The Beef Edge

Latest Episodes:

Getting Winter Ready Part 2: Nutrition Oct 22, 2025

Show notes

James Strain, nutritionist with Inishowen Co-op, is on this week’s Beef Edge Podcast to discuss ‘Winter Nutrition’.

James highlights the importance of a good herd health plan which is key before looking at nutrition to maximise winter performance.

When assessing silage quality James explains Dry Matter Digestibility, Dry Matter, Crude Protein and pH, while he also discusses feeding rates to gain 0.5-0.6 kg/head/day on a weanling over the winter.

When it comes to rations, James highlights at to look out for on the label, with ideally 5-6 main ingredients:

- Energy is the most important nutrient

- Protein is needed for growth

Information is power – read the feed label carefully & speak with your merchant.

For finishing farmers that have cattle housed, James explains what to look for in a ration and building up cattle on ad lib to be managed without any issues.

When it comes to mineral inclusion rates James discusses what is important in a pre-calving mineral.

Finally, James highlights the upcoming mart events taking place in Donegal on 22nd Oct at the Donegal Livestock Mart, 29th Oct at the Inishowen Livestock Mart and on 4th Nov at Milford Livestock Mart.

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

Getting Winter Ready Part 1: Reach for the measuring tape before housing stock Oct 15, 2025

Show notes

In the first part of a three-part series, ‘Getting Winter Ready’, on the Beef Edge, Teagasc Beef Specialist, Niall Kerins, discusses ‘Winter Housing’.

Housing is a key part of maximising winter performance, farmers can have the nutrition of the animal correct and the animal treated to have them healthy and yet still not be achieving 0.6kg/head/day over the winter period on weanlings.

Space allowance is important to determine, how many weanlings/stores/cows should be housed per bay.

Feed barrier spacing is often overlooked. Good ventilation is also critical, we often see sheds and maybe there is an issue even though you would think there’s loads of air coming in at either end of the shed. Draughts are just as bad, if not worse, than poor air movement and stuffy conditions. Niall outlines what farmers can do to avoid draughts and assess sheds.

Every winter a significant number of cattle are housed and fed in rented sheds. Niall outlines what are the key things to consider if you are interested in renting a shed.

Further details at:

https://teagasc.ie/news--events/daily/4-key-winter-housing-considerations/

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 markets and budgets with David Argue Oct 08, 2025

Show notes

Teagasc Beef Specialist, David Argue, is on this week’s Beef Edge Podcast to discuss beef markets and budgets.

David outlines current beef markets and highlights the national weekly kill has risen in the last week of September to 30,000/head.

David emphasises the importance of completing a budget tailored to each farm based on input costs and fixed costs of the farm

Each budget calculates a breakeven selling price (cents/kg carcase weight) for that particular system and takes account of the purchase price and all the associated variable and fixed costs incurred. Any proposed margin per head will be additional to the breakeven price.

It is important to remember that these budgets serve as a guide. It is recommended that each individual work out their own budgets in conjunction with their local Teagasc Advisor to best reflect their own farm situation.

For more information:

https://www.teagasc.ie/about/farm-advisory/advisory-regions/

Purchase prices are based on the prevailing market value at the time for weanlings and store cattle. Inputs required for finishing are also set at current market values.

Further details available at:

https://teagasc.ie/publications/teagasc-beef-budgets-2025-2026/

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

Financial planning & managing cash flow for the rest of the year Oct 01, 2025

Show notes

IFAC Accountant, Trevor Boland, is on this week’s Beef Edge podcast to discuss financial planning and managing cash flow for the rest of the year.

Suckler and beef farmers are currently receiving higher prices than ever before for their livestock sales, both through the live trade and through beef prices received from processors.

Trevor says that farmers need to be aware of what their farm profits are for 2024: what tax is payable on these profits and what the likely farm income is going to be for 2025?

Many farmers in the past, Trevor explains, would look at income tax filing deadlines as a target and not need to worry about a tax bill, as quite often many, particularly farmers with off-farm income, found themselves with a low tax bill or indeed a refund.

But the IFAC review of 2024 figures to date and projections for 2025 show the majority of suckler and beef farmers across the country will not only have larger income tax bills than normal, but in some cases significant tax bills.

For farmers looking at their 2024 figures and expected income for 2025, there are possibilities to reduce income tax bills, invest in the farm for the future, invest in family and make the farm a safer place to live and work.

Some options to reduce income tax bills include: Stock Relief, Family Wages ,Income Averaging Pension Contributions and Facility and Safety Improvement.

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 you need a farm succession plan Sep 24, 2025

Show notes

Teagasc Farm Management specialist, James McDonnell, and Succession Ireland mediator, Clare O’Keeffe, join Catherine Egan and Ciaran Lynch on this week’s joint episode of the Beef Edge podcast and Ovicast to discuss all aspects of generation renewal, succession and mediation.

James highlights the importance of Generation renewal while Clare outlines the importance of a mediator to aid the process. It is essential for every farmer to have a farm succession plan in place. There are complex legal and taxation rules that, if planned for, can be managed easily. If not planned for, however, there could be a major impact on the viability of the farm business.

Teagasc run Transferring the Family Farm clinics every year. These clinics are designed to help farm families through the process and all aspects that need to be considered when transferring the family farm.

In 2025, clinics will take place at six venues throughout the country. Further details at:

https://teagasc.ie/rural-economy/farm-management/succession-inheritance/transferring-the-family-farm/

If you missed the Generation Renewal Webinar , you can watch it back here

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xcKGV0E2InM

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

John Maher’s Monthly Grass Management Tips Sep 20, 2025

Show notes

Grass10 Manager, John Maher, joins Catherine Egan for this month's Grass10 update and he discusses the situation across the country, outlining the actions to take to develop an autumn rotation plan on farms

Red/Yellow rust has started to appear on grass plants across the country and John discusses management at this stage of the year.

