The Beef Edge

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The Beef Edge

The Beef Edge is Teagasc’s podcast for all the latest news, information and advice for Irish beef farmers, presented by Catherine Egan. Visit the show page at: https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/beef/the-beef-edge-podcast/

  1. April Grass Management Tips

    3H AGO

    April Grass Management Tips

    Grass10 Advisor Niamh Doyle has her grassland management tips for the month ahead.   Niamh comments on current grazing conditions, grazing  the first rotation and regrowths on the first paddocks. She also discusses closing up for silage and the importance of completing a fodder budget and using slurry efficiently. It is critical to assess the correct balance between quality and quantity.   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

    7 min
  2. Reviewing beef prices and budgets for the coming months

    3D AGO

    Reviewing beef prices and budgets for the coming months

    Teagasc Beef Specialist, David Argue, is on this week’s Beef Edge discussing cattle finished so far this year and, given current increasing beef prices, budgets for the coming months.   So far this year up to March 16th, 398,076 cattle have been finished according to the Department of Agriculture Food and the Marine. This is an increase of almost 11,000 head of cattle in comparison to the same time last year.   With regards to live exports, tighter cattle supplies across Europe and movement restrictions implemented in some key cattle trading markets due to the spread of bluetongue, are key contributing factors behind the continued firm demand for Irish cattle in key export markets in the early weeks of 2025.   The 2025 calf trade has been slower to start in line with later calf registrations, however, it has increased strongly in week ending 2nd March. There has been a total of 18,963 calves exported since the start of 2025, a 58% decrease on the same time period in 2024.    Quotes from major processors have continued to trend upward and this has been reflected in a balance between supply and demand currently in favour of producers.    With farmers with forward stores questioning whether they should go to grass or be kept in and finished, David highlights some key considerations and costs of production ranging from €215 to €311.   When looking at a 400kg store animal, David discusses the costs of production for a 20 months store or 24 month finished steer with costs ranging from €126 to €476.   David advises the importance of looking at the costs of the production system and take all other factors into account.   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

    17 min
  3. Future Beef farmer, Proinnsias Creedon, on managing grass this spring

    MAR 19

    Future Beef farmer, Proinnsias Creedon, on managing grass this spring

    Teagasc Future Beef farmer, Proinnsias Creedon, and his advisor, James Mullane, are on this week’s Beef Edge Podcast with an update on the farm and how Proinnsias is managing grass this spring.    Proinnsias also explains his calf-to-beef system and how he manages balancing working off farm.   The excellent paddock system on the farm has been a big benefit to improving his grazing management and Proinnsias discusses spring grazing and his plan in the coming weeks.   Proinnsias is hosting a spring grass walk on his farm on 26th March @ 3pm, while Future Beef farmer, Cathal Irwin, from Castlebar, Co. Mayo, will also host a walk on his farm on Friday 28th March @ 5pm.   For more details go to: https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/beef/demonstration-farms/future-beef-programme/events     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

    13 min
  4. Reviewing the 2024 profitability of the Future Beef Programme

    MAR 12

    Reviewing the 2024 profitability of the Future Beef Programme

    Teagasc Future Beef programme advisor, Aisling Molloy, is on this week’s Beef Edge podcast to give an update on the Future Beef programme and to review profitability for 2024.     Aisling first discusses the plan at the moment to get cattle to grass across the country.    On review of the eProfit Monitor, the profitability for farmers in the programme has increased in 2024. But there is huge variation depending on the system and the investment in fixed costs on the farm.    The main focus for the year ahead is to increase output per livestock unit and increase fertiliser and slurry utilisation while increasing daily liveweight gains from grass.     Some of the farms are using AI and stock bulls and preparation is underway for breeding.    The Future Beef Webinar series, starts on 18th March at 8pm, runs every Tuesday for 3 weeks. With an exciting line up of speakers, Aisling highlights what can farmers can expect.  For more, go to: https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/beef/demonstration-farms/future-beef-programme/events/   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

