The Beef Edge

With over 34,000 audits taking place on Irish Beef & Sheep farms each year, Emma O’Gorman, Quality Assurance and Origin Green co-ordinator at Bord Bia joins Catherine Egan on this week’s Beef Edge podcast to bust some myths around the audit.

Emma describes how it demonstrates to customers that quality beef and lamb are produced sustainably under an accredited Scheme and provide an on-going means of demonstrating best practice at farmer level. There are 51,584 certified beef producers of which 41,770 are beef-only producers.

Every 18 months farmers must complete an audit and Emma describes the preparation in advance of the audit and highlights that help is available to farmers through the website, the Bord Bia helpline and in the pre-audit pack sent out to farmers.

Emma also discusses animal remedy usage recording, animal remedy purchases recording and the farm safety risk assessment as being the main areas of non-compliance and outlines how this can be overcome.

With farm audits starting again on farm, Emma highlights how the auditor is there to help and make the process as easy as possible on the day.

For further information:

Preparing for the audit

https://farm.bordbia.ie/Prepare.aspx

Bord Bia website

https://farm.bordbia.ie

Bord Bia contacts:

Call 015240410 - To speak directly to Helpdesk staff

0831800069 - To send closeout evidence by SMS (ensure herd number is included in message)

[email protected] - To email closeout evidence (insert herd number as subject title of email)

Bord Bia helpdesk, Tralee Road Industrial Estate, Castleisland, Co. Kerry - Postal address to post closeout evidence to.

For more episodes and information covered on the Beef Edge, visit the show page at:

https://www.teagasc.ie/thebeefedge

Produced on behalf of Teagasc by LastCastMedia.com

In the second of a two-part series looking at a farm to fork enterprise, Jim Ryan, owner of Ryan’s Farm, who operates a premium on-farm butchers alongside is his farm in Kells, Co. Meath joins Catherine Egan on this week’s Beef Edge podcast.

Jim describes how he manages the cattle from purchase to finish and gives advice for other farmers who may be considering this career path.

Jim discusses how the beef enterprise is operated on the farm with heifers brought to finish alongside his 220 ewe flock. Herd health is very important and Jim has a good biosecurity and vaccination protocol drawn up for his farm.

For further information on Ryans Farm go to:

http://www.ryansfarm.com/

For more episodes and information covered on the Beef Edge, visit the show page at:

https://www.teagasc.ie/thebeefedge

Produced on behalf of Teagasc by LastCastMedia.com

In the first of a two part interview finding out about a farm-to-fork enterprise, on this week’s episode of the Beef Edge, Catherine Egan is joined by Jim Ryan of Ryan’s Farm.

Jim operates a premium on-farm butchers alongside his farm in Kells Co. Meath and he tells his story of establishing the business back in 2007 and how he has expanded and grown the business ever since.

Jim explains that it’s a family run business with his wife Pamela and children who are all very much involved and discusses how important this is.

It has been a real learning curve however and Jim describes the long hours he works on a typical week, particularly days when he attends the market to sell the produce.

The customer eating quality experience is very important he says and Jim discusses the types of products the customer is looking for.

For further information on Ryans Farm go to:

http://www.ryansfarm.com/

For more episodes and information covered on the Beef Edge, visit the show page at:

https://www.teagasc.ie/thebeefedge

Produced on behalf of Teagasc by LastCastMedia.com

With approximately 20% of suckler herds operating an autumn calving system, Teagasc advisor Aisling Molloy has some key tips on this week’s Beef Edge podcast.

She discusses why autumn calving is appealing to some farmers and the various different beef systems that autumn calving suits.

High quality silage is very important in reducing costs over the winter period in this system and targeting early turnout.

Aisling emphasises that managing the cow’s body condition score in the lead up to calving is key to reducing issues at calving and post-calving.

A quarter of Irish farm accidents and one-fifth of farm deaths are livestock-related with attacks by recently calved cows a common cause of such accidents. Aisling gives some top tips on safety at calving.

Calving the suckler cow and caring for the new born calf are also important tasks on autumn calving suckler herds in the coming weeks and last spring, vet Tommy Heffernan gave a two-part interview to discuss these important topics in detail which are worth listening back to.

