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 breedi...
Jun 14, 2023•14 min•Ep. 178
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...
Jun 07, 2023•12 min•Ep. 177
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 thi...
May 31, 2023•11 min•Ep. 176
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 ...
May 24, 2023•13 min•Ep. 175
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 ...
May 17, 2023•17 min•Ep. 174
With 95% of beef Quality Assured at point of slaughter and 54,000 audits taking place on Irish Beef & Sheep farms, Damien Murray, Operations Co-ordinator Origin Green with the Bord Bia Sustainable Beef and Lamb Assurance Scheme, busts some myths around the audit on this week’s Beef Edge podcast . One of the requirements of the Suckler Carbon Efficiency Programme is that the farm has to be quality assured and Damien discusses what is required and the preparation needed in advance of the audit...
May 10, 2023•19 min•Ep. 173
On this week’s episode of the Beef Edge podcast, Niall Kilrane from ICBF, discusses the EuroStar Index and queries relating to SCEP. Niall outlines how star ratings are valued and why they change. He highlights the importance of the data that farmers record and send back on surveys as part of previous schemes and the impact this has had. Niall also discusses some of the queries that arose at the recent Teagasc spring breeding events around the country. For more episodes from the Beef Edge podcas...
May 03, 2023•10 min•Ep. 172
On this week’s Beef Edge podcast, we’re joined by Ciaran Lynch, host of the Teagasc OviCast podcast, for a joint episode to discuss all things clover with Dr. Mike Egan, Teagasc researcher. Mike starts by highlighting the potential role of clover in drystock systems, how it works and the potential cost savings. We discuss the impact of soil fertility and weed control has on successful establishment and Mike talks about the impact of timing, sowing rate and varieties selection and over-sowing met...
Apr 26, 2023•29 min•Ep. 171
Dr.Colin Byrne, researcher in Teagasc Grange is on this week’s Beef edge podcast to discuss key aspects of a synchronisation regime for a suckler beef herd. Current usage of artificial insemination (AI) is low in Irish suckler herds and this has implications for the speed of genetic improvement. In Ireland, approximately 1 out of every 5 calves born in beef herds are bred from artificial insemination and Colin discusses the benefits of AI. He outlines different synchronisation regimes for beef h...
Apr 19, 2023•17 min•Ep. 170
DairyBeef 500 manager, Alan Dillon, joins Catherine Egan on this week’s Beef Edge podcast with an update from the programme and key management tips for the weeks ahead. Firstly, Alan reviews the profit monitors from last year and explains what the margins were for farmers in the programme. With all the recent rainfall, grazing conditions have been difficult and Alan discusses how farmers are coping and planning for the weeks ahead. Most farmers have had to rehouse stock and hence have very littl...
Apr 12, 2023•15 min•Ep. 169
With farmers starting to close up silage ground in the coming weeks, Teagasc Drystock advisor Gerard Cregg based in Castlerea, Co. Roscommon is on this week’s Beef Edge podcast to discuss the main things farmers need to consider. Gerard advises to complete a fodder budget for silage that will be needed and it is important to determine the quality of silage also needed and to have a plan. Applying the required N, P & K nutrients is also important and Gerard discusses the various fertiliser pl...
Apr 05, 2023•14 min•Ep. 168
Nationally, 57% of drystock soils have a lime requirement, based on the National Soil Fertility Report 2022. Teagasc researcher Mark Plunkett is on this week’s Beef Edge podcast to give an update on the recent National Liming programme. There is an €8 million budget available which equates to €16/t subsidy available. The key benefits of liming grassland soils are: - release up to 80 kg N /ha - increase grass production by up to 2.0 t DM/ha - increase soil P availability - Increase clover sward p...
Mar 29, 2023•11 min•Ep. 167
Peter Harte, from the Department of Agriculture, Food & the Marine, is on this week’s episode of the Beef Edge podcast to outline the new Suckler Carbon Efficiency programme - SCEP. SCEP is the successor to the Beef Data and Genomics Programme (BDGP), has a budget of €260 million over five years, and is co-funded by the EU under the CSP. SCEP rewards participant farmers with a payment equivalent to €150/cow on the first 22 cows and €120/cow on subsequent cows. The National Dairy Beef Welfare...
Mar 22, 2023•21 min•Ep. 166
Teagasc Future Beef advisor, Gabriel Trayers, is on the week’s Beef Edge podcast to discuss how to achieve the targets this spring, getting out to grass and the various scenarios across the country. With difficult grazing conditions around the country this past week, Gabriel outlines steps farmers can take. There are two main categories of farmers: those that have got out early and those yet to start grazing and Gabriel discusses the various options. Mixed beef and sheep farm systems differ from...
Mar 15, 2023•9 min•Ep. 165
Martin Kavanagh, Vet and Business Development Manager with Muster Bovine, joins Catherine Egan on this week’s episode of the Beef Edge podcast to discuss how to prevent and treat calf diseases. Marin discusses prevention and treatment of calf scours. Pneumonia is highly dependent on the calf housing and environment of the calf which Martin advises on how to improve drainage, ventilation and have plenty of bedding to allow calves to nest. Hygiene is also critical and Martin outlines the different...
