The Beef Edge

Latest Episodes:

The actions to implement on farm in the coming weeks Apr 17, 2024

Show notes

With the current extended rainfall, on this week’s Beef Edge podcast, Future Beef advisor Gabriel Trayers and Alan Dillion DairyBeef 500 manager give an update from around the country along with tips and advice to implement on farms for the coming weeks.

Alan also discusses health issues while Gabriel outlines issues in relation to the breeding season and cow nutrition options.

With grazing rotations delayed, Alan discusses the first steps in the plan and getting silage ground on track; plus he describes some of the finishing options now that stock may not have got to grass.

Weather is improving so there is light at end of the tunnel but it is an extremely stressful time and there’s also huge financial pressure on farmers.

Talk to neighbours and your local Teagasc advisor. There is an extensive network of people to help, including the Teagasc National Grassland Helpline on 059 918 3155.

The helplines are open to all farmers seeking advice in coping with the ongoing wet weather and challenging soil conditions and are open from 9am–9pm Monday to Saturday.

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

Tips & advice for closing silage ground Apr 10, 2024

Show notes

With the difficult weather conditions, DairyBeef 500 advisor Gordon Peppard is on this week’s Beef Edge podcast with some timely tips in relation to closing ground for silage.

Gordon highlights that on many farms silage ground won’t be cut but this could provide an opportunity to cut this silage earlier and hence have after grass coming into the rotation faster or the ability to close ground earlier for second cut silage if needed.

Gordon also describes the different fertiliser programme options and weed control available.

Developing a fodder plan for the farm to determine the area of ground that needs to be closed based on the amount of silage required is important while keeping the groups of stock that will be on the farm next winter, Gordon explains on the show.

For further details:

https://www.teagasc.ie/news--events/daily/beef/silage-quality-improvements---ten-point-plan.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

Future Beef farmer Trevor Boland gives an update on his farm Apr 03, 2024

Show notes

Future Beef programme farmer Trevor Boland is on this week’s episode of the Beef Edge podcast to give an update on his farm, closing for silage and selecting sires.

Trevor farms part-time in county Sligo and his main enterprise is an autumn calving suckler herd, calving August to October.

The bull calves are sold at 10-12 months with a target weight of 500kg and the heifers are kept to calves at 24 months or sold as stores.

It has been a very difficult spring but Trevor has managed to turn out weanling heifers and bulls since early March.

While nitrogen application and slurry applications have been delayed everywhere, Trevor has slurry applied to silage ground and intends to apply 18-6-12 to the grazing ground in the coming days.

With silage ground being closed, Trevor intends to cut silage in mid-May to make quality silage for feeding to fresh calved cows and yearlings next winter over 74 DMD.

Trevor uses 100% AI which helps him match each sire to the cow. Calving ease is very important and carcass value 30-40kg are a key focus whilst not compromising on milk

Come along on the 12th April at 5:30pm to visit Trevor’s farm at Skreen, Co. Sligo to find out more. Eircode: F91 X535.

Further details at:

https://www.teagasc.ie/news--events/national-events/events/future-beef-farm-walk---trevor-boland.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

DairyBeef 500 financial & slaughter performance update Mar 27, 2024

Show notes

DairyBeef 500 Manager, Alan Dillon, is on this week’s episode of the Beef Edge podcast with some tips for rearing calves at this time of year, the financial performance update for 2023 as well as slaughter performance.

With a difficult spring to get cattle out to grass on programme farms, Alan outlines the plan at the moment with some cattle going to be kept in and finished from the shed due to difficult grazing conditions.

Sourcing calves this spring there is big variation on price and delay of calves. Alan outlines some key tips for rearing calves up to weaning. The profitability for 2023 was on average €542/Ha. Alan outlines the slaughter performance for 2023 across the different categories of stock Fr, AA/HE, heifers and steers.

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

10 years of experience in an organic beef system Mar 20, 2024

Show notes

Ken Gill operates an autumn calving, organic suckler to beef system located in Co Offaly and he joins Catherine Egan on this week’s Beef Edge podcast to explain his system.

He has 73 suckler cows calving from the end of July to mid-September and all progeny are brought to beef with the aim to slaughter at 24 months.

Ken says that one of the big changes he had to make when converting to an organic system was in relation to housing on the farm.

Being organic means that crop rotation is vital to ensure the continued health of the soil and to aid weed suppression. Oats are grown for sale, with a small quantity retained for feeding on the farm. Red clover/perennial ryegrass is grown for quality silage and winter fodder crops are also sown in certain areas of the farm.

100% A.I. is used to avail of the best genetics available, with visual being the main heat detection aid. Ken offers advice for farmers considering an organic system and says that it is a profitable system for him.

