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