The Beef Edge

Latest Episodes:

John Heslin on the technologies beef farmers should consider in advance of the calving and breeding season Jan 12, 2022

Show notes

With technologies increasing on farms every year, on this week’s episode of the Beef Edge, John Heslin, MSD Animal Health Market Access and Marketing Manager, and part time beef farmer, gives his insights in advance of calving and breeding season. John describes how he farms with his father in Co. Westmeath operating a suckling to store and sometime finishing system. With all family members involved it makes work-life balance easier as both John and his father also work off farm as well as John being on the football field for Westmeath and St Loman’s Mullingar, GAA. John describes how having a calving camera is such an asset as he lives off-farm and his father lives on-farm and they both work. A calving camera allows them to keep an eye on the cows from their phone even if John is away with work. He highlights that, to reduce labour due to sick calves, they will vaccinate cows pre-calving. Obviously, sire selection is an important factor to minimise calving difficulty, and the fact they use 100% AI, heat detection is an issue when it comes to AI, so John installed ‘SenseHub’ which sends alerts to his phone if the animal is sick or in heat. Since 1st January 2022, all new cattle tags that farmers are ordering are electronic identification EID tags and from July all calves born will have to have EID tags, but John has been using EID tags for the past 2 years and discusses a number of benefits from using them. For more episodes and information covered on the Beef Edge, visit the show page at: https://www.teagasc.ie/thebeefedge Produced on behalf of Teagasc by LastCastMedia.com

Ronan Delany on his mixed farming system and plans for the year ahead Jan 05, 2022

Show notes

Kicking off the first episode of the Beef Edge podcast for 2022, Ronan Delany from Co. Meath gives an insight into his mixed farming system, how he has managed to meet the challenge to reduce age to slaughter and his plans to progress in the year ahead. Ronan buys in 200 heifers per year and finishes the majority from grass at an average of 19.5 months of age. Ronan describes how he buys a variety of breeds of heifers online and due to online bidding, he is buying heifers in marts he would never have stood in before and it makes his life so much easier, he explains. He also has a flock of 400 ewes which he says has multiple benefits in his mixed beef and sheep grazing system. Looking to 2022, Ronan hopes to grow more grass and increase the number of heifers he is finishing. For more episodes and information covered on the Beef Edge, visit the show page at: https://www.teagasc.ie/thebeefedge Produced on behalf of Teagasc by LastCastMedia.com

Review of 2021 and outlook for 2022 Dec 29, 2021

Show notes

On the final episode of the Beef Edge podcast for 2021, Teagasc Head of Drystock, Pearse Kelly, joins Catherine Egan to look back on the year gone by and to discuss what is expected in the New Year and the outlook for 2022. In many ways, 2021 was a good year on cattle farms and Pearse outlines how beef prices began to rise in the spring and, like the tide that rises all ships, weanling and store prices followed and have remained buoyant. The recent Teagasc outlook and review webinar showed that steers, weanling and store prices all increased. Steer beef prices rose by 12% in 2021 which also resulted in higher weanling and store prices. In order to generate output you require inputs and they too have increased on average across all the cattle systems by about 8% in 2021. Pearse highlights that while predictions suggest we may see some increase in cattle supply in 2022, it will be only marginal and is likely to come on stream in the second half of the year. Looking forward to the year ahead Pearse says that the Future Beef Programme and Dairy Beef 500 Programme will be the main flagship programmes in the New Year with farm walks expected on some of the farms in early 2022. Pearse also hopes - Covid allowing – that there will be a ‘Beef 2022’open day in Teagasc Grange in July. For more episodes and information covered on the Beef Edge, visit the show page at: https://www.teagasc.ie/thebeefedge Produced on behalf of Teagasc by LastCastMedia.com

Minister McConalogue on CAP, foreign markets and the future of the Irish beef sector Dec 22, 2021

Show notes

For the 100th episode of the Beef Edge podcast, Catherine Egan is joined by Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue, to find out what beef farmers can expect from the new CAP, to discuss markets for Irish beef abroad and what is in store for the future of the Irish beef sector. The Minister told the Beef Edge that beef farmers will be supported in the next CAP. ‘The core support proposed for beef farmers is the Suckler Carbon Efficiency Scheme which will build on the work of the BDGP which came before it and also elements of BEEP-S and beef schemes to help drive the environmental and productivity efficiency on farms. It will deliver €150 per cow on the first 10 cows as opposed to the €90 per cow in the first 10 under the BDGP.' For more episodes and information covered on the Beef Edge, visit the show page at: https://www.teagasc.ie/thebeefedge Produced on behalf of Teagasc by LastCastMedia.com

