Episodit
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Noel Prunty and Liam McWeeney, from Teagasc Ballyhaise College, join Catherine Egan on this week’s Beef Edge Podcast to give an update on breeding season and how the bulls performed finishing under 16 months.
Noel gives a review of calving season 2025 and discusses how AI was used for the start of the breeding season before the stock bull.
Liam highlights the management of the heifers calving at 24 months while Noel discusses grassland management on the farm and managing the different grazing groups to maintain quality.
Liam also highlights the U16 month bull performance and the management of the bulls during the finishing period.
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 -
With surplus grass on most farms, Grass10 Manager, John Maher, has grassland management tips for the coming weeks.
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 -
Puuttuva jakso?
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Teagasc Technician, Chloe Millar, from the Dairy Calf to Beef Demonstration Farm in Co. Tipperary gives an update on this week’s Beef Edge podcast on rearing calves this spring and management on the farm currently.
There were 381 calves sourced on the farm this spring with the calves sourced from seven farms from specific sires with high dairu beef indexes. There was a focus on selecting sires with high CBV and beef carcass in the sub-indexes.
Chloe talks through the process from once the calf arrives on the farm up to weaning. They were on average 80 days of age and 93 kg at weaning.
Chloe also outlines the key targets for these calves over their lifetime and how the cattle finished last year.
Performance at grass is very important to every beef system with Chloe outlining the management at grass currently and the reseeding that was carried out this year.
The farm is hosting an AHI Teagasc calf care event on the farm on the 24th June @ 7pm and further details are at:
https://animalhealthireland.ie/event/calfcare-event-ballyvadin-beef-farm/
There are a number of calf care events taking place from 23rd-26th June and for further details go to:
https://animalhealthireland.ie/event/calfcare-event-peoples-farm/
For more episodes from the Beef Edge podcast, visit the show page at:
https://www.teagasc.ie/thebeefedge
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As part of Men’s Health Week, Laurence Gaughan, Regional Project Manager in the west of Ireland with the HSE, is on this week’s Beef Edge podcast with some tips and advice on mental health for farmers.
Farmers tend to prioritise farm work and the health of their animals and Laurence discusses how to keep healthy. He also outlines financial planning actions that can also help overcome stress and worry and he discusses the new mental health initiative, Taking Stock.
Further information is available on www.westbewell.ie and you can also contact:
· Samaritans, 116 123 (24 hours)
· Pieta, 1800 247 247 (24 hours)
· Your Mental Health, 1800 111 888
· Text About It, 50808
· MABS, 0818 072 670 (Money advice service, Mon-Fri, 9am-8pm)
· Alone, 0818 222 024 (National support and referral line for older people, 7 days a week, 8am-8pm)
· Citizens Information, 0818 07 4000 (Mon-Fri, 9am-8pm)
For more episodes from the Beef Edge podcast, visit the show page at:
https://www.teagasc.ie/thebeefedge
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Tim Meagher from Roscrea, Co. Tipperary, who will host this year’s Irish grassland Association Beef Event, is on this week’s Beef Edge podcast to discuss his farm system, while Paddy Casey from the Irish Grassland Association highlights what to expect at the event.
It will take place on Tuesday June 10th, with the event kicking off at 6:30 pm sharp and will conclude at 8:30 pm.
Tim operates a store-to-beef system on 88 ha of grassland and 24 ha of tillage. When he took over the reins, he pushed suckler cow numbers to 90 – they were predominately Limousin which were crossed with a quality Charolais stock bull; heifers at the time were ran with an Angus bull. Separately, weanlings were also purchased from the west of Ireland. At the time, the farm was also home to roughly 200 ewes.
However, over a decade ago, Tim moved to simplify the operation and focused on moving to a traditional store-to-beef enterprise, prioritising on incorporating as much grass into the diet as possible.
Looking at the stock present on the farm, it’s evident that Tim - who does all the purchasing from marts in the west of Ireland - has a keen eye for quality. Heifers and bullocks are bought in September and October each year weighing in the 500 – 520 kg bracket. These are then finished the following year from July to October as they come fit for slaughter; all cattle are slaughtered under 30 months-of-age.
Currently, there is 252 head of cattle on the farm - 160 bullocks and 92 heifers. During the grazing season, the cattle are run in large batches of roughly 40-50 head in a paddock system; there are roughly 43 paddocks on the farm. Strip wires are also used to achieve desired clean outs and to manage paddocks correctly.
