The Beef Edge

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The National Beef Conference Panel Discussion Dec 21, 2022

Show notes

This week’s episode of the Beef Edge podcast is a recording of the Teagasc National Beef Conference panel discussion titled ‘Delivering sustainability at farm level’ which took place on the 13th December in the Shearwater hotel, Ballinasloe.

It was Facilitated by Matt O’Keeffe, from the Irish Farmers Monthly and the panel participants were Professor Sinead Waters, Teagasc, Dr Dominika Krol, Teagasc, Ross Evans from ICBF & Pearse Kelly Teagasc Head of Drystock.

The topics for discussion included:

· Current research and the potential of feed additives to reduce methane emissions
Professor Sinead Waters, Teagasc

· Protected Urea/ LESS/ Anaerobic Digestion research results
Dr Dominika Krol, Teagasc

· How improved breeding can help to reduce emissions from the Irish beef herd
Dr Andrew Cromie, ICBF

· What measures are Irish beef farmers taking up to make them more sustainable, and what more can they do?
Pearse Kelly, Teagasc

The Teagasc National Beef conference panel discussion recording can also be viewed at:

https://youtu.be/TK3bFy7peTw?t=7965

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

ACRES Update Dec 14, 2022

Show notes

Teagasc Environment specialist, Catherine Keena, joins Catherine Egan on this week’s Beef Edge podcast to give an update on the new Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme also known as ACRES.

This new €1.5 billion flagship agri-environment scheme closed last week for applications of which there were 47,000 applications.

There were 27,000 in the general scheme comprising of Tier 1, 2 and 3. The farmers that are successfully accepted into the scheme will receive a letter from the DAFM. Once the letter is received farmers will also receive a detailed copy of their ACRES plan.

While Catherine advises farmers to make preparations now, it’s also important not to carry out any actions before hearing back from the DAFM.

Farmers that were unable to apply in this tranche or are unsuccessful, will have an opportunity to apply again next autumn.

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

Has red clover a role in your beef production system? Dec 07, 2022

Show notes

Teagasc researcher, Nicky Byrne, joins Catherine Egan on this week’s Beef Edge podcast to discuss if red clover has a role on beef farms as well as previewing the upcoming National Beef Conference taking place on the 13th December in the Shearwater Hotel, Ballinasloe at 6pm.

Nicky outlines the benefits and barriers to red clover and discusses how the red clover swards performed this year at Teagasc Grange in comparison to grass swards.

Nicky will be covering this in more detail next week at the National Beef Conference and for further details go to:

https://www.teagasc.ie/beefcon

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 do Spanish beef farms compare to Ireland? Nov 30, 2022

Show notes

DairyBeef 500 advisor, Sean Cummins, is on this week’s Beef Edge podcast with interesting insights into the recent DairyBeef 500 farmer study trip to Spain.

Over the course of the trip they visited a number of farms in the Catalonia region in the north-east of Spain, with the two main enterprises being calf to beef and suckler to beef.

The key differences between both systems were that farmers were focused on producing a product for the domestic market which is generally a paler meat, produced from younger animals.

One noticeable difference was the target carcass weights. In the Spanish system, lighter carcass weights are generally preferred, with premium prices available for animals producing carcasses between 220-240kg - carcasses that are often penalised here.

Unlike Ireland, all animals are housed for the duration of their stay on-farm. Typical lifetime concentrate input per animal is 1.8-2t.

Substantial numbers can be handled with very little labour input, typically you were seeing 1-1.5 labour units per 1,000 head on the farms visited.

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 consider when sourcing quality calves for your beef system Nov 23, 2022

Show notes

Joe Patton, Head of Dairy Knowledge Transfer at Teagasc joins Catherine Egan on this week’s Beef Edge podcast to discuss what beef farmers should be looking out for next spring when it comes to sourcing quality calves for their beef system.

There have been big changes in dairy herd numbers in the past few years, with 1.6 million dairy cows expected to calve down in 2023. While 30% will be retained as replacements, 70% of them will be split between exports and reared on Irish farms to beef.

There are many aspects to be considered when sourcing calves. Up until now the visual assessment was one of the few tools a beef farmer had. But the new Commercial Beef Value (CBV) will be a help to farmers next spring in sourcing calves.

