Episodes
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DairyBeef 500 advisor, Tommy Cox, gives some top tips to manage your dairy beef system in the coming weeks and Teagasc advisor, John Kilboyle, previews the National DairyBeef 500 Open Day on the farm of Keith and Olivia Lowry taking place on the 9th July in Co Galway.
Tommy outlines the key grassland management tips for dairy-beef farmers currently and into July and August, particularly in a year with variable growth rates and weather conditions.
He discusses the liveweight gains farmers should be targeting for grazing cattle over the summer months, and how can they monitor performance effectively.
Tommy explains the different options for farmers to consider before introducing concentrates to grazing cattle, and what factors should influence that decision.
He also warns about some of the main animal health risks during late summer particularly lung worm, including parasites and respiratory issues, and what preventative measures should be taken.
The National DairyBeef 500 Open Day takes place on Keith and Olivia Lowry’s farm just outside Tuam, Co. Galway on 9th July @ 6:30pm.
Operating a predominantly early-maturing steer system on 30.6 hectares of free-draining land, the farm has undergone significant development in recent years with a strong focus on grassland management, calf performance, animal health and infrastructure improvement.
The farm currently rears both autumn and spring-born dairy-beef calves with 80 calves being reared on the farm and John explains how the Lowrys put a strong emphasis on sourcing calves from a small number of trusted dairy farms and the benefits this has meant in terms of calf performance, health and overall management.
A lot of investment has gone into grazing infrastructure, with the new paddock system, roadway and water network which has improved grass utilisation, production and labour efficiency.
John also discusses how reseeding has been a key part of the farm development plan and the benefits in terms of silage quality and animal performance.
Topics to be discussed on the evening include:
· Calf sourcing and rearing strategies
· Calf health and vaccination programmes
· Grassland management and grazing infrastructure
· Silage quality and winter feed planning
· Labour-efficient farming systems
This is a great opportunity to meet with the DairyBeef 500 team. Teagasc advisors and industry stakeholders and sponsors of the DairyBeef 500 programme Corteva, Drummonds, Liffey Mills, Munster Bovine, MSD Animal Health and Volac.
Further details available at:
https://teagasc.ie/event/dairybeef-500-farm-walk-keith-and-olivia-lowry/
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 Researcher, Peter Doyle, and Grass 10 advisor, Nikki Kennedy, join this week’s Beef Edge to discuss the grazing demonstration at BEEF2026which is taking place at Teagasc Grange.
Nikki outlines how the demonstration focuses on pre-grazing and post-grazing sward heights.
Many farmers are facing difficult decisions this year due to variable grass growth and Nikki outlines the key indicators that farmers should monitor to maximise cattle performance.
The grazing demonstration compares grass-only and grass-clover swards and Peter discusses the performance differences that are being achieved and the potential fertiliser savings from incorporating white how grass-clover swards which also help improve environmental sustainability.
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 -
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Teagasc ASSAP programme manager, Cathal Somers, and Teagasc Specialist with the Signpost Programme, Mark Plunkett, discuss the importance of lime and soil fertility and the impact it can have on water quality, production and profitability.
Water quality continues to be a major focus for farmers and Cathal outlines the main pressures affecting water quality on beef farms and the eight key actions in the Better Farming for Water campaign.
Mark highlights how farmers have invested heavily in lime over recent years and the impact this is having and what further gains are possible from improving soil fertility. Mark also describes how farmers can assess the health of their own soils.
At the BEEF 2026 Open Day there will be demonstrations of practical ways to improve soil health and water quality.
Further details at:
https://teagasc.ie/event/beef2026/
https://teagasc.ie/animals/beef/grange/beef2026-open-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 -
Teagasc researchers, Paul Smith and Emily Roskam, discuss the latest research on growing and finishing cattle, how this is being implemented on farms and look ahead to the upcoming National Beef Open Day, BEEF2026, taking place on July 1st at Teagasc Grange.
Emily says the biggest opportunities to improve feed efficiency in growing cattle without increasing costs on farm is through good grassland management and silage quality. Teagasc research shows that increasing concentrate levels increases liveweight gain and carcass gain. This is hugely influenced by the dry matter digestibility being fed in silage and Emily highlights the various feed rates depending on silage quality and animal type.
