The Beef Edge

Latest Episodes:

All you need to know about the new Signpost Advisory Programme Jul 19, 2023

Show notes

Teagasc Director of Knowledge Transfer, Stan Lalor, joins Catherine Egan on this week’s Beef Edge podcast with an update on the recent launch of the Signpost Advisory Programme and details on how you can take part.

This public programme is available to all farmers and it will build on the network of Signpost Demonstration Farms by providing enhanced advisory and training support to farmers to commit to, select and implement climate and sustainability actions that will be appropriate and impactful on their farms. Participating farmers will be given the opportunity to commit to taking action for their farms.

A ‘Know My Number – Make My Plan ‘component of the programme, supported by the Sustainability Digital Platform, will allow farmers to see and understand their carbon emissions and sequestration profile as a baseline from which to act. A team of advisors are available in each advisory region.

With advisory support, farmers will make a plan to improve by adopting positive changes and technologies, and advisors will help them with the implementation of the plan, and tracking of progress.

This will also create trust and build capacity for supporting the adoption of new technologies as they emerge.

The ambition of the programme is to engage with 50,000 farmers between now and 2030.

For further details, you can sign up to the Signpost Advisory Programme at:

https://www.teagasc.ie/environment/climate-action/signpost-advisory-programme/expression-of-interest/

Or contact your local Signpost advisor at:

https://www.teagasc.ie/environment/climate-change--air-quality/signpost-programme/signpost-advisory-programme/advisors/

Or via the Teagasc website:

https://www.teagasc.ie/about/farm-advisory/signpost-advisory-programme/

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 Global Roundtable for Sustainable Beef Jul 12, 2023

Show notes

Ruaraidh Petre, Executive Director, Global Roundtable for Sustainable Beef, joins Catherine Egan on this week’s episode of the Beef Edge podcast.

Ruaraidh discusses the work of the Global Roundtable that is carried out across 24 countries working together to produce sustainable beef.

Originally from Ireland, but now living in New Zealand, Ruaraidh discusses comparison between the countries’ beef systems.

Further details are available at:

https://grsbeef.org/

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 & an update on the DairyBeef500 programme Jul 05, 2023

Show notes

DairyBeef500 advisor, Tommy Cox, joins Catherine Egan on this week’s Beef Edge podcast with an update on the programme, as well as discussing grassland management and the upcoming National Open Day on the farm of Austin & Jarlath Ruane in county Mayo on Thursday 13th July at 6pm.

For further details of the event go to:

https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/jarlath-and-austin-ruane-dairybeef500-farm-walk-tickets-637952331597

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 National Genotyping Programme - what impact will it have on the beef industry? Jun 28, 2023

Show notes

Gearóid Slattery from ICBF joins Catherine Egan on this week’s Beef Edge podcast to discuss the National Genotyping Programme.

The National Genotyping Programme is a collaborative initiative enabling Ireland to take the first step in achieving a fully genotyped national herd. The scale of the programme is a world first and sees Ireland placed firmly at the forefront when it comes to national sustainability efforts.

The NGP has been developed based on a cost-sharing model between the programme partners, consisting of the Department of Agriculture, Food & the Marine (DAFM), Dairy Industry Ireland (DII), Meat Industry Ireland (MII) and participating farmers.

The first year of the programme will be funded by the Brexit Adjustment Reserve (BAR). For the remaining four years, the genotyping costs of €18 per sample will be divided equally between the three Programme Partners; 1. DAFM, 2. DII & MII and 3. Participating farmers (i.e. €6 contribution per programme partners).

Genotyping the national herd will provide a huge opportunity for both the dairy and beef industry to increase its sustainability credentials on a global scale. Ireland will become the first country in the world to provide a DNA-verified traceability system.

It will lead to an acceleration in the rates of gain of our national breeding indexes (e.g. EBI, Eurostar & DBI), which will enhance farm sustainability and reduce carbon emissions.

The closing date for applications for dairy herds is 14th July 2023. The closing date for beef herds is yet to be announced.

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

Strategies for grassland management in the coming weeks Jun 21, 2023

Show notes

DairyBeef500 Manager, Alan Dillon, joins Catherine Egan on this week’s episode of the Beef Edge podcast with an update on how farmers in the programme are recovering from the drought conditions, grassland management in the coming weeks and information on the upcoming national open day in Co. Limerick.

Alan outlines fertiliser programmes and closing for second cut silage and he advises farmers to continue feeding until growth increases on farms.

