Chris Daly from ICBF joins Catherine Egan on this week’s Beef Edge podcast to discuss the new Mart Tracker and the Commercial Beef Value (CBV). Chris outlines the benefit of the Mart Tracker and the impact that it will have for farmers. He also discusses the CBV and how important it is for farmers buying as well as selling calves and cattle overall. Chris describes the values farmers should be looking for in cattle that are suckler, dairy x beef and dairy x dairy. Mart Tracker available here htt...
Jan 30, 2025•14 min•Ep. 265
For the final part of our special series in advance of spring calving on the Beef Edge Podcast, Teagasc vet, John Donlon focuses on caring for the newborn calf. John discusses the importance of colostrum and the 1,2,3 of colostrum in which you use the first milk (colostrum) from the cow; feed the calf colostrum within the first two hours of birth; and calves must be offered at least 3L of good quality colostrum. John outlines the importance of dipping or spraying the calves navel to prevent infe...
Jan 22, 2025•19 min•Ep. 264
In advance of spring calving season, Teagasc Nutritionist Aisling Claffey, and Teagasc Researcher and Vet, John Donlon, join Catherine for a special three part series, and this week, for the second part, John Donlon focuses on calving the cow. John discusses the essentials that farmers can do to prepare and what items are essential to have ready and he outlines the key steps when it comes to intervening when a cow is calving as well as different presentations. He also explains what to be aware o...
Jan 15, 2025•21 min•Ep. 263
In advance of spring calving season, Teagasc Nutritionist, Aisling Claffey, and Teagasc Researcher and Vet, John Donlon, join Catherine Egan for a 3 part series on the Beef Edge podcast. On the first part, Aisling Claffey focuses on nutrition pre and post calving. Aisling explains how, at calving at this time of year, we see a lot of animal health problems. Obviously cow condition, particularly body conditions score is important relating to these issues. Overall cows were in good condition at ho...
Jan 08, 2025•14 min•Ep. 262
Market intelligence specialist, Phelim O’Neill with the Irish Farmers Journal, is on this week’s Beef Edge podcast to reflect on 2024 and discuss the market outlook for 2025. Looking back on 2024, Phelim discusses the increase in price seen in all cattle categories. Even with this increase in price, there is still a difference between UK and Ireland prices. Phelim also comments on Irish exports for the past year and looks to the year ahead. With overall beef production down in Ireland and within...
Jan 01, 2025•11 min•Ep. 261
Michael Fagan, technician on the Newford demonstration farm in Co. Roscommon, is on this week’s Beef Edge podcast with an update on the farm and a review of the year since moving from Athenry Co.Galway. Michael outlines how the move has been busy with repurposing sheds, reseeding, installing paddocks and water systems, all the while getting used to the overall change in location and soil type of the farm. Due to weather conditions, weanling and finishing performance is back and Michael discusses...
Dec 18, 2024•17 min•Ep. 260
Kilkenny farmer Liam Cassin is on this week’s Beef Edge podcast to discuss his contract heifer rearing system. Liam moved from sheep to suckler cows and started contract heifer rearing 14 years ago. The steady monthly cashflow alongside the reduced financial input of purchasing stock are key benefits for Liam. Grassland management and a good paddock system are very important to make the system viable in order to reach the target weights, according to Liam. Initially starting with one dairy farme...
Dec 11, 2024•14 min•Ep. 259
Dr. Natascha Meunier, Beef HealthCheck Programme Manager, is on this week’s Beef Edge podcast to discuss how to control liver fluke effectively and understand it better. Liver fluke is estimated to cost at least €90m to the Irish industry through reduced production and Natascha highlights how the incidence of liver fluke on this year’s Beef HealthCheck reports have doubled from 1% to 2%: https://animalhealthireland.ie/programmes/beef-healthcheck/beef-healthcheck-online/ Each year, the Department...
Dec 04, 2024•12 min•Ep. 258
Teagasc research officer Dr. Patrick Forrestal, is on this week’s Beef Edge podcast to discuss the practical nutrient management solutions that beef farmers can implement on their farms to increase efficiency, reduce costs and address environmental pressures facing the sector. This is a recording from the Teagasc National Beef Conference held on November 19th. Further details from Patrick’s presentation are available at: Presentation: Practical nutrient management solutions (PDF) Paper: Practica...
Nov 27, 2024•22 min•Ep. 257
There’s a bonus Beef Edge episode this week with Future Beef programme manager, Martina Harrington, discussing the innovations on Future Beef suckler farms which are driving sustainability. This is a recording from the Teagasc National Beef Conference held on November 19th. Further details from Martina’s presentation are available at: Paper: Driving Sustainability Innovations on Future Beef Suckler Farms (PDF) Watch a video recording of Martina Harrington's presentation: https://youtu.be/x32GOxr...
