The Beef Edge

• Efficiency That Pays: Grass, Breeding & Better Results with John Barry

  With the Teagasc National Beef Conference taking place on Tuesday, the 18th of November at the Raheen Woods Hotel in Athenry, County Galway, Future Beef farmer, John Barry from Nenagh, County Tipperary, is on this week’s Beef edge podcast to explain his suckling-to-weanling system and how he balances shape and quality to meet both home and export market demands. John Barry runs a 90-cow suckler herd full-time and since taking over the farm in his own name a decade ago, John has steadily developed the enterprise with significant investments, including new sheds, upgraded laneways and fencing, and the installation of a new cattle crush to make vaccinating and dosing more efficient. The herd is split between spring and autumn calving, with around 60 cows calving from February to April and the remainder from August to October. The preferred cow type on the farm is a Limousin–Simmental cross, although Charolais and Belgian Blue crosses also feature in the herd. Most cows are R+ to U– grade animals with good milk. Artificial insemination (AI) is used on more than 75% of the herd. John selects sires from Belgian Blue, Charolais, and Limousin breeds, while a Limousin stock bull is used for mop-up. Red Angus sires are also used on Belgian Blue-type heifers. John produces top-quality U and E grade weanlings for both the local and export markets. In recent years, John has placed a strong emphasis on grassland management, focusing on growing and utilising grass more efficiently to reduce costs. He has also incorporated red clover and undertaken arable reseeding to improve farm sustainability and productivity. John is speaking at this year’s National Beef Conference discussing his role in meeting future market demands. Whether you're looking to improve your breeding, plan ahead for tax, or start the conversation about passing on the farm – this event will have something for you. It is a free event and all are welcome.  Further details available at:https://teagasc.ie/event/national-beef-conference/ 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 

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• A Preview of the 2025 National Beef Conference

  Pearse Kelly, Teagasc’s Head of Drystock, is on this week’s Beef Edge podcast to give an insight into what’s in store at the Teagasc National Beef Conference which is taking place on 18th November in the Raheen Woods Hotel, Athenry, Co.Galway, starting at 5pm. This year’s theme is ‘Beef Farming 2025: Value, Profit and Renewal’, with a strong focus on producing high-value weanlings, managing farm profitability, and supporting generational renewal.  There are two action-packed sessions featuring expert speakers, farmer insights, and panel discussions: Session I: High-Value Weanlings – From Breeding to the MarketTime: 5.00pm Chair: Keith Fahy, Teagasc Drystock Advisor & Host of Country Life on Galway Bay FMSpeakers and topics include:·      Prof. David Kenny, Head of Animal & Bioscience, Teagasc Grange – Managing the suckler cow before and after calving for better fertility and performance·      Dr. Katie Quigley, Geneticist, Irish Cattle Breeding Federation – Understanding the myostatin gene and finding the right balance between muscling and calving ease·      John Barry, Future Beef programme participant, will share his approach to breeding weanlings in demand at home and for export·      Thomas O’Connor, Beef finishing farmer from Co. Kildare, will discuss what he is looking for when buying cattle to finish on his farm·      Brendan Egan, Manager, Castlerea Mart – What the market wants and how to meet that demand Following this, there will be refreshments and an opportunity to meet Teagasc advisers and industry stakeholders Session II: Beef 2025 and Beyond – Prices, Profits & Passing on the FarmTime: 7.15pm Chair: Damien O'Reilly, former presenter of RTÉ Radio 1’s Countrywide·      Rupert Claxton, Meat Director at GIRA – Global beef market trends, what’s driving prices, and where the market is going·      Trevor Boland, Beef Farmer & IFAC Accountant – Farm profits in 2025 and beyond: practical advice on tax planning and staying profitable Following this is a panel discussion on Generational Renewal – tackling the challenges and solutions of succession on Irish beef farms.  Panellists include:·      Dr. Emma Dillon, Teagasc National Farm Survey Economist·      Ruth Fennell, Collaborative Farming Specialist, Teagasc·      Trevor Boland, Beef farmer & IFAC Accountant·      Eamonn & Donnchadh McCarthy, suckler farmers from Youghal The evening wraps up by 8.45pm.  Experts from the following Teagasc programmes will be available on the night to answer your questions:·      Future Beef & DairyBeef500·      Teagasc Organic Team·      Signpost Programme·      Agricultural Sustainability Support and Advisory Programme As International Men’s Day falls on 19th November, the conference will also highlight farmer health and wellbeing. There are information stands and free health checks with Croí, plus foot care advice and mental health supports, while local health initiatives like Healthy Galway and Taking Stock will also be present, offering resources and support. For further details: https://teagasc.ie/event/national-beef-conference/ 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 

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• Getting Winter Ready Part 3: Health at Housing

  For the final part of the special series, ‘Getting Winter Ready’,  Natascha Meunier from Animal Health Ireland is on this week’s Beef Edge podcast to discuss ‘Health at Housing’.   As always, there  are liver and rumen fluke, lice and mites, and going in to housing, gutworms or lungworm (hoose) might still be problematic.  Natascha says to be particularly careful about lungworm as it has been ideal conditions over the last few weeks.  She outlines the products for treating worms and fluke and says the product is very important, particularly when it comes to performance over the winter.  Immature flukes keep growing and affect the animal’s performance, so Natascha advises that you might need to go in again a number of weeks later with the same type of product, or you could use a product that targets the younger life stage of the parasites.  Natascha then discusses the products to be used for biting and sucking lice and she also outlines the importance of a health plan for purchasing cattle on the farm. For more episodes from the Beef Edge podcast and to listen back to the other two episodes in the ‘Getting Winter Ready’ series, visit the show page at:https://www.teagasc.ie/thebeefedge Produced on behalf of Teagasc by LastCastMedia.com 

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• John Maher’s Monthly Grass Management Tips

  Grass10 Manager, John Maher, joins Catherine Egan on the latest Beef Edge with grassland management tips for the month ahead. John discusses current grazing conditions and explains the different scenarios across the country. John discusses an action plan for closing up paddocks and he highlights the importance of being flexible and to ensure swards that are closed are not re-grazed again before winter. 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 

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• Getting Winter Ready Part 2: Nutrition

  James Strain, nutritionist with Inishowen Co-op, is on this week’s Beef Edge Podcast to discuss ‘Winter Nutrition’.  James highlights the importance of a good herd health plan which is key before looking at nutrition to maximise winter performance.  When assessing silage quality James explains Dry Matter Digestibility, Dry Matter, Crude Protein and pH, while he also discusses feeding rates to gain 0.5-0.6 kg/head/day on a weanling over the winter. When it comes to rations, James highlights at to look out for on the label, with ideally 5-6 main ingredients:-       Energy is the most important nutrient-       Protein is needed for growth Information is power – read the feed label carefully & speak with your merchant. For finishing farmers that have cattle housed, James explains what to look for in a ration and building up cattle on ad lib to be managed without any issues. When it comes to mineral inclusion rates James discusses what is important in a pre-calving mineral. Finally, James highlights the upcoming mart events taking place in Donegal on 22nd Oct at the Donegal Livestock Mart, 29th Oct at the Inishowen Livestock Mart and on 4th Nov at Milford Livestock Mart.  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 

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