Ken will also feature in the first of a three part Future Beef webinar on Wednesday 20th March at 8pm.

On Monday, March 25th at 8pm the webinar will focus on getting your cow back in calf and on Wednesday March 27th at 8pm the webinar will focus on genetics for the future.

Further webinar details are here:

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

You can read more about Ken’s system here:

https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/beef/demonstration-farms/future-beef-programme/farmers/ken-gill/

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

What is the right Teagasc course for me? Mar 13, 2024

Show notes

When it comes to this time of year, the question of doing an agricultural course arises and with so many on offer it can be difficult to decide what Teagasc course suits best.

On the latest Beef Edge podcast, Teagasc education officer, Serena Gibbons, discusses the range of Teagasc education courses that are available and how you can apply.

Log on to www.teagasc.ie/education where you can find lots of information and also contact details of the education officers in each region.

There is also a webinar at 11am on March 20th on land based apprenticeships and the details are here:

https://www.teagasc.ie/news--events/national-events/events/land-based-apprenticeships-live-webinar.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

The importance of genetics in the dairy-beef system to maximise performance & profitability Mar 06, 2024

Show notes

This week it’s a joint episode between the Beef and Dairy Edge podcasts with dairy farmer Paul Delaney joining Emma-Louise Coffey & Catherine Egan to discuss the importance of genetics in the dairy-beef system to maximise performance and profitability.

Paul first gives an overview of his system. Two thirds of the cows are calved to date and Paul has used a number of continental sires to breed top quality calves. Paul previously was a suckler farmer prior to converting to dairy in 2015.

While selecting sires for gestation length and calving difficulty he has no issue with the sires he’s selected while focusing on beef characteristics. He puts a huge value on having two customers for calves that return year on year.

Paul also discusses the value of good calf genetics can have on the whole process from calf birth to finish and further in the processors.

For further details on the DairyBeef 500 campaign:

https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/beef/dairy-calf-to-beef/dairybeef-500/

More information on the Dairy Beef Index is at:

https://www.icbf.com/dairybeef-results/

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

Grassland management tips for this spring Feb 28, 2024

Show notes

With a difficult spring leading to challenging grazing conditions, Teagasc Grass10 Manager, John Maher, is on this week’s Beef Edge podcast with his top tips in relation to grassland management this spring.

John discusses the current soil temperatures and grass growth across the country and on farms where grazing has been delayed and very little grazing has taken place to date, John explains what the key steps are to get stock to grass in the coming weeks.

John highlights the grazing targets to hit to avoid having too much grass left at the end of the rotation or having too much grazed.

Slurry has been spread on most farms and for those planning to go with slurry in the coming weeks John advises this should be applied on silage ground.

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

Newford farm update – the move to Roscommon, calving preparation and performance review Feb 21, 2024

Show notes

With calving season underway in the Newford herd, Teagasc Newford farm technician Michael Fagan is on this week’s Beef Edge podcast to give an insight into changes on the farm, preparation in advance of calving and a review performance of the herd.

Michael discusses the big changes on Newford farm since we spoke last with the cows being moved from Athenry to Roscommon. As the farm operated a tillage and beef enterprise, Michael discusses the work involved in making paddocks, reseeding and making pens before calving. So far just over 40 of the cows have calved and Michael discusses their performance.

Michael also discusses how the yearlings on the farm are performing and the performance of the cattle finished before Christmas.

Obviously heavy rainfall the past few weeks has hampered any chances so far of starting the grazing plan this spring. Soil samples have been taken and analysed and slurry and fertiliser is being applied accordingly.

Further details are at:

https://www.teagasc.ie/news--events/daily/beef/newford-herd-settled-into-new-home-in-roscommon.php

Farm Walks

Coming up……DairyBeef 500 farmer, James O’Sullivan, Union Hall, Co. Cork will host a farm walk on Tuesday, 27th February @12pm, while Gareth Peoples, Co. Donegal will host a walk on Tuesday, 5th March @2pm.

Topics covered will be focusing on grassland management, silage preparation, fertiliser spreader calibration and calf management at purchase.

For further details go to:

www.teagasc.ie/DB500

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

Advice and tips for caring for the new born calf Feb 14, 2024

Show notes

John Donlon who gives advice and tips for caring for the new born calf.

John outlines the best practice for when the calf is just born such as feeding colostrum and care of the navel.

He also describes the key tips when stomach tubing a calf.

Regardless of a suckler or dairy beef system, there are a number of ailments that can arise and John has important advice for management from a health perspective for a number of conditions and diseases.

Don’t forget as well to listen back to last week’s episode on managing the cow before calving and calving the suckler cow.

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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