The Beef Edge

As the silage season fast approaches, Joe Patton joins Catherine Egan on the latest Beef Edge episode to discuss the importance of silage quality on beef farms. 

Nationally, silage quality is 65 DMD. The farmers who consistently make good quality silage always have a plan in place. Short and long-term planning is required to maximise the yield and quality of silage with a target cutting date in mind of mid-late May.

The key factors that affect digestibility are discussed in detail; these include a delay in harvesting, old pasture, lodging and dead material in the crop. All of these factors cause a reduction in Dry Matter Digestibility.

Joe highlights the steps that farmers can take in order to increase the quality of their crop in 2020. The impact of the decisions made now in relation to making good quality silage won’t be discovered until next winter. 

However, there will be a reward of reduced supplementation of concentrates and reduced costs on the farm if action is taken now.

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

The Beef Edge is a co-production with LastCastMedia.

Established in the spring of 2018, the Grange dairy calf to beef trial is headed up by researcher Nicky Byrne and technician Donal Fahy to compare the physical and financial performance of progeny from both Holstein Friesian and Aberdeen Angus sires used in the dairy herd. 

These sires vary in breeding value for carcass weight and conformation and are managed in a grass-based system, aiming to be finished as steers under 24-months. 

Nicky Byrne, researcher in Teagasc Grange joins Catherine Egan on this week’s Beef Edge to give an update on the latest results from the trial. For further information click here

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

The Beef Edge is a co-production with LastCastMedia.

As we approach the start of the beef breeding season Dr.David Kenny, researcher in Teagasc Grange joins Catherine Egan to discuss key aspects of a synchronisation regime for a suckler beef herd.

Currently usage of artificial insemination (AI) is low in Irish suckler herds and this has implications for the speed of genetic improvement. In Ireland, approximately 1 out of every 5 calves born in beef herds are bred from artificial insemination. 

David highlights the advantages and disadvantages to AI in the beef herd and he also outlines key checks on your stock bull.

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

The Beef Edge is a co-production with LastCastMedia.

As we start aiming for ground being closed for first cut silage, David Wall, Soil Science researcher based at Teagasc Johnstown Castle, joins Catherine Egan to discuss fertiliser application for silage and grazing ground.

This year, due to extremely wet weather from mid-January to mid-March, a large amount of ground that would have typically been grazed before closing may not be grazed due to late turnout. 

David discusses options and recommends fertiliser programmes to ensure the crop is ready to cut on time. David also highlights the importance of sulphur to the crop and gives fertiliser recommendations for grazing ground. 

For further information go to:

https://www.teagasc.ie/publications/2020/planning-1st-cut-silage-on-beef-farms.php

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

The Beef Edge is a co-production with LastCastMedia.

As we approach peak calf sale season, Ray Doyle from the Irish Co-Operative Organisation Society (ICOS), joins Catherine Egan on the latest episode of the Beef Edge to discuss the limited range of essential services that marts are able to offer during Covid-19.

Over 1 million cattle are sold through Irish Livestock Marts on an annual basis and Ray outlines that there a number of farmers purchasing cattle now at the start of the grazing season and to make contact with their local Livestock Mart.

Similarly, any farmer that wants to buy cattle should first make contact with their local mart to express an interest.  Different Livestock Marts are offering different services during these challenging times and current restrictions.

A new Teagasc telephone helpline to assist farmers with queries in relation to the current COVID-19 challenge has also been set up. The information line phone number is +353 76 1113533 and will be open from 9.30am to 12.30pm and from 2pm to 5pm Monday to Friday.

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

The Beef Edge is a co-production with LastCastMedia.

With the launch of the new €35 million Beef Environmental Efficiency Programme Sucklers scheme (BEEP-S) on March 12th, Teagasc Beef Specialist, Aidan Murray, joined Catherine Egan to discuss the details and objectives of the programme.  Please note, the deadline to apply is 15th May 2020.

About BEEP-S

The Beef Environmental Efficiency Programme Sucklers scheme (BEEP-S) was launched on March 12th 2020. The scheme will target the weaning efficiency of suckler cows and calves - measuring the live weight of the calf at weaning as a percentage of the cow's live weight. Aidan Murray , Teagasc Beef Specialist joins Catherine Egan to discuss the new €35 million BEEP suckler scheme.

If programme participants complete all of the mandatory and optional actions available, they will be eligible for a payment of up to €90 for the first ten suckler cow/calf pairs per herd, and up to €80 per pair thereafter, subject to an overall maximum of 100 pairs per herd

Programme actions are as follows:

Mandatory weighing action: €50 per first ten cow/calf weighing per herd (and €40 per cow/calf weighing thereafter). This action measures the ratio of calf weight at weaning to maternal weight, enabling farmers to “readily identify” their most economic and environmentally efficient suckler cows in their herd;

Optional action: €30 for an additional welfare action, with a choice of either a vaccination programme or a pre-weaning meal feeding programme.

Optional action: €10 for a further option – participation in a faecal egg testing programme.

The deadline to apply is the 15th May 2020.

The terms and conditions are available here
https://www.agriculture.gov.ie/beep/

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

The Beef Edge is a co-production with LastCastMedia.

As the country reels from the impact of Covid-19 coronavirus, Pearse Kelly, Head of Drystock Knowledge Transfer in Teagasc joins Catherine Egan to discuss the impact to Teagasc Advisory Services.

All Teagasc Basic Payment appointments will now be processed over the phone rather than an office consultation. Teagasc staff will contact farmer clients in the coming weeks. BPS application for clients, in so far as possible, will be done over the phone.  

Pearse highlights that the transfer of information and knowledge to farmers and students will be through regular digital communication methods. While on farm Teagasc farmer discussion group meetings are being replaced with one hour phone meetings between farmers and their advisor. 

All Teagasc events have been postponed until further notice. This includes farm walks, conferences, and seminars. Pearse advises that every farmer should have  a plan in case that they become ill, as to who will fill their boots. As children are off from school at the moment Pearse highlights some simple suggestions that could help farmers in relation to health and safety on the farm

For the latest Covid-19 information go to HSE.ie

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

The Beef Edge is a co-production with LastCastMedia.

Aidan Murray, Teagasc Beef Specialist joins Catherine Egan on the latest episode of The Beef Edge to discuss the key targets heifers need to be achieving to calve at 24 months.

Only 22% of beef heifers calve at 22-26 months. However, this figure has hovered between 27-17% over the past decade. 

For more information go to:
https://www.teagasc.ie/media/website/publications/2018/calving-beef-heifers-at-24-months-of-age.pdf

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

The Beef Edge is a co-production with LastCastMedia.

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