In the springtime, all cattle are grouped according to age (January, February, March and April-born calves) to ensure easy management during the summer period.
Tim places a huge focus on preserving top-quality silage as a winter feed. If he can hit 75% plus DMD silage, he can cut out the need for meal over the winter. However, due to weather conditions in 2024, silage quality ranged from 68% to 73% DMD on the three cuts harvested last year.
As part of the operation, Tim places a big focus on animal health to ensure all animals reach peak performance during their stay on the farm. Vaccination and dosing are carried out when required, and Tim has invested in state-of-the-art handling facilities to manage animals efficiently and safely.
Tim first introduced clover onto the farm in 1998 and now both red and white clover play a pivotal role in silage production and on the grazing platform. Since incorporating clover into the system, he has reduced the reliance on chemical nitrogen (N), while not negatively impacting the kilograms of beef sold off the farm.
A slurry aeration system is also present on the farm. Tim places a huge emphasis on health and safety and outlined his handling facility and technologies he uses to be safe and labour efficient
Paddy Casey said that the Irish Grassland Association National Beef Event is an event not to be missed. Following such a fantastic event on Martin Shaughnessy’s farm in Mayo last year, Paddy says really it’s a very social evening for all beef farmers.
Everyone is invited to the free event kindly sponsored by FBD Insurance and the move this year from a suckling farm to a finishing farm will showcase the top quality stock that Tim is purchasing in the west and finishing efficiently with grass key to his system.
Further details available at:
https://www.irishgrassland.ie/event-detail/beef-event-2025/
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, JP Hammersley from Co. Tipperary, is on this week’s Beef Edge with an update on his farm, management of calves at grass and the plan for finishing cattle on the farm.
JP outlines his dairy calf to beef system with cattle finished at 20-24 months of age. All the calves are sourced locally from a nearby dairy farmer.
He discusses how calves are reared and managed up to now and in the coming weeks. The yearling cattle are at grass since February and JP explains how they will be managed at grass for the coming months and rotated in the paddock system to maximise weight gains.
Good quality silage is very important to the system, and JP says that while there is a lot of silage still left over from last year, his aim is to maximise quality this year if that leads to less yield overall but higher quality.
Herd health planning is also a critical part of the system and JP highlights the vaccination programme being used on the calves and his plan to faecal sample during the year to ensure they are treated for worms timely and correctly.
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 -
As we are at a critical stage of the breeding season, Dr. David Kenny, researcher in Teagasc Grange, is on this week’s Beef Edge podcast to discuss breeding on spring calving suckler herds and he has key tips to be aware of.
David says that overall this spring has been good and cows were in good condition going to grass early and fit for breeding.
This spring we have seen the impact of the challenging year last year, with cows calving to second cycle and cows calving later on most farms overall. Body condition score of cows and good nutrition to resume cyclicity is important.
David outlines key tips around AI use and in relation to farmers using a stock bull. It is still important to record when cows are showing heat so that the number of repeats can be monitored. Young bulls should be particularly monitored event though they may be fertility checked.
Talking with farmers, like every year, there are issues with stock bulls cropping up. David explains that if the bull has had an infection or a rise in body temperature, this may cause the bull to become sub fertile.
Scanning of cows may take place after 30-35 days to identify cows that are in calf and the fertility of the bull and to check for any issues.
For more episodes from the Beef Edge podcast, visit the show page at:
https://www.teagasc.ie/thebeefedge
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Grass10 Manager, John Maher, is on this week’s Beef Edge to discuss grass management on the farm at this critical stage of the year.
John gives an update on farms at the moment with some farms having had the best spring in years while other farms are looking for rain. Rain was very localised earlier this week and with not much rain forecast, it will be challenging on some farms.
John says that balancing quality is key at the moment to ensure good animal performance and avoid stem in the sward building up for the season ahead.
Removing surpluses will be important to ensure quality while making top quality silage for next winter. Some farmers depending on stocking rate and allowances may be tempted to stop applying N and John discusses various options with utilising slurry and including sulphur in fertiliser is essential.
The length of time stock spend in a paddock this time of year can also have a big impact on grass growth and quality. The target to maintain is three days per paddock.
First cut silage will be harvested on farms in the coming weeks and John outlines the nutrient requirements for second cut on farms where needed.
