there has also been a focus on many farms to incorporate clover. Improving soil fertility in advance is important. 

It’s a month out for the chemical N deadline on 15th September and final applications should be applied now where needed to build covers.  

Overall grass growth has been very good this year and surpluses have been taken off as bales on many farms and David says that it is important to ensure slurry is applied to compensate for P and K off-takes. 

The Johnstown Castle Open Day takes place on 30th August with the focus on ‘Technologies for farms of the future’. This open day will demonstrate technologies and practices that can be adopted on farms to help to maintain farm productivity and profitability, whilst increasing overall environmental sustainability. 

The latest information for successful management of grass-clover and multi-species swards under winter and spring calving dairy and dairy calf-to-beef systems will be available.

Practices to enhance on-farm biodiversity and to reduce losses of valuable nutrients from the soil will be demonstrated and you will also learn about the latest fertiliser and slurry technologies and methods for enhancing carbon sequestration and soil health.

For further details: 

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

Podcast Survey

In order to understand the aspects of podcasts which are most appealing and beneficial to you the listener, it would be appreciated if you could take 3-4 minutes to complete the following survey to give your feedback:  

https://forms.office.com/r/mDZTE9zPy4

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, Ed Curtin from Co. Cork, discusses how he manages his autumn calving herd pre and post-calving.  

Ed outlines how he manages the cow’s body condition score to ensure she is fit and not fat for calving. 

Ed calves his heifers at 24 months. He describes her management from once she is born up to calving. 

Heifers are penned separate to the cows to give them every opportunity to go back in calf.  

100% AI is operated on the farm and Ed describes the various sires selected such as easy calving angus sires for replacement heifers and Belgian blue sires used on cows.  

High quality silage over 70 DMD is fed over the winter ad lib. Ed describes the management in advance of breeding and the use of heat detection aids to identify cows such as scratch cards.

Further details on Ed’s farm can be found here:

https://www.teagasc.ie/news--events/daily/beef/ed-curtin-future-beef-farmer-in-cork.php

The Beef Edge Survey

In order to understand the aspects of the Beef Edge podcast which are most appealing and beneficial to you, it would be great if you could take 3-4 minutes to complete this survey to give your feedback:  

https://forms.office.com/r/mDZTE9zPy4

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 Advisor, Alan Nolan, based in Ballinrobe Co. Mayo, joins Catherine Egan on this week’s Beef Edge podcast to review key messages for suckler farmers from Beef2022. 

Alan highlights the big focus of the day on was on improving reproductive performance, through genetics, AI, heat synchronisation and calving at 24 months. 

There was a big discussion in the suckler village on the day in relation to how a farmer narrows the selection of replacement females. Alan also describes the main actions needed and the most important traits for a replacement female in your herd. 

For further details:  

https://www.teagasc.ie/corporate-events/beef-open-day/beef-2022-main-stands/

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

Dr Eddie O’Riordan, Teagasc Researcher, is on this week’s Beef Edge podcast to discuss the key points from Beef2022 for growing and finishing cattle farmers.

Topics on the day included silage quality, concentrate supplementation, herd health and the drafting of cattle. 

Silage Quality will have high influence on performance and costs and Eddie explains there is a difference of €100 in costs moving from 60 – 75 DMD silage for a weanling to gain 0.5kg over the winter period. 

With the rise in concentrate prices, the key point for farmers to keep in mind is to test silage and then balance with concentrates as required. 

Reducing age of slaughter was also discussed and Eddie highlights how the national figures have changed over the past eleven years and says that, while it is a challenge, there are more reductions that can be made in the future.  Eddie describes the key aspects of drafting cattle for finish to avoid the costs of putting on fat. 

Herd health is a critical area to maximise the lifetime performance of the animal, particularly purchasing stock, and Eddie discusses the topics outlined by AHI based on the beef health check analysis, parasite control by Orla Keane and the health plan by the vet on the day.

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 campaign manager, Alan Dillon, joins Catherine Egan on this week’s Beef Edge podcast to review the key messages from Beef2022 for dairy beef farmers; plus he discusses the lessons learned from the Green Acres Programme and outlines the new five year DairyBeef 500 campaign that was launched recently.

Alan first explained how building a sustainable dairy-beef system was highlighted at Beef2022 by incorporating grass, genetics and herd health to support an economic and environmentally sustainable system.

The Green Acres programme has now drawn to a close and analysis of the past three years’ data showed a net margin increase from €100/ha to €650/ha (excluding subsidies). Live weight output increased from 994 kg/ha in 2019 to 1,427 kg/ha in 2021.

Over the course of the programme, grass production increased by 19%, while there was a huge focus on silage and DMD increased by 4% units, helping achieve an ADG of 0.6 kg over first winter.  The indoor winter periods were identified as being the main area for improvement on farms. 

The average number of source herds reduced from 10 farms to 6, resulting in improved calf health, while the genetic merit improved slightly across calves purchased, it is the most difficult area to improve.