When do I need to treat for Liver Fluke? Dec 15, 2021

Show notes

With Liver Fluke costing Irish farmers €90million every year, Teagasc Advisor Gary Fisher, joins Catherine Egan on this week’s Beef Edge podcast to give an insight into fluke treatment on farm, when to dose and what products to treat each stage. Liver Fluke is a parasite on many farms and Gary explains that recent high temperatures and the extended grazing season may lead to high fluke levels on farms this year with the DAFM Liver Fluke forecast indicating high disease prevalence along the west coast. Gary describes the life cycle of fluke and the importance of using the correct product to treat the correct stage and he advises that farmers sampling for BEEP-S that would have results back from the lab, if they had a negative liver fluke result, it would not necessarily mean they had no incidence of liver fluke. Due to the life cycle of the parasite and the fact that the samples were taken before 1st October, it means the eggs may not have been in the testing sample. The Animal Health Ireland Beef Health Check Report is also a useful tool to help farmers check how successful their treatment plan is with the farm history and land type important factors to consider. For further Information: DAFM Liver Fluke forecast: https://www.gov.ie/en/press-release/d5152-liver-fluke-forecast-november-2021/ Beef Health Check Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v1CdI-_wvQw Liver Fluke the facts: https://animalhealthireland.ie/assets/uploads/2021/06/PC-Liver-Fluke-2021.pdf?dl=1 Rumen Fluke - the facts: https://animalhealthireland.ie/assets/uploads/2021/06/PC-Rumen-Fluke-2021.pdf?dl=1 For more episodes and information covered on the Beef Edge, visit the show page at: https://www.teagasc.ie/thebeefedge Produced on behalf of Teagasc by LastCastMedia.com.

The Future Beef Programme Dec 08, 2021

Show notes

Martina Harrington, Teagasc’s specialist and programme manager, gives an insight into the new suckler beef demonstration farm programme on this week’s Beef Edge podcast. Teagasc’s Future Beef programme comprises of a network of 24 demonstration farms positioned right across Ireland. Each farm is representative of their region in farm size, soil type, system, stock numbers etc. The farm size ranges from 13ha to 122ha, while the herd size ranges from 14-suckler cows right up to 112 cows. The systems range from farms selling weanlings, finishing heifers and steers to producing under 16 month bulls, whilst four are also buying in dairy bred calves. Martina explains that when designing the programme, they wanted an ‘Operation Transformation’ type model, where there would be one farmer as ‘a leader’ for the majority of systems within the beef sector. As part of the Future Beef programme, Martina says that the programme will be supporting farmers to adopt technologies new and old to reduce the level of GHG and Ammonia emission from their farms. Improving water quality and increasing biodiversity on farm are also key aspects of the programme and Future Beef will work closely with the ASSAP programme advisors to inform the participants what can be done on farm to reduce agriculture impact on water quality. Through farm walks, discussion group visits, press articles, regular updates on the website and social media, the Future Beef programme will show these technologies working on 22 commercial farms and 2 non-commercial farms. Alongside Martina will be Gabriel Trayers and Aisling Molloy, plus local, regional unit Teagasc Business & Technology advisors and Teagasc researchers who will all be involved in the programme. For further information: https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/beef/demonstration-farms/future-beef-programme/ Find your nearest programme participant here: https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/beef/demonstration-farms/future-beef-programme/farmers/ For more episodes and information covered on the Beef Edge, visit the show page at: https://www.teagasc.ie/thebeefedge Produced on behalf of Teagasc by LastCastMedia.com.