Nov 23, 2024•36 min
Teagasc researcher Dr. Peter Doyle outlines the impact of red and white clover on animal performance in suckler calf-to-beef production systems on this week’s Beef Edge podcast. This is a recording from the Teagasc National Beef Conference held on November 19th. Further details from Peter’s presentation are available at: Presentation: The impact of red and white clover on animal performance in suckler calf-to-beef production systems (PDF) Paper: The impact of red and white clover on animal perfo...
Nov 20, 2024•28 min•Ep. 256
Health & Wellness coach, Shane Pearson, joins Catherine Egan on this week’s Beef Edge podcast to discuss key tips to staying resilient on the farm through stressful times of the year. Studies show that many farmers experience poor mental health, high rates of burnout, and physical health issues related to stress and Shane highlights a number of resources available for farmers and which can be accessed at: https://www.teagasc.ie/media/website/publications/2024/Positive-Mental-Health.pdf Farme...
Nov 13, 2024•21 min•Ep. 255
Liam McWeeney and Noel Prunty from Teagasc Ballyhaise Agricultural College join Catherine Egan on this week’s Beef Edge to discuss the beef system, review of the performance to date and preparing for winter ahead. Liam first outlined the 32 cow suckler herd that is operated in a suckling to finishing system. Bulls are finished under 16 months and heifers are kept as replacements or finished under 20 months of age. The beef unit is 24ha of heavy soil type with some of the farm low lying. AI is us...
Nov 08, 2024•16 min•Ep. 254
Grass 10 advisor Niamh Doyle joins Catherine Egan on the latest Beef Edge with grassland management tips for the month ahead. Niamh discusses closing up paddocks with 60-70% targeted to be closed by early November. She also outlines the targets for the month ahead to extend grazing and reduce demand to maximise days at grass. Drier than normal conditions continue to be predicted in the coming weeks which will help to extend grazing on farms. Temperatures are signalled to be closer to average, pe...
Nov 02, 2024•6 min•Ep. 253
Teagasc Nutritionist, Aisling Claffey, discusses winter nutrition and diets on this week’s Beef Edge podcast. Aisling explains that beef systems are simple and it comes down to trying to maximise intake and growth whilst minimising stress and digestive upsets. A combination of factors ultimately decides how close you get to growing and finishing cattle to their genetic potential such as management, diet, housing, water and disease control. Aisling highlights the importance of taking a silage sam...
Oct 30, 2024•18 min•Ep. 252
Dr. Eoin Ryan, Senior Superintending Veterinary Inspector with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, gives an update on the Bluetongue Virus on this week’s Beef Edge podcast. Since the end of August, over a hundred cases of Bluetongue have been detected in England and Wales and farmers in Ireland are hearing more and more about it. Bluetongue is a viral disease affecting cattle, sheep, goats, alpacas and other ruminants and camelids. Bluetongue does not pose a food safety or public...
Oct 23, 2024•20 min•Ep. 251
Bob Thomson, a New Zealand Farm Consultant specialising in sheep and beef, is on this week’s Beef Edge to discuss some of his insights into dairy beef in Ireland compared to New Zealand. Bob has a wealth of experience working in extension, consultancy and project management for the past 50 years. He explains what he learned from the DairyBeef 500 farms he visited this week around the country and he describes the dairy beef industry in New Zealand, as well as the opportunities that he thinks coul...
Oct 16, 2024•23 min•Ep. 250
Niall Kerins, Teagasc Cattle specialist, is on this week’s Beef Edge podcast to discuss winter cattle housing arrangements. Every winter a significant number of cattle are housed and fed in rented sheds. Whether you are the farmer renting out the shed or a farmer renting in the shed, there are a number of considerations for both parties. Fodder, labour and machinery running costs are often included in the agreements that are made. The payment rate per head is usually determined by local supply a...
Oct 09, 2024•16 min•Ep. 249
Grass10 advisor Niamh Doyle joins Catherine Egan on the latest Beef Edge with grassland management tips for the month ahead. Niamh discusses closing up paddocks in rotation starting with the paddocks near the farmyard, the sheltered and the driest paddocks that will be grazed in early spring . She outlines the targets for the month ahead to extend grazing, reduce demand to maximise days at grass and aim to have 60% of the farm closed by the first week of November. You can subscribe to the Grass1...
Oct 05, 2024•6 min•Ep. 248
Teagasc Financial Specialist Kevin Connolly is on this week’s Beef Edge podcast to discuss the main headline items arising from Budget 2025, from tax cuts to increased spending. Kevin explains that the income tax standard rate bands have been increased by €2,000. The income tax rates (20% & 40%) have not been changed. There has been a €125 increase in the principle tax credits. The rate applying to the middle USC band has been reduced from 4% to 3%. There has also been a realignment of the b...