    17 min
  5. March Grass Management Tips

    MAR 8

    March Grass Management Tips

    Grass10 Advisor Niamh Doyle has her grass management tips for the month ahead.   Niamh discusses turn out of cattle and the spring rotation plan on farms and she highlights the key targets this spring.   Niamh encourages farmers to apply slurry on soils that require Phosphorus and Potassium, particularly the silage ground. Based on soil samples and a nutrient management plan Niamh also discusses chemical fertiliser applications in the weeks' ahead.   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

    7 min
  6. Parasite control and anthelmintic resistance

    MAR 5

    Parasite control and anthelmintic resistance

    Teagasc Researcher, Orla Keane, is on this week’s Beef Edge podcast to discuss parasite control and anthelmintic resistance.    Orla highlights the importance of reviewing your farm health plan at this time of year and she discusses the project that she is involved in called the, ‘Managing Anthelmintic Resistance in Cattle Sustainably' (MARCS) project.   MARCS is a collaborative project between Teagasc, University College Dublin, Queen’s University Belfast, Animal Health Ireland and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.   Its aims are to determine the extent of resistance to wormers on Irish cattle farms; identify major risk factors for the development of resistance so we can target mitigation strategies; and use models of worm population dynamics to apply sustainable parasite control to Irish farms.   Farmers can participate directly or vets can recruit their clients as participants.   Testing is the only way to know if a wormer is highly effective as other methods identify resistance too late. By participating in the MARCS project, valuable information about the anthelmintic resistance status of your farm or your clients’ farms will be obtained.   The test for resistance is a faecal egg count reduction test (FECRT). This test involves collecting individual faecal samples from a cohort of calves before and after wormer treatment and submission of the samples to the laboratory. A short survey on parasite control practices must also be completed.  Full guidance on the testing protocol will be provided and the sample testing will be provided free of charge.   If you are interested in testing for anthelmintic resistance on your farm or in recruiting your farmer clients to test for resistance, complete the form by clicking the button below, or contact marcsparasitology@gmail.com   Click here to get involved in the MARCS project: https://form.jotform.com/243186865978377     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

    13 min
  7. Fergal Maguire’s advice for milk replacer feeding

    FEB 26

    Fergal Maguire’s advice for milk replacer feeding

    Teagasc DairyBeef 500 advisor, Fergal Maguire, discusses key tips around milk replacer to maximise performance on this week’s Beef Edge podcast.   Fergal explains the pros and cos around skim based or whey based milk replacer before outlining the concentrate of replacer and its components.   Temperature of milk is very important, he says, as well as consistency of feeding at the same time daily.    Fergal also discusses the feeding of calves once a day after 4 weeks of age and how a farmer can best manage this transition to avoid any setbacks in animal performance.     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

    13 min
  8. Calf housing tips to maximise performance

    FEB 19

    Calf housing tips to maximise performance

    Teagasc DairyBeef 500 advisor, Tommy Cox, discusses calf housing to maximise performance on this week’s Beef Edge podcast.    Tommy says that good ventilation, adequate space, good drainage and warm sheds that are clean and comfortable are essential.  Good ventilation to ensure air is fresh and no draughts are important. Natural ventilation is used in the vast majority of calf houses.  Tommy recommends to provide 2.0-2.3 m2 pen area per calf.    Good drainage is something that is often overlooked.  Tommy says that calves spend about 80% of their time lying down so they need a dry bed. A dry environment will also reduce the spread and growth of bugs. All calf houses should be built with a damp-proof course to prevent rising dampness. A slope of 1:20 in the calf pen area is recommended   Calves perform best at 15-20 degree Celsius, but they don’t generate sufficient heat to insulate themselves from colder temperatures until after they are weaned. Deep beds of straw are effective in protecting calves from the cold. Hygiene is obviously very important. Floors and walls should be easily cleaned.   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

    15 min
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About

The Beef Edge is Teagasc’s podcast for all the latest news, information and advice for Irish beef farmers, presented by Catherine Egan. Visit the show page at: https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/beef/the-beef-edge-podcast/

Information

  • Channel
    Teagasc
  • Creator
    Teagasc
  • Years Active
    2019 - 2025
  • Episodes
    280
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Teagasc
  • Show Website
    The Beef Edge

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