The Beef Edge

Latest Episodes:

Making Dairy Beef Pay: James O’Sullivan’s Farm System Aug 26, 2026

Show notes

DairyBeef 500 manager, Alan Dillon, and DairyBeef 500 farmer, James O’Sullivan from Co. Cork, discuss James’ farm system and upcoming farm walk.

James works off-farm as an AI technician and has four young children so labour efficiency is very important.

He achieved over €2,600/ha net profit in 2025 and Alan compares the profitability to other dairy beef farmers nationally, while James discusses the investments on the farm and the grazing strategy and fodder deficit options.

With around 27 tonnes of beef supplied annually, James says management decisions are most important to ensure the Angus cattle achieve the required carcass specifications.

James is hosting the National DairyBeef 500 farm walk on September 3rd @5:30pm and for further details go to:

https://teagasc.ie/event/dairybeef-500-farm-walk-james-osullivan/

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 changes delivering better performance on James Skehan’s farm Aug 19, 2026

Show notes

Future Beef farmer, James Skehan, from county Clare is on this week’s Beef Edge to discuss his spring-calving suckler-to-beef enterprise while also working off-farm.

Over the past number of years he has made significant changes to improve the profitability, efficiency and sustainability of his business, like many suckler farmers, James has adapted his system to make better use of the resources available on his farm.

He has moved from selling weanlings to finishing cattle, invested in grazing infrastructure to maximise grass utilisation, focused on improving soil fertility, and placed a strong emphasis on breeding a compact, efficient spring-calving herd. These changes have helped him reduce labour demands while maintaining high levels of animal performance.

As a participant in the Teagasc Future Beef Programme, James has been benchmarking his performance and implementing practical changes that are delivering real improvements on the ground.

In this episode, he shares the lessons he's learned, discusses how he balances farming with an off-farm career, explains his approach to grassland management, breeding and herd health, and outlines how he prepares calves for weaning.

** Due to the passing of a retired Teagasc colleague, James Skehan’s farm walk has been postponed to Friday 11th September at 5pm.**

Visitors will have the opportunity to see his farming system first-hand and hear about the management practices that are helping drive performance and profitability.

Further details at:

https://teagasc.ie/event/futurebeef-farm-walk-james-skehan

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

Smarter Calf Rearing: Technology, Labour & Health Aug 12, 2026

Show notes

Cork dairy-beef farmer, Philip O'Neill, who operates a calf-to-store beef enterprise alongside a tillage enterprise, while also working off-farm, and his Teagasc advisor, Alan Carey, join this week’s Beef Edge podcast.

Philip O’Neill farms in a Registered Farm Partnership with his mother Denise, and he manages multiple enterprises during the busy spring period which means labour efficiency is essential and in recent years Philip has transformed his calf-rearing system by investing in an automatic calf feeder.

Philip explains what prompted the investment, the practical lessons he learned during the first season using the feeder, and how it has changed the day-to-day management of calves.

He discusses the labour savings achieved, how technology helps identify health issues at an early stage, and the management practices that have maintained excellent calf health and performance. Philip also shares the importance of planning, from sourcing calves over a short period to ensuring they are weaned before peak tillage work begins.

His Teagasc advisor Alan Carey, discusses the wider lessons for dairy-beef farmers. As many farmers begin reviewing this year's calf-rearing season, Alan outlines the key areas that should be assessed before next spring, including labour requirements, calf health protocols, housing, nutrition and overall system efficiency.

He also discusses how farmers can control input costs and identify future investment opportunities, including supports available through TAMS, to improve labour efficiency and long-term profitability.

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

Behind the Scenes with Noel McSweeney: Preparing Championship Cattle for the Tullamore Show Aug 05, 2026

Show notes

Cork beef farmer, Noel McSweeney, and his Teagasc advisor, David Hallissey, explain how they prepare for this year's Tullamore Show on this week’s Beef Edge podcast.

Noel runs a progressive beef enterprise where he combines commercial cattle production with an embryo transfer breeding programme to produce top-quality show and fatstock cattle.

He discusses his journey as a young farmer, the evolution of the farm and how he has developed a successful breeding programme while balancing an off-farm career.

With the Tullamore Show just days away, Noel takes us behind the scenes to explain the planning, preparation and attention to detail that goes into getting cattle ready for one of Ireland's premier agricultural events.

He also shares the key lessons he has learned from showing cattle and offers practical advice for anyone thinking about getting involved.

David Hallissey discusses the increasing interest in commercial show cattle, the importance of breeding for both performance and profitability, and the key areas Noel is focusing on to further develop the farm.

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 current drought conditions Aug 01, 2026

Show notes

Teagasc Grass10 advisor, Nikki Kennedy, and Future Beef Programme Manager, Martina Harrington, discuss management tips during current drought conditions and advise on key actions to be taken.

With severe soil moisture deficits on farms at the moment, Nikki gives an overview of the current situation across the country, while Martina outlines how farmers are dealing with the issues on the ground. Martina also discusses management for first-calvers and thin cows as they all have different nutritional demands.

With grass quality and quantity both falling, Nikki outlines the best supplementation strategies. Martina recommends protecting younger stock first. First-season dairy-beef calves are more vulnerable during drought and she discusses supplementing weanlings.

Martina and Nikki also outline strategies for fertiliser and slurry if rain comes in the coming days

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

Building a High-Performance Charolais Herd Jul 29, 2026

Show notes

In advance of the Irish Grassland Association Open Day on the 30th July in Co. Cavan, Sebana Moynagh joins the Beef Edge to give an insight into her Breffni Pedigree Charolais Herd and to discuss practical beef production and grassland management strategies relevant to both pedigree and commercial suckler farmers.