Oct 02, 2024•26 min•Ep. 247
Following the launch of the Beef Budgets for 2024 at the National Ploughing Championships, Teagasc Beef specialist, Aidan Murray, has an update with all the details. Aidan compares the national kill figures to 2023 and discusses how have the prices changed in comparison to this time last year. Aidan also highlights how the Irish supply of beef looks for the rest of the year. Prices are good and there is demand around the ring at the moment for heavier type of stock with Aidan comparing changes i...
Sep 25, 2024•14 min•Ep. 246
Scottish beef and sheep farmer, Graham Lofthouse of Bankhouse Farm, is on this week’s Beef Edge podcast to discuss his mixed farming system. The farm is located 30km south of Edinburgh and is 200-300m above sea level. The average rainfall is around 1,000mm. There are 470 ewes on the farm and 84 suckler cows. Graham discusses how the sucker herd is managed from birth to weaning. Breeding and genetics is very important on the farm and Graham outlines the breeding policy. Graham also discusses the ...
Sep 18, 2024•18 min•Ep. 245
Galway Future Beef farmer, Aonghusa Fahy, features on this week’s Beef Edge podcast to give an update on his farm system and management at weaning, plus he discusses the cattle from his farm that will be on the Teagasc stand at this year’s Ploughing Championships. Even though the weather has been challenging the weanlings have still performed well, Aonghusa explains. Weaning will take place in groups of 10. Concentrates have been fed to the calves for the past six weeks and they have been vaccin...
Sep 11, 2024•14 min•Ep. 244
It was a very challenging August this year and for the monthly Grass10 update, Niamh discusses how farmers have fed silage out over the past few weeks. Calves have been creep grazed in front of cows to break the bond and concentrates supplemented earlier as well as calves being weaned earlier in September versus late September. Supplement introduced 4 weeks pre weaning and will be continued 2 weeks post weaning and possibly longer on some farms. Most of the farmers in the Future Beef programme h...
Sep 07, 2024•6 min•Ep. 243
Roscommon Future Beef farmer, Shane Keaveney, features on this week’s Beef Edge podcast discussing management of his suckler to beef system and the upcoming National Beef walk taking place on his farm on Wednesday, 11th September at 6pm. Shane explains that he farms with his wife Gráinne and 3 children and operates a suckling to finishing system with bulls finished under 16 months and heifers that are not kept as replacements sold as stores. Shane aims to finish the bulls at 680-700kgs at under ...
Sep 04, 2024•11 min•Ep. 242
Aidan Maguire, DairyBeef 500 farmer from Navan, Co. Meath, is on this week’s Beef Edge podcast to discuss management on his farm and his upcoming National Beef open day taking place on September 5th at 6pm. Aidan, alongside his son Luke, runs a dairy calf to beef enterprise on their farm, in conjunction with a contracting business. The farm stretches to over 70ha, with 54ha in grass and the remainder in forestry. Up until 1999, Aidan operated tillage and suckler cow enterprises. Having initially...
Aug 28, 2024•11 min•Ep. 241
Billy Gilmore, Grass10 Grassland Farmer of the Year Drystock category winner, is on this week’s Beef Edge podcast to discuss his farm system and grassland management on his farm. In recognition of the award, Billy will host a farm walk on Tuesday, 27th August @ 6.30pm. Billy, along with his wife Anne, operates a contract heifer rearing system rearing over 200 heifers a year. The system has changed over the years, from a mixed system, an autumn-calving suckling system, a spring-lambing flock and ...
Aug 21, 2024•13 min•Ep. 240
Margaret Brennan, Assistant Principal Officer for Beef Schemes with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, discusses and explains the 2024 Beef Welfare Scheme on this week’s Beef Edge podcast. The 2024 Beef Welfare Scheme (BWS) will support farmers in meal feeding suckler calves before and after weaning, and in vaccinating against clostridial diseases and calf pneumonia. Calves eligible to the scheme are those born to eligible suckler cows in the period from July 1st 2023 to 30th Ju...
Aug 14, 2024•11 min•Ep. 239
Teagasc researcher and vet, John Donlon, is on this week’s Beef Edge podcast to discuss the main issues that arise around weaning time and how to prevent them. It’s been a difficult year for cows and calves and performance of some calves has been impacted by the extended spring and grazing conditions and weather. John says that many calves may have had health issues in the spring and it is important to reduce stress now at weaning. He explains that delaying weaning will only further cause issues...
Aug 07, 2024•18 min•Ep. 238
Teagasc Grass10 advisor, Niamh Doyle, gives her monthly update discussing grass management tips for the month ahead. Currently, growth is ahead of demand on farms and Niamh highlights management and targets for the coming weeks. Second cut harvested in the past few days indicates the yields are back around the country and for farmers that will need a third cut, Niamh advises to apply 2,500 gallons of slurry and 1 bag 38%N. For more, you can subscribe to the Grass10 newsletter here: https://www.t...
Aug 03, 2024•5 min•Ep. 237
