The Beef Edge

Latest Episodes:

ICBF Tully Bull Performance Centre Update Jun 01, 2022

Show notes

Stephen Conroy, Manager of the ICBF, Tully Bull Performance Centre, and Paul Smith, Teagasc Researcher, join Catherine Egan on this week’s Beef Edge podcast with an insight into the centre, current research findings and its future direction.

Stephen explains how the research is carried out on progeny selected from Gene Ireland sires. Every year over 700 animals are put through the testing facilities in Co.Kildare over a 90 day period.

He outlines the variety of measurements that are taken such as feed intake and meat quality such as tenderness, flavour and juiciness.

Interestingly, based on the terminal index cattle, 5 stars had a feed intake of 2.5kg lower than 1 star animals and 5 star cattle had a 28kg heavier carcass compared to 1 star €5/kg at a price of this is an increase of €140 /head. Stephen also discussed the future studies taking place such as the water intake of cattle.
Methane emissions is a major challenge facing the agricultural sector and Paul described his involvement with the rumen predict project, the main mitigation strategies and what the work at Tully has shown in relation to methane emissions.

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

Organic Farming: the biggest changes and lessons learned May 25, 2022

Show notes

Teagasc Organic Specialist Elaine Leavy joins Catherine Egan with an update on the recent organic scheme, how red clover and multispecies is managed on organic farms and the upcoming organic walks. Given the rise in fertiliser prices, there is an increased interest in organic farming. Over 300 farmers applied for the organic scheme and it expected to re-open again in October. Elaine outlines the biggest changes that farmers have made and lessons they have learned. Obviously organic concentrates feed are expensive above conventional and Elaine describes the importance of red clover silage on organic farms to help manage this over the winter. Multispecies and red clover have many benefits and Elaine explains how they are managed as they have been common practice on organic farms. There are also a number of events taking place around the country in June and these events are a great opportunity for farmers with an interest in organic farming to visit and see the farm in practice and meet and speak with producers and organic sectors experts. Teagasc, Department of Agriculture, Food & the Marine and organic organisations invite all farmers to attend. Further details 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

Managing costs with Kilkenny farmer, Peter O’Hanrahan May 18, 2022

Show notes

Green Acres calf-to-beef programme participant, Peter O’Hanrahan, from Co.Kilkenny discusses how he is managing costs on his farm this year on the latest Beef Edge podcast. Peter farms with his father Thomas outside Thomastown and he explains how the 220 purchased calves at 2-3 weeks of age have received good colostrum and a vaccination programme that is so important to weaning calves at 90kg. The 220 calves comprise of Aberdeen angus X, Friesian X and Hereford X and are finished as steers at 24 months of age with a carcass of 320kg. They have carried out reseeding in recent years and Peter outlines how he incorporated clover into non reseeded swards. He targets grazing these covers at less than 1,000kg DM/ha. This year’s first-cut crop of silage was fertilised with 3,000 gallons/ac of slurry and 80units/ac of artificial nitrogen. Last year silage tested 74DMD on the farm which resulted in finishing stock only receiving 5kg of concentrates per head to day. This year Peter will weigh the steers and draft the heaviest 70 and supplement them at grass to finish before housing to reduce costs. For further information go to: https://www.teagasc.ie/media/website/publications/2022/Todays-Farm---May-June-2022.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

Farm Contractors Ireland – the top tips for Silage 2022 May 11, 2022

Show notes

With silage harvesting taking place over the coming weeks, Michael Moroney, the Chief Executive Officer of the Association of Farm Contractors in Ireland (FCI), joins Catherine Egan on the latest Beef Edge podcast to discuss how to best to prepare for silage 2022 when it comes covering the pit, handling of bales and the cost of making silage. Michael first outlines that good communication between the farmer and contractors is very important. The farmer needs to plan in advance with the contractors as to what is expected and when and likewise the contractor will need the lead person have the farmer’s contact details to make sure the farmer knows when they are coming and where on the farm they will be starting. Michael also highlights the importance of safety at this time, in particular that no children be carried on tractors and to be safe when tractors and machines are being operated. Furthermore, farmers and contractors need to be aware of the height of the pit and cover the pit safely. Michael highlights that checking the silage ground to avoid objects causing issues is important along with ensuring gateways are suitably visible to make the public aware of machinery and when the gates are open. Costs have increased dramatically as well and Michael describes how it cost €225 to fill a tractor (300L tank) last October when diesel costs €0.75c/l, while now at €1.30/l, it costs almost €400. The price of tyres have increased by 50% and machinery parts have also increased while there are issues in getting parts and also delays in having them delivered. With a busy few weeks ahead Michael advises farmers and contractors that while there is a lot of work to be done when the weather is fine, it is important to take breaks and stop for meals. 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