In the first part, Tommy highlights all the top tips related to calving the suckler cow:

http://bit.ly/CTC21

In the second part, Tommy highlights all the key tips related to caring for the newborn calf:

https://bit.ly/Care4Calf

For more episodes and information covered on the Beef Edge, visit the show page at:

https://www.teagasc.ie/thebeefedge

Produced on behalf of Teagasc by LastCastMedia.com

On this week’s episode of the Beef Edge podcast, Teagasc Green Acres participant Aidan Maguire from Co. Meath discusses his beef system and gives an update on his farm.

For the past four weeks, drought conditions have made managing grass on the farm very difficult. Aidan describes how he had to feed good quality silage ( 72 DMD) to ensure performance was not impacted.

On a recent weighing, calves were achieving 0.7-0.8kg/head/day while the stores were achieving 0.9-1.1kg/head/day.

Aidan discusses how he plans to introduce meal at grass in the coming weeks with the plan to finish 30 heifers.

Closing up paddocks is also a focus for Aidan in the next few weeks in order to ensure there is grass available next spring.

For further updates from the Green Acres programme subscribe for the free fortnightly newsletter here:

https://715b076b.sibforms.com/serve/MUIEABmyHwOboyRgEW5CKKxG9Z2AtXcyr45Mamg276sYRQJ8X35qt9zgM2zFlpjivTWIjsjgANwuc8QVGrT0BYWtnjLs2WtmdljVYJHWIdGAiBmX9wE_I-4hQ1tHUOyg2hPF2Hja9awpPYpnmRHBtMLbQHG2AaaFNOzF-vw7rEDB8q3soBhfbloK1ByxnDkyOCYcDZksCNQt-LUn

To find out more about the Teagasc Green Acres Calf to Beef Programme click here:

https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/beef/demonstration-farms/green-acres-calf-to-beef/

For more episodes and information covered on the Beef Edge, visit the show page at:

https://www.teagasc.ie/thebeefedge

Produced on behalf of Teagasc by LastCastMedia.com

In the second of a two-part series on planning in preparation for weaning, Teagasc Specialist, Aidan Murray, advises how to reduce stress at weaning.

Weaning can be a stressful time on farms both for cow and calf and there are many different weaning strategies with benefits to each process, which Aidan describes.

As part of the Beef Environmental Efficiency Programme-Sucklers (BEEP-S), farmers may have selected the optional measure under Action 2 to feed concentrates to weanlings for which they get €30 per calf weighed up to a max of 100 calves. The objective of this measure is to introduce calves to meal feeding for 4 weeks pre weaning and a further 2 weeks post weaning with the aim being to reduce the stress of weaning on the calf.

Aidan describes the process here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=91mJKsEcDC8

Depending on farmers’ systems, farmers may be considering castrating bull weanling and this can add stress at weaning (https://www.teagasc.ie/publications/2020/castration--best-practice.php).

Aidan outlines that calves can be castrated, other than by a veterinary practitioner, before it reaches 6 months of age, using a Burdizzo or before it reaches 8 days of age using a rubber ring (S.I. 127 of 2014), in both cases without the use of anaesthesia and analgesia (S.I. 107 of 2014).

Over these age limits, local anaesthesia, using a prescription only medicine (POM), must be administered by a veterinary practitioner to animals intended for castration.

Finally Aidan advises that farmers should put a plan in place in the coming weeks to ensure the weanlings have a stress free weaning.

For more episodes and information covered on the Beef Edge, visit the show page at:

https://www.teagasc.ie/thebeefedge

Produced on behalf of Teagasc by LastCastMedia.com

In the first of a two part series on planning in preparation for weaning, vet Charles Chavasse, Area Veterinary Manager with Zoetis, joins Catherine Egan on the latest Beef Edge to discuss how to prevent pneumonia.

Charles first describes how most pneumonia is caused by a mix of viruses and bacteria. Vaccines are an aid to the control of pneumonia as the vaccines reduce lung damage caused by viruses allowing antibiotics to work more effectively on bacteria. This reduces the need for antibiotics.

Charles discusses the cost of vaccines compared to the cost of a pneumonia outbreak. Preventing one severe case (or two mild cases) of pneumonia would cover the price of the vaccination of 50 calves.

As part of the Beef Environmental Efficiency Programme- Sucklers (BEEP-S), farmers may have selected the optional measure under Action 2 to vaccinate weanlings which they get €30 per calf weighed up to a max of 100 calves.