The national age at slaughter remains significantly higher than that achieved on research and top-performing commercial farms and Paul discusses the main barriers preventing farmers from finishing cattle at 22–23 months of age. Many listeners will have heard of the Beef Quest project, Paul outlines some of the key findings.
At the BEEF 2026 Growing and Finishing village a central feature of the event will be a live cattle handling and finishing demonstration, facilitated by Teagasc specialist and advisory staff alongside factory procurement personnel.
Farmers will see first-hand the key areas to assess when selecting animals for sale, including the correct and incorrect levels of carcass fatness and the fat scores and grades required under the Quality Payment Scheme (QPS).
Nationally, a relatively high percentage of cattle are being slaughtered at excessively high fat scores. This represents an economic cost through the use of grazed grass, silage or concentrate on animals with declining carcass performance efficiency. Selecting animals at the appropriate fat score is a must have skill for all farmers finishing beef animals.
Frank O’Sullivan, vet at Teagasc Grange, will outline key animal health considerations, while space allowance will be covered, including the correct areas required and their impact on performance.
Nutritional factors will also be discussed, focusing on winter and finishing diets.
Further details at:
https://teagasc.ie/event/beef2026/
https://teagasc.ie/animals/beef/grange/beef2026-open-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 -
Teagasc Research Technologist, Edwin Carroll, and Future Beef Programme Manager, Martina Harrington, are on this week’s Beef Edge podcast to give an update on the suckler beef research taking place in Teagasc Grange and how this is being implemented on the Future Beef Programme farms. Plus they preview the upcoming National Beef Open Day - BEEF2026 - taking place on July 1st in Teagasc Grange.
Edwin gives an insight into the Maternal and Derrypatrick herds at Teagasc Grange whilst Martina outlines the key factors that underpin profitable suckler beef production systems.
Martina and Edwin also discuss the most important drivers of suckler herd profitability, particularly breeding performance.
Silage quality has a huge impact on winter performance and Edwin discusses how silage harvesting is going and removing surplus bale,s with Martina highlighting the benefits that the Furture Beef farmer participants are seeing in implementing a paddock system.
On July 1st call to the Suckler Beef village where you can find out about:
· Research trial updates from Teagasc Grange
· Breeding the ideal suckler cow
· Synchronisation to improve fertility & labour efficiency
· Herd health: cows & calves from birth to weaning
· Derrypatrick and Maternal Research Herds
· Newford Demonstration Herd
Further details at:
https://teagasc.ie/event/beef2026/
https://teagasc.ie/animals/beef/grange/beef2026-open-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 -
DairyBeef 500 Manager, Alan Dillon, and Teagasc researcher, Jamie O’Driscoll give an update on the dairy beef research taking place in Teagasc Grange and how this is being implemented on the DB500 Programme farms. Plus they preview the upcoming National Beef Open day BEEF2026 taking place July 1st in Teagasc Grange.
Alan and Jamie discuss the importance of the CBV when purchasing calves and the impact that it can have, with Alan outlining the importance of good grazing infrastructure, high quality silage and good calf rearing facilities.
On July 1st call to the Dairy Beef village as Jamie outlines all that will be on offer, including:
· Profitable dairy-beef systems
· Utilising the Commercial Beef Value (CBV)
· Efficient calf-rearing practices
· Maintaining calf health
· DairyBeef 500 Demonstration Farms
· Tipperary Dairy Calf to Beef Demonstration Far
Further details at:
https://teagasc.ie/event/beef2026/
https://teagasc.ie/animals/beef/grange/beef2026-open-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 -
Future Beef programme farmer, John Dunne, from Co.Offaly is on the Beef Edge podcast this week to give an update into his suckler beef and dairy beef finishing systems, the breeding season, their grassland management and the upcoming National Beef Open Day taking place on 5th June.
John farms alongside his son James just outside Portarlington, operating a highly profitable and progressive beef system, combining 79 suckler cows with a dairy calf-to-beef enterprise where 140 dairy calves are purchased annually and brought right through to finish or stores under 24 months of age .
John discusses breeding season and the use of AI on the farm and the difficulty of managing grass in the current weather conditions.
Silage will be harvested this week on the farm and John outlines the management of the dairy beef calves up to weaning and the importance of visually assessing calf health in addition to the management of health and nutrition on farm.