Join the Teagasc DairyBeef500 team on Thursday, 29th June at 6pm on the farm of Ciaran Bartley, Boher, Co. Limerick. Eircode: V94 AWT0.

Further details can be found at:

https://www.teagasc.ie/news--events/national-events/events/dairybeef500-bartley.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

An Update & Insights from the ICBF Tully Test Performance Centre Jun 14, 2023

Show notes

Niall Kilrane from the ICBF Tully Test Performance Centre is on this week’s Beef Edge podcast to give an update from the research centre which is the national commercial progeny test centre located on the edge of Kildare town.

Historically, pedigree bull breeders used to bring their young bulls to the centre for performance testing. However, following a review in 2011, ICBF then began to purchase the commercial progeny of new AI sires that have been progeny tested through the Gene Ireland breeding programme.

At any one time there are approximately 200 animals on site and to date almost 5,000 commercial animals have been through the centre. These animals are a mix of bulls, steers and heifers from both suckler and dairy dams.

The data captured is growth rate, feed efficiency, methane emissions and even meat-eating quality.

They are currently in the early stages of setting up a system that will capture the water intakes of the animals. Some of these traits have a direct impact on the genetic evaluation of the AI sire concerned whilst some of the data is in its infancy but could be extremely useful in the future.

All of work is only possible through collaboration with industry partners including herd owners, AI companies, breed societies and the DAFM.

For further details go to:

https://www.icbf.com/tully-bull-centre/

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

Parasite Control - what do I need to dose for? Jun 07, 2023

Show notes

Natascha Meunier from Animal Health Ireland is on this week’s Beef Edge podcast to discuss parasite control, managing resistance on farms and the Targeted Advisory Service on Animal Health (TASAH).

As part of the TASAH, a Parasite Control TASAH consult, between trained veterinary practitioners and their clients will continue to be available for 2023. This is a free and voluntary programme supported as part of the Rural Development Plan 2014-2022, co-funded by the Irish government and the EU. All Irish herds and flocks are eligible to take part in the programme for 2023.

Farmers nominate a trained Private Veterinary Practitioner (PVP) to carry out a herd or flock visit to look at various aspects of parasite control management on-farm.

The PVP will make recommendations and will conduct two faecal egg count tests for roundworms (stomach or gut worms). There is no cost to the herd or flock owner, as this is fully funded by DAFM.

All herd and flock owners who were registered in 2022 will be automatically re-enrolled for 2023 and be eligible for a visit.

New registrations are welcome for further details go to:

https://animalhealthireland.ie/training/targeted-advisory-service-on-animal-health-tasah/

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

Shane Keaveney’s Breeding Season & Farm Update May 31, 2023

Show notes

Roscommon Future Beef Farmer, Shane Keaveney, is on this week’s Beef Edge podcast to discuss the breeding season to date and to give an update on the farm.

Breeding season is underway and Shane discusses using AI. He outlines the sires used on the farm and as Shane is finishing bulls at under 16 months, he talks through how they are managed from once they were housed and performance to date.

With a lot of silage has been cut around the country in the past fortnight, Shanes discusses his plan this year.

He is trying red clover also and he discusses how he went about reseeding it and its management to date.

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 will impact silage quality this year? May 24, 2023

Show notes

Teagasc Grass10 advisor, Joseph Dunphy, is on this week’s episode of the Beef Edge podcast to discuss grazing management on farms at the moment and the dos and don’ts when it comes to harvesting silage.

Joseph outlines steps farmers are taking to overcome the difficult spring and for paddocks that may have got damaged, he discusses how they can they be rectified now.

With silage ground closed late on farms, Joseph discusses the options for cutting and the impact delaying harvesting will have on quality and grass growth for the rest of the year.

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 & Preview of the Open Day May 17, 2023

Show notes

Donall Fahy from Newford Farm joins Catherine Egan on this week’s Beef Edge podcast with an update on the Newford Farm and to preview the upcoming open day on Tuesday 23rd May from 2-6 pm.

Donall discusses the busy breeding season with 100% AI being used on the farm at the moment.

He outlines the sires being used on the farm and selection criteria being used to select these sires.

Grassland management has been difficult on the farm this Spring and Donall discusses this in detail .

With the open day around the corner, Donall highlights that open day will focus on all the changes and lessons learned since the project was initially set up in 2015.

Topics covered on the day will include:

- System Overview

- Breeding & Genetics

- Sustainability practices

- Grassland management

For further details:

https://www.teagasc.ie/news--events/daily/beef/diary-date-major-open-day-at-newford.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