Charles outlines the two options that are available for the vaccination programmes. Watch more here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7isaicS6j6o

Charles also warns that vaccines need careful handling and he advises to:

1. Store the vaccines in a functioning fridge . For live vaccines, once mixed, use within 4 hours; for dead vaccines, once broached use within 10 hours

2. Live vaccines need to be mixed – sterile needles and syringes – do NOT return to fridge

3. Have good facilities and take your time

For further information consult your local vet and for more on vaccination best practice:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q931So5-9zo

For more episodes and information covered on the Beef Edge, visit the show page at:

https://www.teagasc.ie/thebeefedge

Produced on behalf of Teagasc by LastCastMedia.com

As part of #FarmSafetyWeek, beef farmer Tommy Holmes from Co. Mayo, discusses farm safety on his farm along with his Teagasc advisor Tom Kelly, Teagasc Ballina on this week’s Beef Edge podcast.

Tommy outlines his store to finishing system and describes how he has moved from suckler cows to bull beef and now to bullocks.

A large proportion of all fatal workplace accidents occur in agriculture each year and Tommy outlines how he has made his farm safer with good handling facilities. Tommy also highlights how he services his tractor twice a year and is always checking the safety guards are in place.

Tom Kelly his local Teagasc advisor gives tips for farmers to stay safe on their farm, in particular, carrying their mobile phone so they can contact someone in an emergency.

Tom explains that farmers can apply for TAMS grants for various safety equipment on their farm ranging from head scoop to calving gates while he recommends farmers complete the Teagasc safety course and regularly update their Farm Risk Assessment Document which is available here:

https://www.hsa.ie/eng/Publications_and_Forms/Publications/Agriculture_and_Forestry/Farm_Safety_Code_of_Practice_Risk_Assessment_Document.pdf

For further information on farm safety week:

https://www.teagasc.ie/rural-economy/farm-management/farm-health--safety/farm-safety-week-/

For more episodes and information covered on the Beef Edge, visit the show page at:

https://www.teagasc.ie/thebeefedge

Produced on behalf of Teagasc by LastCastMedia.com

Pic source: Irish Farmers' Journal

Chris Maughan, Technical Manager with Whelehan Crop Protection, and Teagasc Beef specialist, Alan Dillon, are on this week’s Beef Edge podcast to discuss weed control on farm.

It has been a difficult spring on farm relating to grass, particularly getting an opportunity to control weeds.

Chris discusses control of docks nettles, thistles, buttercups and ragwort. He also discusses the correct spraying procedures and records that farmers need to keep.

Alan describes how there has been an increase in rush infestation in parts of the country over the last few years and the impact they can have on grassland.

He also outlines the main strategies of controlling them, particularly on land eligible for the basic payment scheme.

For more episodes and information covered on the Beef Edge, visit the show page at:

https://www.teagasc.ie/thebeefedge

Produced on behalf of Teagasc by LastCastMedia.com

Orla Keane, Senior Researcher at Teagasc Grange, has some timely advice in relation to updating your herd health plan and parasite control on this week’s Beef Edge podcast.

It’s a good time of year when calving is over for a spring calving herd and before it starts on an autumn calving herd to review the herd health plan now and Orla highlights the importance of biosecurity and hygiene and outlines the process for disinfecting calving pens and slatted sheds at this time of year.

She explains that anthelmintic resistance refers to the ability of parasitic worms to survive a dose that should kill them. There are currently only 3 classes of anthelmintics licensed in Ireland for the control of gut worms in cattle. These classes are benzimidazole (commonly known as white wormer), levamisole (commonly known as yellow wormer) and macrocyclic lactones (commonly known as clear wormer).

Anthelmintics from different classes have different modes of action. However, within the same class all products share the same mode of action and therefore when resistance develops to one product within a class generally other products in the same class are affected.

Actions to take to slow the further development of anthelmintic resistance are:

• Use grazing management to reduce exposure to worms

• Use anthelmintics only when necessary

• Use an appropriate product for the worms being targeted

• Use the correct dose rates and proper dosing technique

• Have a biosecurity protocol for bought-in stock

For animals at grass, one of the major health threats is internal parasites. At this time of year gut worms and lungworm are the major internal parasites of concern which

Orla discusses treatment strategies here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VYe0WxOEKs0&ab_channel=Teagasc

DAFM Disinfectant list:

https://www.gov.ie/en/collection/e1453-disinfectants/

For more information:

https://www.teagasc.ie/publications/2020/parasite-control-in-growing-cattle-at-pasture.php

For more episodes and information covered on the Beef Edge, visit the show page at:

https://www.teagasc.ie/thebeefedge

Produced on behalf of Teagasc by LastCastMedia.com