The farm borders the River Barrow catchment area and John explains the range of key measures being adopted on the farm to improve water quality.
The Future Beef National Open Day takes place on Friday 5th June @ 6:30p and fo further details go to:
https://teagasc.ie/event/futurebeef-farm-walk-john-and-james-dunne/
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 Nikki Kennedy has the monthly grass update from around the country and tips for the month ahead.
Nikki highlights that drought conditions are being experienced in the east and she discusses management tips for grazing in the weeks ahead. With silage being harvested in the coming weeks Nikki describes the actions to ensure quality silage, whilst also assessing the categories of animals on the farm needing the different qualities.
Finally Nikki gives her top tips for the month ahead and has details on the upcoming grassland village at BEEF 2026 taking place 1st July in Teagasc Grange.
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 Programme farmer, John Pringle from Co. Wicklow, joins this week's Beef Edge to give an insight into his suckler beef system finishing bulls at under 16 months, preparing for silage and the upcoming National Beef Open Day taking place on 29th May at 6:30pm.
John details his sheep and beef enterprise and how the farm has evolved over the last number of decades.
He describes the management of the bulls from weanling to finish on the farm and the plans for bulls being finished in 2026.
The role of good health measures play an important factor in reducing stress and maintaining thrive.
John is highly focused on efficiency and grass utilisation and describes how the system changed in recent years with improved utilisations, closing farm in the autumn and applying lime since joining the Future Beef programme. The plan is to harvest silage in the coming week with the target to make over 70 DMD.
Breeding season has been going well so far and John has implemented a synchronisation protocol for the heifers for the second year in a row.
The investment in sheep and cattle handling facilities along with a new shed has improved labour efficiency and health and safety on the farm.
Join us on Friday, 29th May at 6:30pm for a Future Beef National Farm Walk on the farm of John Pringle, Kilacloran, Aughrim, Co. Wicklow. Eircode: Y14 PT99.
For further details:
FutureBeef Farm Walk - John Pringle - Teagasc | Agriculture and Food Development Authority
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 breeding season under way, Teagasc researcher, Peter Doyle, joins this week’s show to give an update on the Derrypatrick herd.
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 -
Pat Joyce from Co. Galway, who operates a contract heifer rearing system, and his Teagasc advisor, Charlie Devaney, join this week’s Beef Edge to give an overview of the farm and the steps that Pat takes to make good quality silage.
Pat farms outside Williamstown in Co.Galway; having previously operated a suckling system, he changed in 2017 to contract rear heifers for a dairy farmer. This system has grown and expanded to over 100 heifers bring reared in recent years on two blocks of land.
Maximising weight gain as cost efficiently as possible is key, Pat advises, and this is achieved on farm by increasing grass utilisation through an extensive paddock system.Breeding is a labour intensive part of the system with close observation of heifers on the home block used to detect heifers, along with tail paint and scratchcards. The am/pm rule is used for AI on the farm. This year Pat has installed SenseHub to aid heat detection on the outblock.
Managing costs on the farm is very important especially making quality silage which is something Pat has focused on a lot on in recent years. Pat has also red clover on the farm and he discusses how it is managed so far this year and the plan for the year ahead.
Plus, Pat highlights a few tips for any farmer considering going contract rearing.
Local Teagasc advisor, Charlie Devaney, concludes with advice for farmers making silage this year, particularly where ground hasn’t been grazed.
If you missed the recent Silage Webinar, watch it here:
Gearing up for Silage 2026 - Webinar
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 advisor, Tommy Cox, is on this week’s Beef Edge podcast to discuss transitioning calves to grass.
When calves underperform during their first season at pasture, it makes it difficult to achieve key performance targets, irrespective of systems further down the line.
Failing to hit an average daily gain targets of 0.7-0.8 kg/day results in delayed slaughter, the production of lighter carcasses and/or the introduction of additional concentrates to try and recover the loss in performance recorded over the first grazing season. Therefore, ensuring calves perform to their optimum over the first 12 weeks of life is important.
Tommy highlights the fact that the majority of calf-to-beef producers opt to wean their calves prior to moving them from the calf shed to the field. During this period, calves may suffer a post-weaning growth check and subsequently disease outbreak as a result of: the low intake of dry feed up until weaning; the high intake of low-energy, bulky forages; or stress when feeds are changed.
