The Beef Edge

Teagasc Cattle Specialist, Niall Kerins, explores how housing conditions can influence cattle performance over the winter months, as part of the ‘Getting Winter Ready’ series on the Beef Edge.

Even when nutrition and animal health are well managed, poor housing can limit liveweight gain, particularly in weanlings. Niall discusses the importance of appropriate stocking rates and space allowances for different types and weights of cattle, and why farmers should regularly reassess space requirements as animals grow throughout the winter. 

He also examines the importance of adequate feed-barrier space, highlighting how competition at feeding time can affect feed intake and performance, particularly among younger and more timid animals.

Niall discusses how farmers can assess ventilation, carry out a simple smoke test and identify potential problems without creating harmful draughts, especially in areas housing young calves and freshly calved cows. 

The importance of clean, accessible water supplies, adequate flow rates and well-maintained troughs is also discussed.

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 nutritionist, Aisling Claffey, is on this week’s Beef Edge podcast to discuss practical winter feeding strategies for beef farmers.

With cattle being housed and feed costs remaining a concern, Aisling outlines how to assess silage quality, make the best use of concentrates, maintain growth rates in weanlings and achieve good finishing performance. 

The discussion also covers suckler cow nutrition, body condition, minerals and vitamins, and options for farmers facing silage shortages following earlier drought conditions.

Get practical advice to help farmers make informed feeding decisions, maintain animal performance and manage winter feed costs effectively.

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

Continuing the ‘Getting Winter Ready’ series, Catherine Egan is joined on this week’s Beef Edge by Animal Health Ireland’s, Dr. Natascha Meunier, to discuss preparing cattle for housing and maintaining good animal health through the winter.

Natascha discusses parasite control, dosing decisions, worms, liver fluke and lice, the role of faecal sampling, anthelmintic resistance, and practical steps farmers can take to support herd health during the housing period.

Further details are also available at:
Autumn/Winter Seasonal Tips - Animal Health Ireland
Winter dosing – a guide from the Future Beef team - 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

As part of the ‘Getter Winter Ready’ series, Teagasc cattle specialist, David Argue, discusses the Teagasc beef budgets on the latest Beef Edge podcast this week.
 
With cattle prices at very strong levels over the past year, the economics of buying and finishing cattle have become increasingly important for beef farmers.

In this episode, we take a closer look at the latest Teagasc beef finishing budgets and ask what the figures mean on the ground for farmers making purchasing decisions this autumn.

David outlines the economics of buying a 550kg bullock, how much importance should be placed on the weight of the animal being purchased, and whether paying more per head for a heavier animal could actually result in a lower cost per kilogram of beef produced.

The discussion also focuses on daily liveweight gain and just how quickly the economics of a finishing system can change. What difference does achieving 1.2kg/day rather than 0.8kg/day make to the overall margin?

With feed accounting for a major proportion of finishing costs, David discusses how sensitive these systems are to changes in concentrate and silage prices.

A specific dairy-beef runner budget is included this year, David highlights the key figures dairy-beef farmers should consider when deciding what price they can afford to pay for runners this autumn.

Finally, in addition to the purchase price of the animal and feed costs, it is important to consider machinery, buildings, labour and other fixed costs when calculating the true cost of production. The Teagasc budgets provide national guidelines, but every farm is different.
 
View the budgets for the different beef production systems at:
Teagasc Beef Budgets 2026/2027 - 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

Grass10 Advisor, John Conroy, joins Catherine Egan with grassland management tips for the month ahead.
 
John 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.
 
He 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.
 
John also reminds farmers that the deadline to declare fertiliser closing stocks is fast approaching. 

The declaration must be submitted through the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine’s MyAgFood.ie portal, with October 15, 2026, the final date for submissions. 

Where a farmer has fertiliser remaining, the closing stock declaration must include the type of fertiliser and the quantity of each product being held. Farms with no fertiliser in stock must also submit a nil declaration. Closing Stocks are classified as any fertiliser held on hand at 23.59 on September 14 each year.
 
And don’t forget, October 31st is the last day for spreading farmyard manure, where weather and ground conditions allow. The closed period begins on 1 November. Farmyard manure must not be stored in fields during the closed period.

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