The Beef Edge

Latest Episodes:

Is Bluetongue Virus a risk for Ireland? Oct 23, 2024

Show notes

Dr. Eoin Ryan, Senior Superintending Veterinary Inspector with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, gives an update on the Bluetongue Virus on this week’s Beef Edge podcast.

Since the end of August, over a hundred cases of Bluetongue have been detected in England and Wales and farmers in Ireland are hearing more and more about it.

Bluetongue is a viral disease affecting cattle, sheep, goats, alpacas and other ruminants and camelids. Bluetongue does not pose a food safety or public health risk. It is spread between animals by biting midges. There are many different serotypes. Bluetongue virus 3 (BTV-3) is currently the most serious threat.

It has been spreading rapidly across north-western Europe since last autumn. The high-risk period in Ireland runs from spring until late autumn when midges are most abundant.

Clinical signs include:

- Fever

- Inappetence (loss or lack of appetite)

- Drop in milk yield

- Reddening of the mucus membranes

- Sores on the nose, gum and dental pads

- Swelling of the face, lips and tongue (i.e. ‘bluetongue’)

- Breathing difficulties if the tongue swells

- Drooling

- Discharge from the eyes and/or nose

- Lameness

- Abortion or deformities in offspring/foetus

In severe cases, death can result.

Eoin advises farmers to be vigilant and to report any suspected cases to the local regional vet lab in order to prevent spread of the virus.

There are huge steps being taken to prevent it and Eoin advises farmers against importing embryos or semen to decrease the risk.

More information on Bluetongue can be found on the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine’s website at:

https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/cd6c0-bluetongue-virus/

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

Comparing Dairy Beef farming in New Zealand and Ireland Oct 16, 2024

Show notes

Bob Thomson, a New Zealand Farm Consultant specialising in sheep and beef, is on this week’s Beef Edge to discuss some of his insights into dairy beef in Ireland compared to New Zealand.

Bob has a wealth of experience working in extension, consultancy and project management for the past 50 years.

He explains what he learned from the DairyBeef 500 farms he visited this week around the country and he describes the dairy beef industry in New Zealand, as well as the opportunities that he thinks could be implemented on Irish beef farms.

Bob is also involved in a highly successful monitor farm programme in New Zealand and he highlights the impact it has had.

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 key things to consider if you’re interested in renting a shed Oct 09, 2024

Show notes

Niall Kerins, Teagasc Cattle specialist, is on this week’s Beef Edge podcast to discuss winter cattle housing arrangements.

Every winter a significant number of cattle are housed and fed in rented sheds. Whether you are the farmer renting out the shed or a farmer renting in the shed, there are a number of considerations for both parties.

Fodder, labour and machinery running costs are often included in the agreements that are made. The payment rate per head is usually determined by local supply and demand, with arrangements in many cases going back over a number of years.

Niall outlines a number of questions regarding daily charge per head which depends on:

• The type of animal being housed?

• Is the forage being provided?

• What quantity of meal is being fed?

• Is straw bedding included?

• Are labour and machinery costs included?

An individual cost per head per day can be included for each of these.

Niall also advises contacting the Department of Agriculture, Food & the Marine (DAFM) regarding movement of cattle rules. There should be no mixing of herds.

Before renting the shed it should be clean, have good lighting, and gates and barriers should be working properly etc. When returned it should be clean, power washed and disinfected.

It is important to set out the rules before the cattle are moved into the shed from who is feeding the cattle, what time will the cattle be fed, are meals being fed, is this once or twice a day, where is the meal to be stored, if drinkers/gates/barriers break who will fix them and who covers the cost etc.

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 October Grass10 Update Oct 05, 2024

Show notes

Grass10 advisor Niamh Doyle joins Catherine Egan on the latest Beef Edge with grassland management tips for the month ahead.

Niamh discusses closing up paddocks in rotation starting with the paddocks near the farmyard, the sheltered and the driest paddocks that will be grazed in early spring .

She outlines the targets for the month ahead to extend grazing, reduce demand to maximise days at grass and aim to have 60% of the farm closed by the first week of November.

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

Budget 2025 – here’s what beef farmers need to know Oct 02, 2024

Show notes

Teagasc Financial Specialist Kevin Connolly is on this week’s Beef Edge podcast to discuss the main headline items arising from Budget 2025, from tax cuts to increased spending.

Kevin explains that the income tax standard rate bands have been increased by €2,000. The income tax rates (20% & 40%) have not been changed. There has been a €125 increase in the principle tax credits.

The rate applying to the middle USC band has been reduced from 4% to 3%. There has also been a realignment of the bands. The three Stock Relief measures have been further extended

Changes will kick in from 1 Jan 2025 to the Capital Gains Tax (CGT) Retirement Relief upper limits with changes to the upper age from age 66 to age 70 where limits are reduced.

The €10 million limit applying to transfers from parent to child will also carry a longer clawback period to be complied with by the recipient.

The Capital Acquisitions Tax (CAT) thresholds have been increased with no change in the rate. A change has been made to Agricultural Relief whereby the Active Farmer conditions will also apply to the donor.

The VAT flat rate farmer addition rate is to increase from 4.8% to 5.1% from 1st January 2025. There are also changes to the VAT registration thresholds.

