The Beef Edge

Latest Episodes:

The Growing Resilient Organic Farming Systems project (GROFarmS) Jun 26, 2024

Show notes

With the launch the GROFarmS project taking place today at BEEF 2024 National Beef open day in Teagasc Grange, Teagasc organic specialist, Elaine Leavy, and Teagasc researcher, Kevin Kilcline, join Catherine Egan on this week’s Beef Edge podcast to discuss the role this research programme will have for anyone interested in converting or currently in organics, as well as detail on the variety of organic events taking place in the coming weeks.

GROFarmS stands for Growing Resilient Organic Farming Systems and is an organic farming research project funded by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and Teagasc and is being undertaken in collaboration with UCD.

In the past few years there has been huge interest in organics, a large number of farms have converted and many more are considering the option of converting. Whilst there are various opinions on the benefits of organic farming, there is a lack of evidence and figures on the sustainability of Irish organic farms. The GROFarmS project aims to address this gap by putting figures on the performance and sustainability of organic farms.

Research on beef finishing systems will be conducted on a dedicated, organic certified 100 acre beef finishing farm in Kildavin, beside Johnstown Castle in Wexford. This farm is currently being converted to organic farming standards. This includes a reseeding programme and conversion of farm sheds to meet organic standards. Complimentary research trials on organic finishing diets will also be under taken in Grange research centre which will subsequently inform the design of winter diets in Kildavin.

In addition, the Teagasc National Farm Survey will be extended to capture information on real organic beef farms across the country that will identify what different production practices are being applied on farms, and what they mean in terms of costs of production, profitability and sustainability.

More detailed information on the background to the project and updates from the project will be on the project website at www.Teagasc.ie/GROFarmS.

There is a National Beef Organic Walk on the farm of Ken Gill Co. Offaly which takes place on Friday 12th July 6:30pm:

https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/beef/demonstration-farms/future-beef-programme/events/#nationalwalks

And information on further upcoming organic walks can be found here:

https://www.teagasc.ie/rural-economy/organics/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

The Findings from the National Farm Survey Small Farms Report Jun 19, 2024

Show notes

Emma Dillon and Kevin McNamara from Teagasc join Catherine Egan on this week’s Beef Edge podcast to discuss the findings from the recent National Farm Survey Small Farms Report.

Teagasc collects farm data through the National Farm Survey (NFS) and this report focuses on the economic, social and environmental sustainability of the approximately 48,000 farms in Ireland that are too small in economic terms for inclusion in the annual NFS survey.

What's in the Report?

Farm Coverage

1. Cattle Rearing
2. Cattle Other
3. Sheep
4. Partially Leased

Farm Categorisation

Farms typically produce more than one type of agricultural output. In the National Farm Survey farms are categorised into farm types according to their principal output.

In this Small Farms Report for 2022, the sample is representative of a population of over 48,000 small farms in Ireland. A small farm is defined as a farm with a standard output of €8,000.

Key Performance Indicators

A range of indicators is provided, including information on farm output, production costs, farm supports, farm income, labour input, stocking rate and input usage.

To view the report go to:

https://www.teagasc.ie/media/website/publications/2024/NFS_Smallfarms_Report2022.pdf

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

Updates on the suckler and dairy beef herds in Grange & a preview of BEEF2024 Jun 12, 2024

Show notes

Teagasc researchers Peter Doyle and Nicky Byrne join Catherine Egan on the latest Beef Edge podcast to give an update on the suckler and dairy beef herds in Grange, what research is currently ongoing in Teagasc Grange and what’s happening at the National Beef Open day BEEF 2024 on Wednesday 26th June.

The theme of this year’s event is ‘Securing your future’ and Teagasc are delighted to invite all beef farmers and stakeholders in the Irish beef industry to the event.

The focus of BEEF2024 will be on the application of technologies that will help beef farmers increase the profitability and environmental sustainability of their family farm businesses.

BEEF2024 will be hosted on a new site on the farm with a new and improved layout and structure on the day. It is a free event and all are welcome to attend.