For more episodes from the Beef Edge podcast, visit the show page at:
https://www.teagasc.ie/thebeefedge
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Stephen Frend from the Newford demonstration herd in Co. Roscommon is on this week’s Beef Edge podcast to give a review of calving, an update on the current breeding season and a look into management for the coming weeks.
Stephen says that calvings have gone well this spring, cows calved over a compact 10 weeks and went to grass earlier this year in comparison to last year.
With breeding season underway and 100% AI being used, Stephen discusses the sires being used and heat detection on the farm as well as a synchronisation programme being used on the heifers this year.
In relation to the yearling heifers and steers, Stephen highlights the performance to date and current management.
Cattle will continue to be rationally grazed over the coming weeks and if a surplus is available paddocks will be removed as baled silage.
Silage ground is closed with the plan to harvest in late May.
For more episodes from the Beef Edge podcast, visit the show page at:
https://www.teagasc.ie/thebeefedge
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Chris Maughan, Product and Technical Manager with Whelehan Crop Protection, discusses weed control on grazing and silage ground on this week’s Beef Edge podcast.
Chris highlights the opportunity to control weeds, particularly docks in silage ground and grazing paddocks.
Nettles and thistles are possibly the most common weed on farm and he outlines the best control method.
Chickweed is also an issue on some farms, maybe more so in new leys and Chris advises on treatment options.
In relation to reseeds, Chris says post-emergence spray is critical. However, in red clover and multispecies swards, it is more difficult to control weeds in these swards.
In addition, he outlines some options for condoling ragwort and rushes also.
Finally, Chris highlights the regulations as well as the health and safety aspects of springs and maintaining a buffer of 3 metres.
For more episodes from the Beef Edge podcast, visit the show page at:
https://www.teagasc.ie/thebeefedge
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Mary McEvoy, Technical Development Manager with Germinal, joins Catherine Egan and Ciaran Lynch on this week’s joint episode of the Beef Edge and OviCast podcasts to discuss all aspects for carrying out reseeding.
Given the weather this spring, in comparison to previous years, many farmers across the country are considering carrying out reseeding on their farm.
Mary outlines the important points to consider before reseeding such as soil fertility, yield of paddocks and quality of the swards.
Mary explains there are numerous benefits to reseeding in the late spring versus in the autumn.
She discusses the various methods and key tips for preparing the seedbed. Using the Pasture Profit Index is key when it comes to selecting varieties suitable for delivering for grazing, silage and soil type.
With the inclusion of clover in mixes increasing, Mary advises a mix of small and medium leafed clover for grazing on beef and sheep farms.
She also describes the key management tasks post-reseeding with the use of post emergence sprays and good grazing management.
There are a number of reseeding events taking place at the moment across the country and for further details go to:
https://www.teagasc.ie/news--events/news/2025/grass-reseeding-events.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 -
Beef farmer, Sophie Tyner, from county Wicklow, is on this week’s Beef Edge podcast to discuss her beef system, her plans in the coming weeks closing for silage and how good quality silage is so important on her farm.
Given that all the cattle are finished on the farm, good quality silage is very important to her system to reduce concentrates fed.
Sophie discusses winter performance achieved on the farm and how the crop is fertilised and discusses the importance of N,P & K and Sulphur.
Silage is harvested mid-May, ensiled correctly and the pit is sealed to avoid silage heating and waste.
Silage season is a very busy period on farm and Sophie also discusses key steps in relation to health and safety on the farm.
For more episodes from the Beef Edge podcast, visit the show page at:
https://www.teagasc.ie/thebeefedge
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Margaret Brennan, Assistant Principal Officer over Beef Schemes with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, joins Catherine Egan on this week’s Beef Edge podcast to discuss the new Dairy Beef Weighing Scheme that was announced recently and to give an update on all things scheme related.
Dairy Beef Weighing Scheme
Margaret, outlines the 2025 Dairy Beef Weighing Scheme which is open for applications. It is open to dairy farmers rearing their own dairy-beef calves or farmers rearing dairy beef progeny from the dairy herd, and a total of €4 million has been allocated to the scheme, resulting in payment rates of €20 per eligible calf.
To be eligible, participants must have a minimum of five eligible calves, while the maximum payment rate is on 50 calves.
Applications for the 2025 Dairy Beef Weighing Scheme must be lodged online through agfood.ie before midnight on Thursday, 15 May 2025.