The DairyBeef 500 campaign was launched recently with a target of €500/ha net profit and Alan outlines all that is to be achieved over the next five years. 

The Ballyvadin demonstration farm will be a key component of the campaign located in Fethard Co. Tipperary. 300 calves will be purchased and a heifer and steer finishing system will be operated comprising of a number of breeds. 

Farmers will get an opportunity to visit the farm and see the progress being made. The DairyBeef 500 farmers are located across the country and there will be four new farms added in addition to the rollover of farmers from the Green acres programme.

There will be a number of courses arranged over the campaign for farmers to attend along with regional discussion groups and further details will be available on the Teagasc website and social media channels.

For more information, go to:

https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/beef/dairy-calf-to-beef/dairybeef-500/ 

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

At the Beef2022 National Beef Open Day last week a forum took place moderated by Ivan Yates with the theme, ‘Supporting Sustainable Beef Farming’.

It was an open discussion with Professor Alice Stanton, RCSI, Michael Biggins, Future Beef Farmer from Co. Mayo, Professor Frank O'Mara, Teagasc Director and Phelim O'Neill, Irish Farmers Journal. 

This week’s Beef Edge episode is a recording of the Beef Forum that concluded the open day in Teagasc Grange on the 5th July.

The forum can also be viewed at:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kjp-03M_oag 

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

At the Beef2022 National Beef Open Day on the 5th July, a forum took place moderated by Ivan Yates. 

Attendees heard from and had the opportunity to ask questions of Charlie McConalogue, Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine. 

This Beef Edge bonus episode is a recording of that question and answer session.

The complete forum can be viewed here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kjp-03M_oag 

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

Beef 2022 has finally arrived.

Teagasc Grange researcher Peter Doyle joins Catherine Egan on the Beef Edge podcast with an insight into what you can expect at the Sustainable Grassland Village at the #Beef2022 Open Day on 5th July 2022.

Peter outlines the various heights of grass on display and the impact this has and he also discusses the establishment and management of red and white clover on the day. 

A grazing infrastructure booklet was also launched today and for further details on the #Beef2022 Open Day, visit the Teagasc social media channels and www.teagasc.ie/beef2022
 
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

Pearse Kelly, Teagasc’s Head of Drystock is on this week’s Beef Edge podcast to discuss technologies to make your farming system sustainable, the challenges in relation to overall profitability on farms as well as a preview of the Beef2022 Open Day on July 5th in Teagasc Grange.

Despite market disturbances, CAP reform, climate change policy and input price rises, the market for grass-fed beef as a high quality, sustainable human food protein source is strong.

Suckler farmers have made big changes and participated in schemes like the Beef Data Genomics Programme for many years and Beef Environmental Efficiency programme, which is having an influence on the sustainability of the system as well as genetics. The commercial beef value launched last year at the beef conference is also having an impact.

Earlier age at slaughter has many influences but there are improvements being made which will be discussed in detail in the Growing & Finishing Village at Beef2022.

What’s happening at Beef2022?

There will be four main stands highlighting beef systems for your farm, performance targets and achieving the targets whilst optimising beef profitability.

Producing quality beef is key to the success of the industry and factors affecting meat quality, grass-fed beef and PGI and quality-assured beef will be the topics of the day in the meat quality village. 

In the afternoon there will be a forum with a panel of experts who will address supporting the sustainability of Irish beef farming.

If you are a beef farmer, Beef2022 is your opportunity to see first-hand the results of Teagasc’s comprehensive research and innovation programme and to meet Teagasc research, advisory and education staff. 

The event is on Tuesday 5th July in Teagasc Grange and it is a free event and a day not to be missed. 

For further information go to: 

www.teagasc.ie/beef2022

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 and Grass10 Manager John Maher are on this week’s Beef Edge podcast with details on the Fodder Support Scheme as well as top tips to deal with the current grass situation on farms.

Aidan explains that the purpose of the Fodder Support Scheme (FSS) is to incentivise and support farmers to grow sufficient grass and conserve sufficient fodder (silage and/or hay) for the 2022 winter. 

This is to reduce the risk of animal welfare issues in the coming winter as a result of the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the impact this has had on agricultural input costs. Payment rates will be up to €100 per eligible hectare, up to a maximum of 10 hectares of €1,000.

Apply for the Fodder Support Scheme online at agfood.ie on or before 2 August 2022. There will be advisors on hand to answer queries at the Growing & Finishing Village at Beef 2022.  Further details at:

https://www.gov.ie/en/service/448e0-fodder-support-scheme/ 

Also on the show, Grass10’s John Maher outlines the huge variation in grass across the country and offers advice for farmers in different parts of the country. It is important to maintain quality to avoid issues in the autumn he says.  If there are surpluses, bales can be removed.

June is a key month to try avoid stem build up in the sward. Remedial action may ned to be taken now rather than later.

John invites listeners to visit the Sustainable grassland village at Beef 2022 on 5th July in Teagasc Grange which will help farmers deal with current issues on farms. 

Further details at:

http://www.teagasc.ie/beef2022

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