Additional funding allocated for specific measures relating to agriculture are:

· Sheep Welfare scheme: increase by €5 per ewe to total of €13 per ewe

· Beef Welfare scheme: increase by €25 per calf to total of €75 per calf

· Dairy Beef Scheme: increase by €20 per calf to a total of €40/calf

· Tillage Farming support: new €100/ha scheme supporting farmers to increase their area in tillage crops

· ACRES: additional €60m bringing total allocation of €260 million for 2025

· National Forestry Programme: €91 million in funding

· Multi-Species €1.25m / Red Clover Swards €1.5m — to support the planting of these swards

· Farm Safety: budget of €2.5 million to support initiatives

· Soil Sampling Scheme: continued funding of €6 million

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 Teagasc Beef Budgets 2024/2025 with Aidan Murray Sep 25, 2024

Show notes

Following the launch of the Beef Budgets for 2024 at the National Ploughing Championships, Teagasc Beef specialist, Aidan Murray, has an update with all the details.

Aidan compares the national kill figures to 2023 and discusses how have the prices changed in comparison to this time last year.

Aidan also highlights how the Irish supply of beef looks for the rest of the year.

Prices are good and there is demand around the ring at the moment for heavier type of stock with Aidan comparing changes in prices for different categories of stock.

Plus, for farmers buying cattle at the moment and planning to finish them, he advises that it is important to be aware of the expected costs and price needed to cover it.

The Teagasc Beef Budgets 2024/2025 are available at:

https://www.teagasc.ie/publications/2024/teagasc-beef-budgets-20242025.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

Scottish farmer Graham Lofthouse on his mixed farming system Sep 18, 2024

Show notes

Scottish beef and sheep farmer, Graham Lofthouse of Bankhouse Farm, is on this week’s Beef Edge podcast to discuss his mixed farming system.

The farm is located 30km south of Edinburgh and is 200-300m above sea level. The average rainfall is around 1,000mm. There are 470 ewes on the farm and 84 suckler cows.

Graham discusses how the sucker herd is managed from birth to weaning. Breeding and genetics is very important on the farm and Graham outlines the breeding policy.

Graham also discusses the cattle performance of the stock that were finished on the farm and compares them to the cattle that were sold as stores in 2023.

Maximising weight gain from grass is essential with Graham describing the paddock system and leader follower system that he operates.

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, Aonghusa Fahy, on his farm system and management at weaning Sep 11, 2024

Show notes

Galway Future Beef farmer, Aonghusa Fahy, features on this week’s Beef Edge podcast to give an update on his farm system and management at weaning, plus he discusses the cattle from his farm that will be on the Teagasc stand at this year’s Ploughing Championships.

Even though the weather has been challenging the weanlings have still performed well, Aonghusa explains.

Weaning will take place in groups of 10. Concentrates have been fed to the calves for the past six weeks and they have been vaccinated to reduce stress at weaning.

A lot of rain has fallen in the west in the past few weeks, yet grass management on the farm is good although it has been hard to manage quality.

A steer and heifer from Aonghusa’s farm will be on display at the Teagasc stand at the National Ploughing Championships.

The heifer will be kept on the farm and put in calf next year to calve down at 24 months. Over the coming months it will be important to maximise performance over the winter period to ensure they achieve 0.6kg per head per 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

The Monthly Grass10 Update with Niamh Doyle including grassland management tips for September Sep 07, 2024

Show notes

It was a very challenging August this year and for the monthly Grass10 update, Niamh discusses how farmers have fed silage out over the past few weeks.

Calves have been creep grazed in front of cows to break the bond and concentrates supplemented earlier as well as calves being weaned earlier in September versus late September. Supplement introduced 4 weeks pre weaning and will be continued 2 weeks post weaning and possibly longer on some farms.

Most of the farmers in the Future Beef programme have scanned and given the difficult spring, overall scanning rates were good so various options are being discussed for empty cows to sell live and, depending on the farm where fodder is available, they will be finished on farm.

Finishing stock have been housed and speaking with farmers they were lighter than cattle this time last year. They will be built up over the coming weeks and the plan is to have them finished before Christmas which will be a challenge on some farms due to the poor weather impacting on performance and late turn out last spring.

Niamh also highlights the management of red clover swards in coming weeks and the key points for managing grass in the coming weeks are:

· Empty slurry tanks when possible

· Assess growth on farm versus demand

· Review fodder budget

· Visit ploughing stand to meet the Grass10 team and Teagasc staff

Niamh also advises the last day for spreading chemical fertiliser is 14th September.

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

Future Beef farmer, Shane Keaveney, on his suckler to beef system Sep 04, 2024

Show notes

Roscommon Future Beef farmer, Shane Keaveney, features on this week’s Beef Edge podcast discussing management of his suckler to beef system and the upcoming National Beef walk taking place on his farm on Wednesday, 11th September at 6pm.

Shane explains that he farms with his wife Gráinne and 3 children and operates a suckling to finishing system with bulls finished under 16 months and heifers that are not kept as replacements sold as stores. Shane aims to finish the bulls at 680-700kgs at under 16 months of age and have a minimum fat class of 2+.

He discusses the breeding performance on the farm and is hitting all the key performance indicators. Shane has targeted to reduce the age of slaughter by pushing the bull weanlings earlier and by feeding a high quality red clover silage over the winter.

Shane will discuss his system, physical & financial performance in detail at the walk on Wednesday 11th September at 6:30pm. The focus of the event will be 'Opportunities in Suckler Farming'.

Shane will also detail how red clover is helping him meet his winter weight targets. Plus, the new EIP Island River Catchment scheme will be outlined to explain what opportunities there are for local farmers.

Castlerea Livestock Mart Manager Brendan Egan will discuss the beef market outlook for the coming months along with Anthony O'Dowd from Dawn Meats.

There will be a number of industry stakeholder available to meet and discuss any queries you may have and refreshments will be served.

Further details at:

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