The Beef Edge

Margaret Brennan, Assistant Principal Officer over Beef Schemes with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, is on this week’s Beef Edge podcast to discuss the new Beef Welfare Scheme announced recently and to give an update on all things scheme related.

The objective of the Beef Welfare Scheme 2025 (BWS) is to further increase the economic efficiency of and enhance animal health and husbandry on suckler farms. 

You can apply if you: 

- are aged eighteen years or over on the date of submission of the application for participation

- are the holder of an active herd number with Herd Owner Status. Herd Keeper is not acceptable

- are farming a holding in respect of which a Basic Income Support for Sustainability (BISS) Application is submitted in 2025 to the Department

- are a suckler beef farmer i.e. have eligible calves born to eligible suckler cows in the period 1 July 2024 – 30 June 2025

- are an “Active Farmer” as defined in the Terms and Conditions

There is one mandatory action that must be completed. You can select optional actions: Action 1 – Meal Feeding (Mandatory Action). Participants must introduce meal feeding for a period of 4 weeks pre-weaning and 2 weeks post-weaning to reduce the stress on calves at weaning time.

Action 2 – Vaccination (Optional Action). If action 2, vaccination, is selected at application stage, participants must implement a vaccination programme against clostridial diseases and/or calf pneumonia in suckler calves and record details of the vaccination.

Action 3 – Faecal Testing / Forage Testing (Optional Action). If action 3, Faecal Testing/Forage Testing is selected at application stage, participants must: carry out two (2) faecal tests (with a minimum of four (4) weeks between each test) for specified parasites and submit for testing or take three (3) forage samples and submit for testing. All sampling kits must be purchased no later than 13 October 2025.

Participants will be presented with the number of eligible calves born on their holding between 01 July 2024 and 30 June 2025 at application stage. Participants will have the option at application stage to select the number of calves for participation in the scheme.

Rate of payment:

Action 1 – Meal Feeding (Mandatory): the rate of payment is €35 per eligible calf up to a maximum of 45 eligible calves.

Action 2 – Vaccination (Optional): The rate of payment is €15 per eligible calf up to a maximum of 45 eligible calves. 

Action 3 – Faecal Testing / Forage Testing (Optional): The rate of payment is €25 per eligible calf up to a maximum of 45 eligible calves.

Payments will commence to cleared cases in December 2025.

Applications must be made on agfood.ie The closing date for applications is 23.59:59hrs on 24 September 2025. You must read the Terms and Conditions for full information.

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, Peter O'Hanrahan from Co. Kilkenny, is on this week’s Beef Edge podcast to discuss his dairy beef system, grassland management on the farm and the upcoming farm walk taking place. 

Peter explains how calves are sourced from five farms within 15 minutes of his own farm. They are reared on automatic feeding system which he discusses in detail . They are grazed in two groups with lighter calves forming a third group and rotated every 3 days in a paddock system.

Currently, calves are performing well gaining 0.84kg/head/day. Stores will be weighed at the end of the month and drafted for feeding indoors. This year’s silage quality is very good at 72-275DMD which will reduce the concentrates to be fed over winter.  

Peter also describes the excellent handling unit facility that is used to easily handle large groups of cattle and labour safely and efficiently.

The DairyBeef 500 farm walk on Peter’s farm takes place on Thursday, 4th September at 6pm and the address is: Kiljames, Thomastown, Co. Kilkenny, R95 N25H.

All aspects of the O’Hanrahan’s dairy calf to beef system will be on full display and for further details go to:

https://teagasc.ie/event/dairybeef-500-ohanrahan-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 farmer, Michael Biggins from Co Mayo, is on this week’s Beef Edge podcast to discuss his suckler beef system, weanling management on the farm and the upcoming farm walk taking place on his farm. 

Michael farms with his son Niall in Ballynalty, Headford, Co.Mayo and he gives an overview of his spring calving suckling to weanling system. 