Beef Summer Budgets with Teagasc’s Aidan Murray May 04, 2022

Show notes

Aidan Murray, Teagasc Beef Specialist, joins Catherine Egan on the latest Beef Edge podcast to discuss what beef price you can afford to pay for stock, what impact costs will have on the bottom line and what price will be needed to cover these costs. Aidan explains that the national kill has increased by 58,000 cattle so far this year and while obviously costs have risen, he compares how prices have increased in comparison to this time last year with an increase of €200/head paid at purchase. Farmers that are doing up budgets at the moment are buying a continental steer 550kgs and paying €1,573 or €2.86kg needing €5.02 for a breakeven price. A similar price would be needed for heifers. Aidan outlined that farmers only buying these type of steers next October and finishing them over the winter would need a breakeven price of €5.43 in spring 2023. He also advised farmers that they need to maximise weight gain from grass steers over the summer and make high quality silage to feed to cattle intended to finish next 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

An Update on the Derrypatrick Herd Apr 26, 2022

Show notes

With breeding season around the corner Derrypatrick farm manager Michael McManus gives an insight on this week’s Beef Edge podcast into how calving went, the breeding season ahead and what sires are being selected. Michael describes how calving took place from 2nd February- 22nd April. There were 102 cows calved, 100 live calves, 1 set of twins and 3 moralities. The average birthweight was 45.5 kg and the average birth date was 2nd March. 89 cows and heifers calved in 6 weeks. The first 30 cows and calves went to grass on the 2nd March similar to last year. They were turned out in small groups of 7-8 cows as they were easily managed and avoided damaging ground They were mostly first time calves and it reduced the risk of scour outbreaks in the sheds. By mid- March the rest of the cows and calves turned out after being vaccinated and dehorned. Breeding season will start on the 3rd May. Cows will be body condition scored, weighed, scanned and tail painted this week. A new trial is starting with five Aberdeen angus sires and five Charolais sires being selected, 4 and 5 stars on the terminal index, easy calving with good reliability. The sires have also good fleshing ability to see if it determines which animals will be slaughtered at an earlier age. Michael also highlights the grassland plan for the farm in the coming weeks and he outlines the plan to over-sow white clover and to reseed red clover silage. 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

Grass10 Drystock Grassland Farmer of the Year, Aidan Maguire Apr 20, 2022

Show notes

Aidan Maguire from Co.Meath, is this year’s Grass10 Drystock Grassland Farmer of the Year winner and he joins Catherine Egan on this week’s Beef Edge podcast with an update on his grassland management over the coming weeks and his plan for silage 2022. Aidan outlines how he started measuring grass when he joined the Grass10 group and the Green acres programme and describes the changes he made on the farm, increasing the number of paddocks and reducing their sizes. Through soil sampling, applying lime and slurry, he has increased the pH and P & K on the farm to index 3 and 4 which has enabled him to increase his stocking rate. He had started using red clover for feeding weanlings over the winter and the weanlings gained over 0.7 kg/head/day on silage and 1kg of concentrates which was a huge saving for him. This year he intends to reseed 5 acres more in red clover for silage with Aidan outlining his plan for which he applied slurry and protected Urea and aims to cut mid-May. For further details: https://www.teagasc.ie/crops/grassland/grass10/grassland-farmer-of-the-year-2021/ 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

Farmer focus: Aonghusa Fahy on preparing for the breeding season ahead Apr 13, 2022

Show notes

Future Beef programme participant Aonghusa Fahy from Co. Galway joins Catherine Egan on this week’s episode of the Beef Edge podcast with an insight into his plan for the breeding season ahead. Aonghusa describes the sires he selected for using on heifers and cows. He plans to synchronise the heifers and goes through the protocol. Aonghusa calves his heifers at 24 months and describes how he achieves this. When working off farm, Aonghusa highlights the benefits of a compact calving pattern and using AI. For heat detection he uses tail paint, Heat Sensor and a vasectomised bull. 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.