He advises to feed concentrates before, during and after weaning to limit the level of growth check experienced.
Calves should be offered concentrates (1-2 kg/day) for 2-3 weeks post-turnout. Concentrate supplementation provides the calf with adequate time to become accustomed to grazing before an all-grass diet is offered.
For further information:
https://teagasc.ie/animals/beef/dairy-calf-to-beef/dairybeef-500/dairybeef-500-factsheets/the-first-12-weeks-at-grass-for-dairy-beef-calves/
Subscribe to the newsletter here
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 -
On this week’s joint episode of the Beef Edge along with Ciaran Lynch from Ovicast, Chris Maughan Technical Manager, Whelehan Crop Protection, discusses weed control and planning for the year ahead.
It’s been a cold wet start to year with grass growth hampered this spring and Chris outlines dock control options on grazing and silage ground.
He also explains general weed control and ragwort control and where clover needs to be retained in established grassland and new sown leys, Chris outlines the range of options available.
Plus, Chris discusses best practice relating to water quality and disposal of empty spray containers and highlights the importance of using the correct nozzles to reduce drift.
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 rising input costs and tighter margins, it’s never been more important to understand your costs of production and where your system stands.
On this week’s episode of the Beef Edge podcast, Teagasc beef specialist, David Argue, who has been working through a range of beef budgets for autumn 2025 and spring 2026, discusses everything from under-16 month bull systems, to forward store finishing, as well as dairy calf-to-beef enterprises, looking at the assumptions behind them and how they stack up financially.
David also outlines the impact that increases in concentrate, fertiliser and contractor charges will have on break even and margin in the systems.
Good health and management are essential as well and David discusses some of the opportunities to cut costs without affecting performance highlighting the importance of completing a budget for your farm and system.
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 technician on the Newford demonstration farm, Michael Fagan, gives an update from the farm, breeding season ahead and the breeding open day taking place on April 22nd.
The event will focus on the key drivers of suckler herd efficiency, offering attendees the opportunity to see proven systems in action. With the breeding season fast approaching, the timing is ideal for farmers looking to fine-tune their approach and maximise results in the months ahead, particularly those considering AI.
A central theme of the day will be breeding efficiency, with a strong emphasis on the genetics behind the Newford herd. Farmers will gain an understanding of the terminal sires being used to deliver both performance and profitability. The importance of selecting the right genetics to meet farm objectives will be explored, helping farmers make more informed breeding decisions.
Whether you are looking to improve breeding performance, reduce workload or future-proof your suckler enterprise, this event offers a valuable opportunity to learn and see best practice in action. A number of industry stakeholder stands will be present, where farmers can meet and ask questions.
The event takes place on Wednesday, 22nd April at 4pm at Newford Suckler Demonstration Farm, Scrine, Co. Roscommon (Eircode F42 AH57).
Newford Farm is a joint partnership between Teagasc, Dawn Meats and McDonald’s.
Further details at: www.teagasc.ie/event/newford-open-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 -
It was a very challenging spring this year and for the monthly Grass10 update, Nikki Kennedy and John Conroy give updates from around the country and plan for the month ahead.
John says that while some ground has been grazed, there is still a lot not grazed yet in the west and it is unlikely that silage ground will be grazed at this stage.
Nikki has an update from Teagasc Grange and says a flexible approach is needed to utilise grass this spring with it being important to walk the farm and assess grass re-growths.
Finally Nikki and John give their top tips for the month ahead.
For more, 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 Specialist Mark Plunkett, from the Signpost Programme, is on this week’s Beef Edge podcast to discuss fertiliser application for silage this year.
As we move through a challenging spring, many farmers are reassessing their silage strategy. Weather disruption, fertiliser costs, and environmental pressures all mean that getting the basics right has never been more important. Mark outlines the importance of achieving high-quality silage while maintaining yields and controlling input costs.
Closing date is one of the most important drivers of silage quality. Earlier closing (late March to early April) results in higher digestibility and better feed quality, but typically lower yields. Delayed closing increases bulk but reduces DMD (dry matter digestibility), impacting animal performance.
