Trevor Boland, a part time suckler farmer from Dromard in Co Sligo, joins Catherine Egan on this episode of the Beef Edge to give an update on spring grassland management.   Trevor was awarded the Grass 10 Grassland Farmer of the year Beef category award winner in 2019.

Spring 2020 has been a difficult spring to get stock out grazing with heavy rainfall and poor grazing conditions. Trevor discusses his success of managing grass through improved soil fertility,  an excellent paddock system and measuring grass on a weekly basis.

For more episodes and information covered on the Beef Edge, visit:
 teagasc.ie/thebeefedge

The Beef Edge is a co-production with LastCastMedia.

Pic: Irish Farmers Journal

Alan Dillon, Beef Specialist & Green Acres Programme Manager, joins Catherine Egan, to give an update on the Green Acres programme and to discuss the key targets of the calf rearing phase.

The second phase of the Teagasc Green Acres Calf to Beef Programme was launched in April 2019. This programme is demonstrating profitable dairy calf to beef systems on a whole farm basis through a network of demonstration farms. The primary aim of the programme is to achieve a net margin of €500/ha (excluding premia).

The main areas discussed include:

·      Calf Rearing

·      Animal Health

·      Grassland Management

·      Soil Fertility

·      Financial Management

·      Farm Planning

For further information log on to the Green Acres Calf to Beef Programme visit:

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

For more episodes and information covered on the Beef Edge, visit:
 teagasc.ie/thebeefedge

The Beef Edge is a co-production with LastCastMedia.

Pic: Agriland Media

The Beef Data and Genomics Program (BDGP) and the Beef Environmental and Efficiency Pilot (BEEP) were introduced with the objective of using genetics/genomics to address the decline in key maternal traits within the national suckler herd.  Andrew Cromie, Irish Cattle Breeding Federation Technical Director joins Catherine Egan to discuss how BDGP and BEEP improve the profitability and carbon efficiency of our livestock sector.

Andrew discusses results and analysis of the first females that calved into BDGP herds showed that on average, 5 star females calved 59 days earlier than 1 star females and had a 13.6 days shorter average calving interval.  

In terms of progeny carcass performance, age at slaughter and profitability results demonstrate the effectiveness of the initial €uro-Star genomic predictions as a means to accurately identify more profitable and sustainable suckler herd replacements.

For more episodes and information covered on the Beef Edge, visit:
teagasc.ie/thebeefedge

The Beef Edge is a co-production with LastCastMedia.

Animal welfare is a key consideration for every Irish beef farmer and on this episode, Dr. Bernadette Early, researcher in Teagasc Grange, joins Catherine Egan to highlight the welfare advantages experienced by animals in our systems and results from recent research studies relating to animal housing, castration, and transport.  

Bernadette also outlines the key legal and welfare requirements relating to calf disbudding and to castration. Welfare and performance of finishing beef heifers in relation to space allowance showed that increasing space allowance above 3.0m2 had no effect on animal intake or performance.

Bernadette has been involved in research relating to transporting cattle nationally and internationally with data from these studies used to inform policy makers and national and EU level.

For more episodes and information covered on the Beef Edge, visit:
teagasc.ie/thebeefedge

The Beef Edge is a co-production with LastCastMedia.

Derrypatrick herd manager, Michael McManus, joins Catherine Egan to give an update on the performance of the Teagasc research farm. 

The research demonstration farm was established to explore new ideas and research different system comparisons using a herd of 105 suckler cows in a finishing system on 65 ha at Teagasc, Grange. 

It is a spring-calving, suckler calf-to-beef system with a rotational paddock grazing system is in operation on the farm. Michael highlights the benefits of grass in the system and management of stock over the winter period. He also outlines the preparation being done in advance of the calving season.

For more episodes and information covered on the Beef Edge, visit teagasc.ie/thebeefedge.

The Beef Edge is a co-production with LastCastMedia.

Pic: Independent.ie

It has been a tough year for Irish beef farmers and with the need to look to different international markets, Bord Bia Meat & Livestock Senior Manager Joe Burke joins Catherine Egan to discuss the potential new markets for Irish Beef. 

Joe highlights the fact that beef prices have fallen in Ireland in 2019, for example, the R3 steer price has fallen by 6.5% while similar price decreases have occurred in the UK (7%) and continental Europe (5%). Over the last number of years Irish cattle prices have generally moved closer to and exceeded EU average male cattle prices.

With the significant increase in exports to international markets and live exports - live exports of cattle from Ireland increased by more than 20% in comparison with 2018, and are likely to reach 300,000 head by the year-end - Joe outlines the key market trends and overall impact for the industry in 2020 as well as the possibility of new markets for Irish Beef going forwards.

For more episodes and information covered on the Beef Edge, visit teagasc.ie/thebeefedge

The Beef Edge is a co-production with LastCastMedia.

On the first episode of the Beef Edge, Teagasc's new podcast for beef farmers, specialist Alan Dillon joins Catherine Egan to discuss his top tips for winter weanlings management.

Alan emphasises the importance of housing, cash flow and silage quality in terms of keeping weanlings over winter. He also highlights how farmers can ensure weanlings are achieving 0.6kg/head/day over the winter period.

When deciding between different concentrate options Alan explains that straights are currently good value if facilities are available on farm. Additionally, checking the current constituents in a ration mix needs to be examined and fed according to the silage test results

He also estimates the cost of keeping weanlings over the winter period and proposed costs required next spring. In addition, options for storing cattle over the winter as part of a current contingency plan are discussed.

For more episodes and information covered on the Beef Edge, visit teagasc.ie/thebeefedge.

The Beef Edge is a co-production with LastCastMedia.

The Beef Edge, Teagasc's new podcast for Irish beef farmers, is launching on December 4th and presented by Catherine Egan.

With guest interviews, tips and advice, it will be bringing you all the latest information and advice to help you improve your beef farming.

Subscribe and listen on Spotify or Apple and Google podcasts and never miss a show.

The Beef Edge, for Irish beef farmers, live from December 4th.

For more information, go to https://www.teagasc.ie

The Beef Edge is produced by LastCast Media