Late applications will be accepted, subject to payment deductions, until midnight on Monday, 9 June 2025.
These eligible calves must have been:
- At least 12 weeks of age at the time of weighing and has been registered on the holding s/he is being weighed on for a minimum of 10 days prior to the date of weighing;
- In the applicant’s herd for at least 10 days before weighing;
- Born between 1 July 2024 and 30 June 2025.
Through the scheme, participants will be required to weigh eligible calves and submit weight data to the Irish Cattle Breeding Federation (ICBF).
Weight data should be submitted within seven days of weighing and before 17.30 hours on 1 November 2025.
Farmers should note that they will only be paid on the number of calves in respect of which they submit liveweight data.
SCEP
In relation to the Suckler Carbon Efficiency Programme (SCEP), 2025 is an important year for farmers involved in this scheme as applicants are required to ensure that by the 31st October 2025 at least 65% of their yearly reference number are eligible females that are genotyped 4 or 5 stars on the replacement index (on a within or across breed basis) at the time of purchase (for replacements brought into the herd) or at the time of genotyping (for those replacements bred within the herd).
Finally Margaret also highlighted the deadline for the Basic Income Support for Sustainability Scheme (BISS) is May 15th.
For more episodes from the Beef Edge podcast, visit the show page at:
https://www.teagasc.ie/thebeefedge
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Teagasc researcher, Sarah Burke, is on this week’s Beef edge podcast to discuss her latest research on grass-white clover and multi-species sward systems.
A source of inefficiency in beef cattle production systems is the failure to meet live weight targets throughout the animals’ lifetime, resulting in animals being older at slaughter. Consequently, lifetime production costs, which are mainly feed-related, and the associated environmental emissions, particularly methane and nitrogen, are increased.
Nationally, mean age at slaughter for late-maturing suckler-bred steers, the predominant breed type from the suckler herd, is 28-months. This is five months later than achieved in grass-based research systems and high-performing commercial farms. Within beef production systems, older animals at slaughter are generally less profitable and have a substantially higher environmental footprint.
Sarah highlights that for many decades, perennial ryegrass has been the dominant, sometimes the only, constituent included in grass seed mixtures used to renew grassland. More recently, white clover has been included. Compared to ‘grass’ based swards, Teagasc Grange research has shown the capacity of white clover inclusion to fix atmospheric N, resulting in annual savings of chemical fertiliser, equivalent to 100-150kg N/ha, for beef cattle grazing systems.
There is now increasing interest in using ‘multi-species’ swards to further exploit complementarity between pasture species which include:
· grasses - perennial ryegrass and other grasses
· legumes - white and red clover
· herbs/forbs - e.g chicory and plantain
Sarah’s research investigated the growth and carcass characteristics of late-maturing suckler steers genetically divergent for carcass fatness, produced on grass-white clover and multi-species sward systems and finished at 19, 23 or 26 months of age.
It was based on the two years data collected to date at Teagasc Grange and it concluded that growth performance of suckler beef cattle grazing grass-clover and multi-species swards, or offered silages conserved from these pastures, was similar.
Sarah also discussed how the Fat-EBV steers achieved greater carcass fat scores and a similar carcass weight compared to lean-EBV steers.
Sarah will be presenting her research at the British Society of Animal Science 2025 conference next week 8-10 April in Salthill in Galway where the theme will be ‘Supporting Livestock’s Role in a Global Society’.
For further details go to:
https://www.bsas.org.uk/conference-2025
For more episodes from the Beef Edge podcast, visit the show page at:
https://www.teagasc.ie/thebeefedge
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Grass10 Advisor Niamh Doyle has her grassland management tips for the month ahead.
Niamh comments on current grazing conditions, grazing the first rotation and regrowths on the first paddocks.
She also discusses closing up for silage and the importance of completing a fodder budget and using slurry efficiently. It is critical to assess the correct balance between quality and quantity.
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 -
Teagasc Beef Specialist, David Argue, is on this week’s Beef Edge discussing cattle finished so far this year and, given current increasing beef prices, budgets for the coming months.
So far this year up to March 16th, 398,076 cattle have been finished according to the Department of Agriculture Food and the Marine. This is an increase of almost 11,000 head of cattle in comparison to the same time last year.
