The Beef Edge

Roscommon suckler and sheep farmer, Olivia Hynes, joins Catherine Egan and Teagasc Sheep Specialist, Damien Costello, to give an overview of her system and a preview of the FutureBeef National Farm Walk taking place on her farm on 29th July at 6:30pm.

Olivia runs an intensive mixed grazing enterprise, with 49 cows calving in 2026.  In 2024, Olivia moved to a 100% AI breeding programme, a major shift following fertility issues with stock bulls. She now uses a mix of Belgian Blue, Charolais, Limousin, and Simmental sires, supported by two vasectomised bulls for heat detection.

Her goal is to breed all replacements from within her own herd, improving herd health and reducing both disease risk and costs associated with purchasing animals. Selecting the right genetics for maternal performance, fertility, calving ease and carcass quality remains central to building a productive weanling system on Olivia’s farm. 

Weanlings are targeted for the export market and sold in the local mart from September. Last year the weanling heifers weighed 359kg and the bulls weighed 361kg at time of sale. Olivia has placed great emphasis on increasing weight gain from grass while selecting AI sires with high carcass and conformation.

Olivia complements the suckler enterprise with an early to mid-season ewe flock of 230 ewes. Scanning & weaning percentages are excellent with all lambs either finished off grass to factory specification or sold live in Roscommon mart. 

With lambs weaned on the farm, thoughts are moving to selecting ewes for breeding season 2026 and carrying out the ram NCT. This will be a practical demonstration at the farm walk and which will be of huge interest to sheep farmers. 

Reducing labour on the farm when managing sheep will also be discussed on the evening with a discussion around TAMS equipment.

Join us on Wednesday, 29th July at 6:30pm for a FutureBeef National Farm Walk on the farm of Olivia Hynes, Kilcash, Co. Roscommon. The event will be signposted from Knockcroghery village.

Further details at:
https://teagasc.ie/event/futurebeef-farm-walk-olivia-hynes/ 

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

This is a bonus episode of The Beef Edge featuring a recording of the Beef Pulse forum on ‘Driving Sustainable Calf to Beef Systems’ which was chaired by Breffni O’Brien, Beef specialist with Agriland. 
 
On the panel were
-       Amie Coonan, calf to beef farmer from Co. Tipperary
-       Charles Smith, General Manager at Certified Irish Angus
-       Margaret Kelleher, Genetics Operations Manager at the ICBF
-       Alan Dillon, Teagasc DairyBeef500 programme manager
-       Liam Gannon, Feed for Growth nutritionist
 
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

Teagasc Technologist to the Tipperary Dairy Calf-to-Beef Demonstration Farm, Chloe Millar, joins Catherine Egan on the Beef Edge podcast to give an update on the farm and an insight into the National Open Day taking place on the farm on Wednesday 22nd July @ 11am. 
 
Chloe first outlines how calves are sourced and reared on the farm.  With over 400 calves purchased annually, the key criteria when sourcing calves, and how important are genetics in determining lifetime performance is outlined.
 
Chloe discusses the health protocols to minimise disease risk and maximise thrive and she discusses grassland management in the current weather conditions and how some cattle were drafted for finish. 
 
Chloe also discusses the key technologies and management practices that have delivered benefits for both profitability and environmental performance on the farm.
 
Finally Chloe welcomes all the listeners to attend the open day on Wednesday 22nd  July at 11:00 am on Ballyvadin Beef Farm Ltd. Fethard, Co. Tipperary, E91 E0X3, for a practical open day focused on Labour Efficient Dairy Beef systems. 
 
This event will showcase the latest research and best practices to help farmers improve efficiency and sustainability on farm.  For more, visit:
Tipperary Dairy Calf to Beef Demonstration Farm Open Day - Teagasc | Agriculture and Food Development Authority
 
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

This is a bonus episode of The Beef Edge featuring a recording of the Beef Pulse Forum on Market & Policy Outlook from the recent Teagasc BEEF2026 Open Day.
 
Sean Doorley, Teagasc Beef & Sheep Adviser, was joined by Frank O’Mara, Director, Teagasc, Kevin Hanrahan, Head of Rural Economy, Teagasc, and Joe Burke, Senior Manager of Meat and Livestock with Bord Bia.
 
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

It was another hugely successful Open Day at Teagasc Grange this year with the theme of ‘Driving Sustainable Performance’ showcasing the latest technology and insights into Irish beef farming.
 
For this week’s Beef Edge, Catherine Egan spoke to some of those in attendance including Director of Teagasc, Professor Frank O’ Meara, Joe Burke from Bord Bia, Kevin Hanarahan Head of Rural Economy with Teagasc, Adam Woods Editor of the Irish Farmers Journal, Breifne O’Brien, Agriland Beef Specialist and Deputy President of the IFA, Alice Doyle, as well as a number of beef farmers to find out what they thought of the day.
 
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