Mark highlights how this spring, some ground may not be grazed before closing due to poor conditions. In these cases:
· Remove heavy covers early if possible through light grazing
· If not feasible, close, fertilise and harvest early May
· Avoid applying slurry on very heavy covers—this can lead to contamination
Mark explains that a typical fertiliser programme should aim to supply:
· Nitrogen (N): 80–100 units/acre (100–125 kg/ha)
· Phosphorus (P): 16 units/acre (20 kg/ha) where required
· Potassium (K): 80 units/acre (100 kg/ha), especially where silage is removed annually
Sulphur is often overlooked but is essential for nitrogen utilisation and good grass growth. Deficiency can limit yield even where nitrogen is applied. Including sulphur (10–15 units/acre) improves overall response.
Finally Mark highlights:
· Close remaining silage ground as soon as conditions allow
· Apply fertiliser promptly after closing
· Use slurry where conditions are suitable
· Monitor covers and plan cutting dates early
Timeliness is critical - delays now reduce both yield and quality.
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 many beef farmers balancing part-time work off the farm, this episode marks the first in our new monthly series, ‘Managing Labour on Farm’.
Father and son, Eamon and Donnchadh McCarthy from Youghal, and participants in the Future Beef Programme, share how they successfully run their suckler-to-beef system whilst both working off-farm.
Labour efficiency on the farm is very important and like many farms, the biggest labour pinch points during the year are calving, breeding and finishing which are managed around their off farm work.
Calving in the spring, prior to Donnchadh starting work as an AI technician, is critical and is compacted to 6 weeks.
Previously, calving in both spring and autumn had a huge impact on labour demand with the two calving seasons and breeding periods.
A good farm paddock system has helped bring cows back to the yard with roadways highlighted as a job for the future to make life easier.
Investments on the farm around housing and handling facilities have made a big difference to saving time and labour particularly handling cattle during the herd test and throughout the year.
Finishing bulls under 16 months is quite labour-intensive but most feeding is carried out with the feeder when concentrates are fed ad lib and this doesn’t need to be done daily, thus reducing labour. In the future investment in a meal store to enable the tractor and loader do most of this work is being considered.
Eamon and Donnchadh also discuss the various technologies being used on the farm to minimise labour such as SenseHub and PastureBase Ireland to measure grass.
The fertiliser dispersal stand has also been very important on the farm for health and safety and you see more on it here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o7uinpDPbK0
Further updates from the McCarthys are at:
https://teagasc.ie/animals/beef/demonstration-farms/future-beef-programme/farmers/eamon-donnchadh-mccarthy/
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 -
For this second of a two-part series focused on the Commercial Beef Value, Ciaran Conway who runs a weanling to finishing heifer system with his son Diarmuid outside Mullingar Co. Westmeath, discusses his system and use of CBV on their farm which was awarded 2025 Suckler Finisher Award for Ashbourne.
High-CBV continental weanlings, disciplined management and a grass-driven system underpin the reliability and strong carcass results achieved.
Ciaran discusses how grass is central to his system and the key grassland management practices that drive performance.
Buying over 300 cattle a year, a good herd health plan is essential and Ciaran outlines his health protocol.
Ciaran also works off farm as a nutritionist and discusses his finishing programme for the stock when they are housed.
The system, finishing around 24 months, is tightly managed and Ciaran outlines the role CBV plays in purchasing cattle in addition to visuals and price.
For further info:
https://www.icbf.com/continental-quality-high-cbvs-driving-performance-on-the-conway-farm/
https://www.icbf.com/commercial-beef-value-cbv/
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 -
Over the last few years, farmers have become more aware of the Commercial Beef Value – or CBV – and so, this week is the first of a two-part series on the importance of CBV.
The ICBF’s Research Project Co-ordinator, David Kelly, who is based in the Tully Research Centre, joins the show to discuss the latest information and findings at Tully with regards to CBV.
David highlights the fact that farmers finishing cattle are seeing measurable margin differences between high and low CBV cattle. He discusses continental, dairy beef and dairy cross dairy cattle.
He outlines the impact on profitability on the high-CBV dairy-beef cattle finishing earlier and grading better and he explains that while genotyping significantly improves CBV reliability, it is also influencing breeding decisions on farm.
For more episodes from the Beef Edge podcast, visit the show page at:
https://www.teagasc.ie/thebeefedge
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