All suitable heifers are kept on the farm for breeding and those not kept are sold. This year AI was used on over half the cows as well as a synchronisation programme. Michael discusses the experience and the selection of ai sires used on the farm.  

Given the current prices and market maximising weight gain is more important than ever , calves are being creep fed concentrates to maximise weight gain for sale as weanlings.

Maximising quality grass in the diet is important and Michael discusses the plan to build covers into the autumn.

The Biggins family will host the National Future Beef farm walk on Wednesday September 3rd @6pm.  The focus of the event will be ‘Running a profitable weanling system in Mayo’.

Topics to be discussed include:

·       How to make a weanling system profitable

·       Learn about AI, synchronisation & sexed semen

·       Maximising cheap weight gains with grass & red clover

·       Bonus Insights: Water quality, soil health, demos for TAMS eligible equipment, biodiversity & more

Find out more about the FutureBeef Programme at:

https://teagasc.ie/animals/beef/demonstration-farms/future-beef-programme/

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 

Grass10 Manager, John Maher, joins Catherine Egan on the latest Beef Edge with grassland management tips for the month ahead.

John discusses current grazing conditions and explains the different scenarios across the country.

He also details an action plan for dealing with drought, deficit and surpluses and he highlights the plan for the weeks ahead to ensure quality swards are available for building covers going into the autumn.

You can subscribe to the Grass10 newsletter here:

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

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 

The winner of the Drystock Sustainable Grassland Farmer of the Year, Peter Byrne from Co Kildare, and Dairy Beef 500 advisor, Fergal Maguire, are on this week’s Beef Edge podcast to discuss Peter’s dairy beef system, grassland management on the farm and the upcoming walk taking place there. 

Peter’s current system is 19- 22 month heifers and 22-26 months steer beef. Up until 2008, he was running a suckling to beef and sheep enterprise on the farm, alongside a tillage enterprise. Over time, the farm has transitioned away from suckler and sheep production to a calf-to-beef enterprise.

Peter has placed a huge focus in recent years on reseeding and increasing clover on the farm to reduce chemical N being used.

Soil fertility on the farm is good with pH being targeted over the years especially.

Grazing Infrastructure is important with four grazing groups currently on the farm, rotated every 2-3 days.

Join us on Thursday, 21st August at 6:30pm for the Sustainable Grassland Farmer of the Year Farm Walk on Peter Byrne’s farm at Newtown, Castledermot, Athy, Co. Kildare, R14 R763.

Further details at:

https://teagasc.ie/event/sgfoty-walk-drystock-winner/

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 Climate and Sustainability advisor, Enda Geoghegan from Ballina Co. Mayo, is on this week’s Beef Edge podcast to discuss actions implemented on farms that increase efficiency while reducing emissions and the recent findings from the Signpost Programme Report .

Farmers participating in the Dairy Beef 500 and Future Beef Programmes are also part of the Signpost Programme and Enda explains how he liaises with the local advisors, programme advisors and ASSAP programme advisors in his role. 

Enda outlines the importance of having a nutrient management plan, applying lime and correcting P and K within the farm gate, plus he highlights the importance of farm management practices on reducing emissions.

The Signpost Programme Report highlighted how over 5,000 soil samples were taken on programme farms and how the number of beef and dairy beef farmers using protected urea has increased and Enda discusses how a number of small changes can have a significant impact.

There will also be regional workshops taking place across the country in the autumn with further details from your local Teagasc office. 

Further details on the Signpost Programme Report are available at:

https://teagasc.ie/publications/signpost-report-2025/

For more on the Signpost Programme go to:

https://teagasc.ie/environment/climate-change--air-quality/signpost-programme/

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 Head of Schemes Support Unit, Aidan Murray, is on this week’s Beef Edge podcast with an update on the upcoming scheme deadlines and the newly launched Long Established Young Farmer scheme.  

The maximum payment for this is €5,000 per eligible farmer and Aidan discusses the criteria these farmers will have to meet to be able to apply.