The Breffni Charolais herd runs approximately 90 pedigree Charolais cows in a performance-recorded, grass-based system, operating a 100% AI breeding programme with predominantly autumn-calving cows. The herd is focused on breeding functional, milky and fertile females, whilst also producing bulls with high carcass weight, fleshing ability and calving ease for suckler farmers.

Topics on the evening will include breeding strategy and genetic selection, herd health planning, paddock design and grazing management, reseeding strategies and the development of labour-efficient systems to improve overall farm performance.

Visitors will have the opportunity to view cows and calves, weanling bulls and heifers, along with cattle handling and housing facilities on the farm.

Food will be served to all attendees who arrive at 6.00 pm sharp, with the farm walk beginning promptly at 6.30 pm.

For more information:

https://www.irishgrassland.ie/event-detail/beef-event-2026/

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

Why Olivia Hynes Switched to 100% AI Jul 22, 2026

Show notes

Roscommon suckler and sheep farmer, Olivia Hynes, joins Catherine Egan and Teagasc Sheep Specialist, Damien Costello, to give an overview of her system and a preview of the FutureBeef National Farm Walk taking place on her farm on 29th July at 6:30pm.

Olivia runs an intensive mixed grazing enterprise, with 49 cows calving in 2026. In 2024, Olivia moved to a 100% AI breeding programme, a major shift following fertility issues with stock bulls. She now uses a mix of Belgian Blue, Charolais, Limousin, and Simmental sires, supported by two vasectomised bulls for heat detection.

Her goal is to breed all replacements from within her own herd, improving herd health and reducing both disease risk and costs associated with purchasing animals. Selecting the right genetics for maternal performance, fertility, calving ease and carcass quality remains central to building a productive weanling system on Olivia’s farm.

Weanlings are targeted for the export market and sold in the local mart from September. Last year the weanling heifers weighed 359kg and the bulls weighed 361kg at time of sale. Olivia has placed great emphasis on increasing weight gain from grass while selecting AI sires with high carcass and conformation.

Olivia complements the suckler enterprise with an early to mid-season ewe flock of 230 ewes. Scanning & weaning percentages are excellent with all lambs either finished off grass to factory specification or sold live in Roscommon mart.

With lambs weaned on the farm, thoughts are moving to selecting ewes for breeding season 2026 and carrying out the ram NCT. This will be a practical demonstration at the farm walk and which will be of huge interest to sheep farmers.

Reducing labour on the farm when managing sheep will also be discussed on the evening with a discussion around TAMS equipment.

Join us on Wednesday, 29th July at 6:30pm for a FutureBeef National Farm Walk on the farm of Olivia Hynes, Kilcash, Co. Roscommon. The event will be signposted from Knockcroghery village.

Further details at:

https://teagasc.ie/event/futurebeef-farm-walk-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

Bonus Ep: Driving Sustainable Calf to Beef Systems at the Beef Pulse Forum Jul 18, 2026

Show notes

This is a bonus episode of The Beef Edge featuring a recording of the Beef Pulse forum on ‘Driving Sustainable Calf to Beef Systems’ which was chaired by Breffni O’Brien, Beef specialist with Agriland.

On the panel were

- Amie Coonan, calf to beef farmer from Co. Tipperary

- Charles Smith, General Manager at Certified Irish Angus

- Margaret Kelleher, Genetics Operations Manager at the ICBF

- Alan Dillon, Teagasc DairyBeef500 programme manager

- Liam Gannon, Feed for Growth nutritionist

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

Inside the Tipperary Dairy Calf-to-Beef Demonstration Farm Jul 15, 2026

Show notes

Teagasc Technologist to the Tipperary Dairy Calf-to-Beef Demonstration Farm, Chloe Millar, joins Catherine Egan on the Beef Edge podcast to give an update on the farm and an insight into the National Open Day taking place on the farm on Wednesday 22nd July @ 11am.

Chloe first outlines how calves are sourced and reared on the farm. With over 400 calves purchased annually, the key criteria when sourcing calves, and how important are genetics in determining lifetime performance is outlined.

Chloe discusses the health protocols to minimise disease risk and maximise thrive and she discusses grassland management in the current weather conditions and how some cattle were drafted for finish.

Chloe also discusses the key technologies and management practices that have delivered benefits for both profitability and environmental performance on the farm.

Finally Chloe welcomes all the listeners to attend the open day on Wednesday 22nd July at 11:00 am on Ballyvadin Beef Farm Ltd. Fethard, Co. Tipperary, E91 E0X3, for a practical open day focused on Labour Efficient Dairy Beef systems.

This event will showcase the latest research and best practices to help farmers improve efficiency and sustainability on farm. For more, visit:

Tipperary Dairy Calf to Beef Demonstration Farm Open Day - 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

Bonus Ep: Market & Policy Outlook at the Beef Pulse Forum Jul 11, 2026

Show notes

This is a bonus episode of The Beef Edge featuring a recording of the Beef Pulse Forum on Market & Policy Outlook from the recent Teagasc BEEF2026 Open Day.

Sean Doorley, Teagasc Beef & Sheep Adviser, was joined by Frank O’Mara, Director, Teagasc, Kevin Hanrahan, Head of Rural Economy, Teagasc, and Joe Burke, Senior Manager of Meat and Livestock with Bord Bia.

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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