You can subscribe to the Grass10 newsletter here:

https://www.teagasc.ie/crops/grassland/grass10/grass10-enewsletter/

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

Update from the Derrypatrick Herd Sep 17, 2025

Show notes

Teagasc Researcher, Peter Doyle, is on this week’s Beef Edge Podcast with an update on breeding performance and grassland management for the Derrypatrick herd.

Peter discusses this year’s calves’ performance and weaning management.

Peter also outlines how he is managing red clover on the farm currently and how it has performed to date.

Plus he explains the plan for finishing cattle and the current research taking place on 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

Matt Dempsey on Brazilian beef and the future of the Irish beef industry Sep 10, 2025

Show notes

On this special 300th episode of the Beef Edge podcast, Matt Dempsey, whose career spans multiple decades and various roles in agricultural journalism and beyond joins host Catherine Egan.

Matt has been instrumental in driving innovations in Irish agriculture through his work as a journalist, farmer and chairman of various industry groups and he gives his outlook for the Irish beef industry.

Matt discusses intervention, suckler incentive scheme, beef tribunal, BSE and Foot and Mouth to name but a few.

Matte highlights the work done by the Irish Cattle Breeding Federation as a significant breakthrough as well as the emphasis on easy calving, and also of marbling of beef.

He also comments on the emergence of grazing management, fertiliser, and especially grass varieties and reseeding that have been revolutionary.

Matt discusses a previous campaign that the Farmers' Journal and the IFA carried out in relation to Brazilian beef which succeeded in getting the actual import regime changed at Brussels level when the beef trade in Ireland and Europe looked as if it was going to be fundamentally undermined.

A huge thanks to everyone that has appeared on the Beef Edge podcast over the past 300 episodes and to all the listeners for making the podcast such a success. Be sure visit us at the Teagasc stand at the Ploughing next week!

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 Beef Welfare Scheme – what you need to know Sep 03, 2025

Show notes

Margaret Brennan, Assistant Principal Officer over Beef Schemes with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, is on this week’s Beef Edge podcast to discuss the new Beef Welfare Scheme announced recently and to give an update on all things scheme related.

The objective of the Beef Welfare Scheme 2025 (BWS) is to further increase the economic efficiency of and enhance animal health and husbandry on suckler farms.

You can apply if you:

- are aged eighteen years or over on the date of submission of the application for participation

- are the holder of an active herd number with Herd Owner Status. Herd Keeper is not acceptable

- are farming a holding in respect of which a Basic Income Support for Sustainability (BISS) Application is submitted in 2025 to the Department

- are a suckler beef farmer i.e. have eligible calves born to eligible suckler cows in the period 1 July 2024 – 30 June 2025

- are an “Active Farmer” as defined in the Terms and Conditions

There is one mandatory action that must be completed. You can select optional actions: Action 1 – Meal Feeding (Mandatory Action). Participants must introduce meal feeding for a period of 4 weeks pre-weaning and 2 weeks post-weaning to reduce the stress on calves at weaning time.

Action 2 – Vaccination (Optional Action). If action 2, vaccination, is selected at application stage, participants must implement a vaccination programme against clostridial diseases and/or calf pneumonia in suckler calves and record details of the vaccination.

Action 3 – Faecal Testing / Forage Testing (Optional Action). If action 3, Faecal Testing/Forage Testing is selected at application stage, participants must: carry out two (2) faecal tests (with a minimum of four (4) weeks between each test) for specified parasites and submit for testing or take three (3) forage samples and submit for testing. All sampling kits must be purchased no later than 13 October 2025.

Participants will be presented with the number of eligible calves born on their holding between 01 July 2024 and 30 June 2025 at application stage. Participants will have the option at application stage to select the number of calves for participation in the scheme.

Rate of payment:

Action 1 – Meal Feeding (Mandatory): the rate of payment is €35 per eligible calf up to a maximum of 45 eligible calves.

Action 2 – Vaccination (Optional): The rate of payment is €15 per eligible calf up to a maximum of 45 eligible calves.

Action 3 – Faecal Testing / Forage Testing (Optional): The rate of payment is €25 per eligible calf up to a maximum of 45 eligible calves.

Payments will commence to cleared cases in December 2025.

Applications must be made on agfood.ie The closing date for applications is 23.59:59hrs on 24 September 2025. You must read the Terms and Conditions for full information.

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

DairyBeef 500 farmer, Peter O'Hanrahan, explains his farm system Aug 27, 2025

Show notes

DairyBeef 500 farmer, Peter O'Hanrahan from Co. Kilkenny, is on this week’s Beef Edge podcast to discuss his dairy beef system, grassland management on the farm and the upcoming farm walk taking place.

Peter explains how calves are sourced from five farms within 15 minutes of his own farm. They are reared on automatic feeding system which he discusses in detail . They are grazed in two groups with lighter calves forming a third group and rotated every 3 days in a paddock system.

Currently, calves are performing well gaining 0.84kg/head/day. Stores will be weighed at the end of the month and drafted for feeding indoors. This year’s silage quality is very good at 72-275DMD which will reduce the concentrates to be fed over winter.

Peter also describes the excellent handling unit facility that is used to easily handle large groups of cattle and labour safely and efficiently.

The DairyBeef 500 farm walk on Peter’s farm takes place on Thursday, 4th September at 6pm and the address is: Kiljames, Thomastown, Co. Kilkenny, R95 N25H.

All aspects of the O’Hanrahan’s dairy calf to beef system will be on full display and for further details go to:

https://teagasc.ie/event/dairybeef-500-ohanrahan-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

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