Further details are here:

https://www.gov.ie/en/department-of-agriculture-food-and-the-marine/services/scheme-to-support-long-established-young-farmers/

Aidan also discusses the deadlines in relation to the Suckler Carbon Efficiency Programme and National Dairy Beef Weighing scheme.

The 2025 Suckler Beef Welfare Scheme is expected to open for applications on 12th August and Aidan outlines the expected actions required.

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 

Mark Waters from the Irish Cattle Breeding Federation (ICBF) is on this week’s Beef Edge podcast to discuss the National Genotyping Programme which has recently opened for applications.

The National Genotyping Programme is a collaborative initiative enabling Ireland to take the first step in achieving a fully genotyped national herd, based on a cost-sharing model between the Department of Agriculture, Food & the Marine, the beef and dairy industry and participating farmers. 

Genotyping the national herd will provide a huge opportunity for both the dairy and beef industry to accelerate the rates of gain of our national breeding indexes (e.g. EBI, Eurostar & DBI), which will enhance farm sustainability & reduce carbon emissions.

Mark outlines a number of benefits including:

-       Labour-saving - farmers who sign up to the NGP will have exclusive access to Double Tissue Tags. By sampling animals at birth, farmers don’t have to wait for button tags or hair-cards for SCEP or Pedigree Societies and then round up and bring in animals for sampling at a later stage. It is also much safer and easier to tag and sample newborn animals than more mature animals

-       Cost - herds accepted into the National Genotyping Programme will genotype any remaining ungenotyped breeding stock FREE. From 2024 to 2027 (inclusive), farmers will be required to genotype ALL calves born at a reduced cost of approximately €6. (This is an estimate and includes the farmer’s contribution of €4 towards genotyping, plus the additional cost associated with a double tissue tag and postage cost.). Herds participating in SCEP will only incur the €6/calf cost of those calves not counted towards their annual 70% SCEP genotyping requirement

-       Parent verification - parentage errors (which currently sit at an average of 15% nationally) lead to incorrect Eurostar figures and create paperwork to correct once the animal is already registered. Genotyping at birth will confirm parentage & correct any errors before registration

-       Genomic Eurostar figures - animals sampled at birth will receive genomic evaluations at the earliest possible opportunity, thereby increasing the reliability of their Eurostar figures well before they are selected or sold for breeding and confirming their eligibility for SCEP

-       Commercial Beef Value (CBV) - genotyped weanlings and store cattle that are being traded through marts will have their CBV displayed on mart screens.

Further information is available at: 

https://www.icbf.com/national-genotyping-programme/

Or contact the ICBF on email: [email protected] or phone: 023-8820452

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 

Grass10 Manager, John Maher, joins Catherine Egan on the latest Beef Edge with grassland management tips for the month ahead.

John discusses current grazing conditions and explains the different scenarios across the country.

He also details an action plan for dealing with drought, deficit and surpluses and he highlights the plan for the weeks ahead to ensure quality swards are available for building covers going into the autumn.

You can subscribe to the Grass10 newsletter here:

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

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, Kay O’Sullivan from county Cork, is on this weeks’ Beef Edge podcast to discuss her organic beef finishing system, current management on the farm and the upcoming national beef walk taking place on her farm. 

Kay explains her conversion to organics, current grass/clover and multi-species management as well as her herd health plan.

 
The Future Beef farm walk will take place on Friday, 25th July at 6pm on Kay O’Sullivan’s farm at Mourneabbey, Mallow, Co. Cork, P51 Y62D.

Topics to be discussed include:

·          Financials

·          Breeding strategy and animal performance

·          Animal health strategies in an organic farming system

·          Using multispecies swards to improve performance and biodiversity

·          The role of red & white clover in an organic system

·          Composting of FYM demo

Plus  there will be stands on biodiversity, forestry, breeding and more.

Watch this short promo video to find out more: 

https://teagasc.ie/event/futurebeef-kay-osullivan-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