Key animal welfare considerations for beef farmers

Animal welfare is a key consideration for every Irish beef farmer and on this episode, Dr. Bernadette Early, researcher in Teagasc Grange, joins Catherine Egan to highlight the welfare advantages experienced by animals in our systems and results from recent research studies relating to animal housing, castration, and transport.  

Bernadette also outlines the key legal and welfare requirements relating to calf disbudding and to castration. Welfare and performance of finishing beef heifers in relation to space allowance showed that increasing space allowance above 3.0m2 had no effect on animal intake or performance.

Bernadette has been involved in research relating to transporting cattle nationally and internationally with data from these studies used to inform policy makers and national and EU level.

For more episodes and information covered on the Beef Edge, visit:
teagasc.ie/thebeefedge

The Beef Edge is a co-production with LastCastMedia.