There can be huge genetic variation with the breed of calves not to mention comparison across the breeds. Since 2010 there has been a 10% increase in the proportion of cattle slaughtered of dairy origin from 47% in 2010 to 57% in 2020.

The Teagasc Dairy conference will take place on Tuesday, 6th December in the Rochestown Park Hotel, Cork and on Thursday, 8th December in the Mullingar Park Hotel, Westmeath. Both conferences begin at 10am.

Further details can be found here:

https://www.teagasc.ie/corporate-events/dairy-conference/

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 on the Maternal Herd in Teagasc Grange Nov 16, 2022

Show notes

Teagasc Researcher Colin Byrne joins Catherine Egan on this week’s Beef Edge podcast with an update on the Maternal Herd in Teagasc Grange Co. Meath.

Colin give a background to the herd and outlines the future research being carried out, plus he discusses this year’s weanling performance and the management over the coming winter.

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 manage nutrition with high feed costs this winter Nov 09, 2022

Show notes

Teagasc Beef Specialist Aidan Murray joins Catherine Egan on this week’s episode of the Beef Edge podcast with some top tips on managing nutrition with high feed costs this winter.

Aidan outlines the current position with feed availability this winter and discusses the various options.

This year, he explains, it’s very important for farmers to test silage in order to reduce costs as much as possible.

Aidan also describes how to take a silage a sample from a pit or bales and he discusses the target weight gains to be achieved this winter.

Taking a sample:

https://fb.watch/gG4BuzU5qp/

Understanding your sample results:

https://www.teagasc.ie/publications/2020/understanding-the-silage-test-results.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 parasites to watch out for this winter and how to treat them Nov 02, 2022

Show notes

With heavy rainfall across the country, a lot of cattle were housed over the past fortnight.

Natascha Meunier from Animal Health Ireland, joins Catherine Egan on this week’s Beef Edge podcast to discuss the key parasites farmers should keep in mind this winter, what you should be treating for, when to dose and which product to use.

Natascha also discusses fluke, worm and lice treatments and she outlines the Beef Health Check report analysis findings and how farmers can access their report.

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 Demonstration Farm Update Oct 26, 2022

Show notes

Teagasc’s Michael Fagan is on this week’s Beef Edge podcast to give an update on the Newford Demonstration Farm in Athenry Co. Galway, with an insight also into the heifers that were finished.

To date, 83% or 33 out of the 40, 2021-born beef heifers have now been sold at an average age of 17 ½ months, or 527 days of age. Heifers were drafted off grass with no concentrate supplementation provided since turnout.

All 2022-born progeny have now been weaned. The male weanlings (60), which well outnumber the heifer weanlings (26) were weaned on the 12th of September while heifer weanlings were weaned on the 20th of September.

The male weanlings were weaned at 327 kg equating to an average daily gain (ADG) of 1.37 kg from birth to weaning. The heifer weanlings were weaned at 328 kg and recorded an ADG of 1.32 kg from birth to weaning.

Further details at:

https://www.teagasc.ie/news--events/daily/beef/newford-farm-notes---83-of-2021-born-beef-heifers-have-now-been-sold-at-an-average-age-of-17--months.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

How calving at 24 months helps to reduce emissions, with Kildalton suckler herd manager, John O’Connor Oct 19, 2022

Show notes

As part of Sustainability Week, Teagasc Farm manager of the Kildalton suckler herd, John O’Connor, joins Catherine Egan on this week’s Beef Edge podcast with a focus on calving at 24 months which also helps to reduce emissions.

The stock on display at the Teagasc stand at the Ploughing this year were the beef herd in Kildalton college and John describes the cow, her bull calf and the heifers that will be calving next January.

From weaning, to first winter breeding, second winter and pre and post-calving, John discusses each stage of the heifer’s life and the targets she must achieve.
To book a place at one of the calving at 24 months workshops, click on the following link:

https://www.teagasc.ie/corporate-events/calving-heifers-at-24-months---workshops/
Teagasc Signpost Sustainability Week will take place from the 14-21st of October and full details of the activities for the week are available at:
https://www.teagasc.ie/environment/climate-change--air-quality/signpost-programme/signpost-sustainability-week-2022/

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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