With regards to live exports, tighter cattle supplies across Europe and movement restrictions implemented in some key cattle trading markets due to the spread of bluetongue, are key contributing factors behind the continued firm demand for Irish cattle in key export markets in the early weeks of 2025.
The 2025 calf trade has been slower to start in line with later calf registrations, however, it has increased strongly in week ending 2nd March. There has been a total of 18,963 calves exported since the start of 2025, a 58% decrease on the same time period in 2024.
Quotes from major processors have continued to trend upward and this has been reflected in a balance between supply and demand currently in favour of producers.
With farmers with forward stores questioning whether they should go to grass or be kept in and finished, David highlights some key considerations and costs of production ranging from €215 to €311.
When looking at a 400kg store animal, David discusses the costs of production for a 20 months store or 24 month finished steer with costs ranging from €126 to €476.
David advises the importance of looking at the costs of the production system and take all other factors into account.
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 Future Beef farmer, Proinnsias Creedon, and his advisor, James Mullane, are on this week’s Beef Edge Podcast with an update on the farm and how Proinnsias is managing grass this spring.
Proinnsias also explains his calf-to-beef system and how he manages balancing working off farm.
The excellent paddock system on the farm has been a big benefit to improving his grazing management and Proinnsias discusses spring grazing and his plan in the coming weeks.
Proinnsias is hosting a spring grass walk on his farm on 26th March @ 3pm, while Future Beef farmer, Cathal Irwin, from Castlebar, Co. Mayo, will also host a walk on his farm on Friday 28th March @ 5pm.
For more details go to:
https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/beef/demonstration-farms/future-beef-programme/events
For more episodes from the Beef Edge podcast, visit the show page at:
https://www.teagasc.ie/thebeefedge
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Teagasc Future Beef programme advisor, Aisling Molloy, is on this week’s Beef Edge podcast to give an update on the Future Beef programme and to review profitability for 2024.
Aisling first discusses the plan at the moment to get cattle to grass across the country.
On review of the eProfit Monitor, the profitability for farmers in the programme has increased in 2024. But there is huge variation depending on the system and the investment in fixed costs on the farm.
The main focus for the year ahead is to increase output per livestock unit and increase fertiliser and slurry utilisation while increasing daily liveweight gains from grass.
Some of the farms are using AI and stock bulls and preparation is underway for breeding.
The Future Beef Webinar series, starts on 18th March at 8pm, runs every Tuesday for 3 weeks. With an exciting line up of speakers, Aisling highlights what can farmers can expect.
For more, go to:
https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/beef/demonstration-farms/future-beef-programme/events/
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 Advisor Niamh Doyle has her grass management tips for the month ahead.
Niamh discusses turn out of cattle and the spring rotation plan on farms and she highlights the key targets this spring.
Niamh encourages farmers to apply slurry on soils that require Phosphorus and Potassium, particularly the silage ground. Based on soil samples and a nutrient management plan Niamh also discusses chemical fertiliser applications in the weeks' ahead.
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
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Teagasc Researcher, Orla Keane, is on this week’s Beef Edge podcast to discuss parasite control and anthelmintic resistance.
Orla highlights the importance of reviewing your farm health plan at this time of year and she discusses the project that she is involved in called the, ‘Managing Anthelmintic Resistance in Cattle Sustainably' (MARCS) project.
MARCS is a collaborative project between Teagasc, University College Dublin, Queen’s University Belfast, Animal Health Ireland and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.
Its aims are to determine the extent of resistance to wormers on Irish cattle farms; identify major risk factors for the development of resistance so we can target mitigation strategies; and use models of worm population dynamics to apply sustainable parasite control to Irish farms.
Farmers can participate directly or vets can recruit their clients as participants.
Testing is the only way to know if a wormer is highly effective as other methods identify resistance too late. By participating in the MARCS project, valuable information about the anthelmintic resistance status of your farm or your clients’ farms will be obtained.
The test for resistance is a faecal egg count reduction test (FECRT). This test involves collecting individual faecal samples from a cohort of calves before and after wormer treatment and submission of the samples to the laboratory. A short survey on parasite control practices must also be completed. Full guidance on the testing protocol will be provided and the sample testing will be provided free of charge.
If you are interested in testing for anthelmintic resistance on your farm or in recruiting your farmer clients to test for resistance, complete the form by clicking the button below, or contact [email protected]
Click here to get involved in the MARCS project:
https://form.jotform.com/243186865978377
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 - Näytä enemmän