The new Commercial Beef Value (CBV) Explained Dec 01, 2021

Show notes

Chris Daly from ICBF joins Catherine Egan on this week’s episode of the Beef Edge podcast to explain the new Commercial Beef Value (CBV) which will be launched at the Teagasc Virtual Beef Conference next week on 6th December at 8pm. Chris explains how it is a new tool being made available for farmers buying in cattle and bringing them on to finish to know what the genetic merit is. The euro value will be available for commercial suckler males and uncalved females, dairy males and dairy cross males and uncalved females being brought to finish. It is comprised of the following traits: carcass weight, carcass conformation, carcass fat , feed intake and docility. Chris highlights that while there will be a range across the breed, the within breed ranges will be very interesting to farmers. Farmers will be able to access their animals’ CBV under their Herdplus account in the coming weeks. Chris says the plan is that it will be rolled out in marts in early 2022 to be available for farmers purchasing cattle to see the CBV on mart boards. The Teagasc Virtual Beef Conference takes place on Monday 6th & Wednesday 8th December at 8pm. It is free to tune in and you can register in advance at: https://www.teagasc.ie/beefcon21/ For more episodes and information covered on the Beef Edge, visit the show page at: https://www.teagasc.ie/thebeefedge Produced on behalf of Teagasc by LastCastMedia.com

How can I control fertiliser costs on my farm in 2022? Nov 24, 2021

Show notes

With fertiliser prices skyrocketing, Teagasc Specialist Mark Plunkett is on this week’s episode of the Beef Edge podcast with an update on the outlook for the coming months and what can you do to maintain margins in light of further possible increases. The current fertiliser price increases are unprecedented and Mark explains why they have risen so dramatically - which have been caused by a number of factors across the world. While Nitrogen has spiralled out of control in the past year, Phosphorus and potassium have also increased in price but not to the same extent and from Mark’s experience, prices are set to remain for early 2022. On a recent podcast Teagasc advisor John Kelly spoke of rising concentrate prices and in light of these fertiliser price increases, Mark advises farmers to take soil samples and see what nutrients are required on your farm. Then start by correcting pH and making savings on soils at P & K Index 4. With 42% of soils deficient in lime, correcting lime will be a big help to release nutrients in the soil with nitrogen released worth up to €150/Ha. In relation to silage ground, Mark advises farmers to maximise nitrogen value of slurry by using low emission spreading techniques, applying in the spring under cool & damp conditions. For further information contact your local Teagasc advisor or to arrange taking soil samples find out more here: https://www.teagasc.ie/crops/soil--soil-fertility/soil-analysis/soil-sampling/ For information on low emission slurry spreading: https://www.teagasc.ie/media/website/publications/2020/Low-Emission-Slurry-Spreading-Factsheet.pdf And for more information on applying lime: https://www.teagasc.ie/news--events/daily/grassland/new-lime-factsheet---the-facts-on-applying-lime.php For more episodes and information covered on the Beef Edge, visit the show page at: https://www.teagasc.ie/thebeefedge Produced on behalf of Teagasc by LastCastMedia.com

Antimicrobial resistance and future challenges to the beef herd Nov 17, 2021

Show notes

With legislative changes around prescription and parasite treatment coming in 2022, on this week’s Beef Edge podcast Catherine Egan is joined by Superintending Veterinary Inspectors Caroline Garvan & Damien Barrett to discuss antimicrobial resistance, future challenges to the beef herd and the upcoming Animal Health Awareness week running from the 18-24th November. For further information visit: gov.ie/animalhealth For more episodes and information covered on the Beef Edge, visit the show page at: https://www.teagasc.ie/thebeefedge Produced on behalf of Teagasc by LastCastMedia.com

What you need to know about animal housing for over the winter Nov 10, 2021

Show notes

For the third and final part of the ‘Getting Winter Ready’ series, this week’s Beef Edge podcast is focusing on animal housing for the coming months and Catherine Egan is joined by vet & UCD lecturer Catherine McAloon. Firstly, Catherine highlights the importance of space allowance over the winter period to maximise performance. Good ventilation is also critical and Catherine describes the two ventilation types, focusing on the size of the inlet and outlet for air to circulate in the shed. Draughts are just as bad, if not worse, than poor air movement and stuffy conditions and Catherine emphasises the importance of preventing drafts particularly on calves and young. It is important, she also says, to check water troughs regularly to ensure they are clean and working correctly. For further information: https://www.teagasc.ie/media/website/publications/2016/Beef-Manual-Section8.pdf Listen to the others podcasts in the ‘Getting Winter Ready’ series: Teagasc Advisor John Kelly from Co. Offaly, discusses managing nutrition over the winter to maximise performance: https://bit.ly/GWRNutrition Vet Cara Sheridan, from MSD Animal Health, discusses how to best manage animal health over the winter: https://bit.ly/GWRHealth For more episodes and information covered on the Beef Edge, visit the show page at: https://www.teagasc.ie/thebeefedge Produced on behalf of Teagasc by LastCastMedia.com

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