BEEF2024 is on Wednesday 26th June from 9-4pm in Teagasc, Grange, eircode C15 PW93, and is a day not to be missed.

For further information go to:

www.teagasc.ie/beef2024

Teagasc acknowledges with gratitude the support of FBD Trust who will be available on the day to meet attendees.

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

Martin Shaughnessy’s suckler-to-weaning system and a preview of his farm walk on 11th June Jun 06, 2024

Show notes

With the upcoming Irish Grassland Association National Beef walk taking place on Tuesday 11th June, suckler and sheep farmer Martin Shaughnessy from Co. Mayo, and the Irish Grassland Association Beef chairperson, Paddy Casey, are on this week’s Beef Edge to discuss Martin’s system and the upcoming open day.

Martin runs a suckler-to-weaning system while also lambing approximately 150 ewes – a typical suckler and sheep operation in the west of Ireland.

Martin now runs a herd of sixteen three-quarter-bred Limousin dams mated to Belgian Blue sires each year. Maiden heifers are crossed back to Limousin genetics while sexed semen was also introduced in 2023. Breeding season has gone very well with all cows inseminated.

The sheep enterprise consists of Suffolk and Texel-cross ewes – split lambing at the start of February and then again around St. Patrick’s day each year. The ewes are synchronised to leave the management during lambing easier.

The suckler system is quite simple. The cattle rotationally graze a 10-12 ac block on the home farm which is laid out in paddocks under a leader-follower system.

Martin is also involved in the Teagasc Agricultural Catchments Programme with the farm located in the Cregduff catchment, east of Ballinrobe town, Co. Mayo (Eircode F12PR23).

The farm walk is a free event and is very kindly sponsored by FBD Insurance. Flame grilled burgers will be available at 6pm sharp for those who wish to arrive early and the event will get underway at 6:30pm, finishing at 8:30pm.

For further details go to:

https://www.irishgrassland.ie/event-detail/beef-walk-mayo/

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

Trevor Boland’s update from his autumn calving farm May 29, 2024

Show notes

Future Beef farmer, Trevor Boland, who operates an autumn calving suckling system in county Sligo is on this week’s Beef Edge podcast to give an update on the farm including harvesting of silage and management of grass in the coming weeks.

With current weather conditions very changeable, Trever discusses how he has some first cut silage harvest and the rest will be made in the coming days.

There are currently four groups of stock on the farm grazing and he outlines the management of the various groups in the coming weeks.

Silage quality is very important on the farm as Trevor avoids feeding concentrates to cows. He discusses his fertiliser programme on grazing and silage ground and the management of cows pre-calving

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

Olivia Hynes’ successful mixed grazing in Co. Roscommon May 22, 2024

Show notes

For this joint Beef Edge and Ovicast podcast with Catherine Egan and Ciaran Lynch,

Future Beef Farmer, Olivia Hynes from Roscommon, discusses how she is managing grass this year and how mixed grazing is working on her farm.

Olivia describes the farm system and how this spring has been on the farm. She is using 100% AI with breeding in full swing and she discusses various sires she has selected.

Weanlings are targeted for the export sales and Olivia keeps 10-12 heifers as replacements annually. Olivia complements the suckler enterprise with an early to mid-season ewe flock. Scanning & weaning percentages are excellent with all lambs finished off grass to factory specification.

Over 90% of the farm is free draining brown acid soil, with moderate to good fertility. Olivia has been working on improving fertility for a number of years and liming is a priority to correct pH levels.

Olivia also outlines the paddock system that she has put in and how it is working for her and she discusses her plan for managing grass in the summer, balancing the demand of the different groups of stock as priorities arise.

For further details go to:

https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/beef/demonstration-farms/future-beef-programme/farmers/olivia-hynes/

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

How to maximise the breeding season on your farm May 15, 2024

Show notes

Teagasc Researcher, David Kenny, is on this week’s Beef edge podcast to discuss how to deal with current breeding issues and the key tips to be aware of.

With extended housing this spring, David outlines the impact this has had on suckler cow fertility and body condition.