Mar 08, 2023•16 min•Ep. 164
Teagasc DairyBeef 500 advisor Tommy Cox is on this week’s Beef Edge podcast with key advice for sourcing dairy beef calves this spring. With almost 2,000 calves sourced by programme farmers, Tommy discusses the traits and top things to look out for. He outlines the benefits of having minimum sources of calves and says the Commercial Beef Index will be of influence for the genetic ability of the calf. As most calves will be transported some distance to reach their final destination, Tommy highlig...
Mar 01, 2023•12 min•Ep. 163
Teagasc Environment specialist, Tim Hyde, is on this week’s Beef Edge podcast to outline the current changes to the nitrates regulations, what it means for farmers and the future changes coming down the line. The recent changes to the nitrates regulations will have an impact on all farms in Ireland. From 2023, soil samples are required for all farms stocked above 130kg/ha grassland stocking rate (GSR) and all arable ground. Tim explains that the permitted slurry spreading dates have also changed...
Feb 22, 2023•22 min•Ep. 162
Future Beef farmer Aonghusa Fahy from county Galway discusses preparing for calving, calving the cow and caring for the newborn calf on the latest Beef Edge podcast. To ensure he is fully prepared, Aonghusa will carry out a pre-calving check. He makes sure the calving equipment is all working including calving gates, calving cameras, calving jack etc. Also ensure you have calving ropes, gloves, stomach tube, iodine etc. To help with this, Teagasc has a very useful checklist: https://www.teagasc....
Feb 15, 2023•10 min•Ep. 161
On this week’s episode of the Beef Edge podcast you'll hear three of the presentations that were presented at the recent Teagasc DairyBeef 500 Conference in Charleville. On the night, Nicky Byrne, Teagasc Researcher, gave an update on the Teagasc Grange dairy beef research, and beef farmer Pat Collins, outlined the type of dairy beef calf that he likes to purchase. It started with Alan Dillon, programme co-coordinator, discussing the DairyBeef 500 campaign targets and farm financial performance....
Feb 08, 2023•1 hr•Ep. 160
Teagasc Drystock advisor, Niall Kerins, joins Catherine Egan on this week’s episode of the Beef edge podcast to discuss the upcoming changes to the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). Big changes are coming in 2023 with the new CAP is coming into play and which will last for the next 5 years. Niall first discusses how the Basic Income Support for Sustainability (BISS) replaces the Basic Payment Scheme. Complementary Redistributive Income Support for Sustainability (CRISS) is a new scheme this year...
Feb 01, 2023•19 min•Ep. 159
Philip O’Connor and Trevor Boland from IFAC, the Irish Farm Accounts Co-operative Society, are on this week’s Beef Edge podcast to discuss what can be done to help plan a farm transfer. Philip & Trevor discuss farm partnerships and registered farm partnerships and with the new Basic Income Support for Sustainability replacing the previous basic payment scheme, many farmers are considering options for making changes. Trevor outlines that with the national reserve, where land that doesn’t have...
Jan 26, 2023•17 min•Ep. 158
In advance of calving season, on this week’s Beef Edge podcast, Catherine Egan is joined by Teagasc Head of Dairy, Joe Patton, to find out how to manage cow nutrition in the crucial weeks pre and post-calving. Mineral supplementation prior to calving is essential and Joe outlines the importance of various different minerals such as magnesium at 20% inclusion rate and Phosphorus at 3-4% inclusion rate. When picking the right mineral, it is important to ensure the correct minerals and vitamins are...
Jan 18, 2023•17 min•Ep. 157
Roscommon DairyBeef 500 farmer Martin Connolly is on this week’s episode of the Beef Edge podcast to discuss how he incorporated red clover last year into his beef system, the pros, cons, tips and advice he has for anyone considering red clover this year. Martin farms part-time just outside the village of Castleplunket in Co. Roscommon, where he operates a calf-to-bull beef system. The farm consists of 60 ha of grassland in total, which is divided into four main blocks within a 3-mile radius of ...
Jan 11, 2023•12 min•Ep. 156
On this week’s episode of the Beef Edge podcast we are going to hear the four presentations that were given at the Teagasc National Beef Conference panel discussion in December 2022 which was entitled, ‘Key enablers to improving profitability on beef farms’. The panel was facilitated by Trevor Boland, Teagasc Future Beef Programme participant, and the speakers and topics were: - Assessing the potential to improve key profit drivers on beef farms Dr Paul Crosson, Beef Enterprise Leader, Teagasc G...
Jan 04, 2023•1 hr 23 min•Ep. 155
In the final episode of the Beef Edge podcast for 2022, Catherine Egan is joined by Teagasc Drystock advisor Christy Watson, who is based in Naas, Co. Kildare. As Christy retires this year, he gives his insights into the changes and challenges that he has seen over the past four decades. Christy talks through his time in Teagasc in Leitrim, Kildalton College, Wicklow and Kildare and he discusses the fodder and financial challenges farmers have experienced over the years. There have also been maj...
Dec 28, 2022•12 min•Ep. 154
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 inclu...
Dec 21, 2022•23 min•Ep. 153
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 let...
Dec 14, 2022•8 min•Ep. 152
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 ...
Dec 07, 2022•16 min•Ep. 151
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 f...
Nov 30, 2022•12 min•Ep. 150
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...
Nov 23, 2022•19 min•Ep. 149