Making good quality silage Apr 06, 2022

Show notes

With silage ground being closed on many farms across the country at the moment, Teagasc advisor Peter Lawrence from Tinahely, Co. Wicklow is on this week’s Beef Edge podcast with an insight into reducing costs whilst balancing silage quantity and quality. Peter outlines the importance of completing a fodder budget to determine the amount of silage needed next winter and hence the area of ground to be closed. Farmers also need to determine the quality of silage needed - be it for spring or autumn calving cows, weanlings or finishing stock. Now is the time to ensure enough fodder is made with 70-75% of the requirement made in the first cut. Apply slurry at 2,500-3000 gallons per acre using LESS. For first cut silage the aim is to have at least 25 kg N/ha supplied from organic sources (slurry) and the remainder 60-75 kg N/ha (48 – 60 units/ac) supplied from chemical N, a total N application of no more than 100 kg N/ha (including 12-15 units of sulphur) for a crop growing from early April to late May (60 days). Peter highlights that the cutting date is important when it comes to making quality silage. Farmers should talk to their advisor about a weed control programme especially docks 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 you need to know about the Tillage Incentive, BEEP-S and Dairy Beef Calf schemes Mar 30, 2022

Show notes

With the recent launch of a number of schemes by the Department of Agriculture, including the Tillage Incentive Scheme, Beef Environment Efficiency Programme Suckler scheme also known as the BEEP-S Scheme and the Dairy Beef Calf Programme, Aidan Murray, Teagasc Beef Specialist and Michael Hennessy, Teagasc Head of Tillage, discuss the main points and information on this week’s Beef Edge podcast. Michael advises when converting grassland to tillage, the first place to start is to see if seed, fertiliser and other inputs will be available and for farms in an area with little tillage, is there a combine available to harvest the crop? A careful budget also needs to be completed to ensure profitability can be achieved on the land. Due to the costs of growing any tillage crop, unfortunately there are no shortcuts. The only way to make any money is to strive for high yields of both grain and straw. This is true whether the crop is grown for whole cropping or going all the way to harvest. Farmers don’t have to complete an application form. The change on the Basic Payment Scheme application from grassland to tillage from 2021 to 2022 will trigger the payment of €400/Ha. For further details: https://www.teagasc.ie/news--events/daily/crops/tillage-update-24th-march-2022.php Also on the show, Aidan highlights the criteria for farmers to apply for the Beef Environmental Efficiency Programme - Sucklers (Beep-S). If you: - Are the owner of an active herd number with Herd Owner status - Submit a Basic Payment Scheme application in 2022 - Had suckler calves born in your herd between 1 July 2021 and 30 June 2022 - Agree to complete what is known as the ‘mandatory action’ weighing action of the suckler cow and her calf - If you were in BEEP-S in 2020 and or 2021, you must apply again this year to be in the scheme for 2022. The application period is open to midnight on 25th April. Late applications that are submitted after this date will be subjected to a reduced payment and the late application facility will finally close on May 20th,2022. Online application method using Agfood.ie. For further details: https://www.teagasc.ie/news--events/daily/beef/beep-s----time-to-apply.php In addition, Aidan discusses that the Dairy Beef Calf scheme which is a support for farmers who are rearing calves from the dairy herd either a male calf of a dairy breed or a male or female calf of a beef breed sire born to a dairy breed dam in your herd. These eligible calves must have been in your herd for at least ten days before weighing and born on or after 1 July 2021. You must weigh a minimum of five eligible calves and submit the weights to the ICBF. All weights should be submitted within seven days of weighing and before 1st November 2022. Calves must be at least 12 weeks old at the time of weighing. Applications will close at midnight on April 25th 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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