In some cases breeding season has been delayed by 2-3 weeks. With some cows only calved in the last 3 weeks, David discusses a plan for these cows with synchronisation programmes and timed AI. Further details can also be found here:

https://www.teagasc.ie/media/website/animals/beef/Oestrous-Synchronisation-or-Timed-Insemination-Tech-Note.pdf

David says that stock bull fertility is a major concern with approximately 20% of bulls sub-fertile, and keeping records is essential. Carrying out a mid-season scan will allow any issues be detected early.

David discusses the research being carried out in Grange on breeding at the moment which will cover, AI, calving heifers at 24 months and breeding technologies at the BEEF 2024 Open Day taking place on Wednesday 26th June 2024 at Teagasc Grange, Co. Meath.

For further details:

https://www.teagasc.ie/news--events/news/2024/beef2024-openday-launched.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

Management tips for the coming weeks May 08, 2024

Show notes

DairyBeef 500 advisor, Tommy Cox, is on this week’s Beef Edge podcast with an update on the programme farms, management tips for the coming weeks and he discusses the weaning process.

It has been a challenging spring and Tommy outlines the targets on the farms up to weaning. He describes the weaning process on the farms and the amount of concentrates fed to calves at grass.

In a lot of cases weanlings were 30-40 kg behind target at housing last autumn and Tommy outlines the management plan for yearlings at grass to achieve compensatory growth.

And in the coming weeks silage will be harvested on the programme farms and surplus heavy covers will be removed to help manage grass for the next rotation.

Calf health is critical too, with coccidiosis and worm burden being an issue in the coming weeks.

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

All you need to know about the SCEP course May 01, 2024

Show notes

Margaret Brennan, Assistant Principal Officer over Beef Schemes with the Department of Agriculture Food and the Marine, is on the Beef Edge podcast to discuss the Suckler Carbon Efficiency Programme (SCEP) course.

One of the eligibility conditions of SCEP participation requires that participants MUST complete the mandatory SCEP training course by 15 November 2024.

The Department of Agriculture, Food & the Marine, with the assistance of ICBF and Teagasc, and with contributions from Bord Bia and the Health & Safety Authority (HSA), have developed the mandatory SCEP training course consisting of seven modules.

This online training course will help participants successfully implement the actions within SCEP and advise the best practices in farm safety and livestock handling.

Participants must complete all SCEP online training modules by 15 November 2024 to remain in the programme. This online course is now available to all SCEP participants on the website www.sceptraining.ie

A letter outlining the details on how to access the training, including the participants pin to use when activating your account, is available on Agfood account under the link for Suckler Carbon Efficiency Programme

Failure to complete all modules of the online training course by 15 November 2024 will result in you being removed from SCEP and any monies paid under the programme plus the cost of your genomics tests will be recouped.

Screenshot instructions on the process of activating accounts, logging into the training and progressing through the training modules are included in the guide, which also covers frequently asked questions here:

https://www.gov.ie/pdf/?file=https://assets.gov.ie/291585/cc968e73-db00-4f1a-b465-4ac1bf7cb4d3.pdf#page=null

For any participants having technical difficulties or requiring assistance in logging into the training, help is available by email at support@sceptraining.ie or by phone at 074 9707756.

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

Dispelling some of the myths around TB (Bovine Tuberculosis) Apr 24, 2024

Show notes

David Quinn, Superintending Veterinary Inspector at Department Of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, is on this week’s joint episode of the Beef Edge and the Dairy Edge with hosts Catherine Egan and James Dunne to dispel some of the myths around TB (Bovine Tuberculosis).

Ireland’s TB Eradication Scheme started in 1954. A TB forum was set up in 2018 and a new eradication strategy was launched in 2021.

David first explains that last year there were over 30,000 cases which was an increase of 6,000 on the previous year. Currently the incidence rate is high nationally at 5%.

David describes the skin test carried out at the annual herd test. He outlines the issues around the false positive and false negative tests, and he discusses the ways farmers can reduce farm risks and awareness around wildlife

Further details are available at:

https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/health-and-welfare-/tb/

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