The voice of Ireland's farming industry online
Beef Farming Channel
- 15-06-2013 - Birds Eye commits to Irish beef - One of the companies at the centre of the horsemeat scandal has announced that it will only use Irish and British beef from the end of June. Frozen food giant Birds Eye has said that by the end of the month it will...
- 08-06-2013 - Beef sector must not be 'sacrificed' as part of trade deal - Negotiations in Ottawa and Brussels continue with a hope of finalising the EU Canada free trade agreement in time for an announcement at the G8 summit in Fermanagh later this month. Canada and the European Union...
- 01-06-2013 - 13% cow \nkill increase - Cow throughput has increased by 13% year on year. Analysis of Department of Agriculture figures shows that the number of cows processed to the end of last week rose from 119,549 in 2012 to 135,403 head this year. The...
- 25-05-2013 - Kepak wins Burger King \ncontract - Global fast food chain Burger King has announced it is returning to using Irish and British beef for the first time since January. Kepak has won the contract to supply beef to Burger King outlets in Ireland and Britain....
- 18-05-2013 - Beef the sticking point for EU Canada trade agreement - Patrick Donohoe News Desk Reports from Brussels and Ottawa suggest that negotiations between the European Union and Canada over a trade agreement are coming close to finality, with access to beef and dairy products the...
- 11-05-2013 - More NI cattle killed under \ntraditional beef breed schemes - Renewed interest in traditional beef breeds in Northern Ireland (NI) has seen increased numbers of cattle being slaughtered through premium price schemes. Although they are considered niche markets, lower finishing...
- 04-05-2013 - May 15 deadline for\nBeef Data Programme - Farmers must lodge applications for the new Beef Data Programme (BDP) within the next fortnight. The recently launched suckler programme, which replaces the Suckler Cow Welfare Scheme (SCWS), has an application deadline...
- 27-04-2013 - Horse meat \nscandal changed shopping patterns - The horse meat scandal has changed the buying habits of over half (54%) of British shoppers and has reduced consumer confidence in supermarkets. A survey of over 2,000 people, carried out by Which, found that 30% of...
- 20-04-2013 - EUR20/cow for new suckler programme - Darren Carty Livestock specialist Minister for Agriculture Simon Coveney has this week announced the opening of the application period for the new Beef Data Programme. While full terms and conditions have not been...
- 13-04-2013 - EU beef \noutput falls - The volume of beef produced in 2012 in the European Union (EU) decreased by 4% to total 6.9m tonnes. Italy, once the premium market for exporting Irish weanlings, has seen the largest drop in the volume of beef produced...
- 06-04-2013 - Beef prices edging up - Beef prices have started to edge upwards as tightening supplies have a greater influence on the trade. The base price for steers has increased to €4.35/kg, with large lots of in-spec Quality Assured cattle...
- 30-03-2013 - Second boat destined for Libya - A second boat load of weanlings destined for the Libyan market will depart Waterford Port on 10/11 April. Dillon Livestock are due to load the consignment which consists of 1,000 Friesian bulls and 2,500 continental...
- 23-03-2013 - British cattle markets strengthen - Kieron Mailey livestock specialist Livestock trade in Britain has reacted positively to the horsemeat scandal, with beef price surging upwards in the past month. Northern Ireland (NI) has seen the biggest price lift,...
- 16-03-2013 - Meat industry will 'never be the same' post horsemeat scandal -- John Horgan - Pat O'Keeffe news editor Life for the meat industry "will never be the same" following the horsemeat scandal, John Horgan, managing director of the Kepak Group has said. "There is a race to 'supply chain integrity' led...
- 09-03-2013 - Beef prices\nbreaking\nrecords - Beef prices continue to increase at pace as supplies of in-spec cattle suitable for the premium retail market continue to tighten both in Ireland and across Britain. Both regions are now reporting record farm gate...
- 02-03-2013 - Factories \ndemand \nquality \nassured \ncattle - Justin McCarthy Livestock Editor The fallout from the horse meat scandal has seen beef processors become much more active in the market for Bord Bia Quality Assured (BQAS) steers and heifers. While the 6c/kg Quality...
- 23-02-2013 - Bull/bullock price differential widens - Nathan Tuffy livestock specialist MartWatch figures and mart manager reports show that a €100-€150 differential has emerged between bulls and bullocks at marts around the country. This is being driven by a...
- 02-02-2013 - Russian beef ban should set a precedent for EU beef imports - Russia has imposed a ban on importing chilled beef from the USA and Canada. The ban is effective from 4 February, with further restrictions placed on importing frozen meat from 13 February. The move comes after traces...
- 26-01-2013 - Farmers fear they will end up paying for burger meat debacle - Pat O'Keeffe News Editor Having worked hard to meet ever-increasing standards to ensure the quality and safety of their output, farmers are understandably angry at the failures in the food industry exposed by the Food...
- 12-01-2013 - Boat for Libya due in Ireland - The live export trade received a boost this week with the announcement that Waterford Livestock Export Ltd has secured a contract with the Al Mahmoud livestock trading and shipping company to supply 3,000 beef-bred...
- 05-01-2013 - Lack of awareness of BVD programme\n - The compulsory BVD eradication programme began last Tuesday. Despite a requirement for all calves born on this date to be tested, there seems to be a lack of awareness about the programme. Last year, a 'welfare payment'...
- 29-12-2012 - 2012 - A year of false dawns for the livestock sector - Justin McCarthy Livestock editor 2012 will be remembered as a year of false dawns for livestock farmers. We had an Agriculture Minister who promised much and yet delivered nothing but savage cuts in exchequer support....
- 15-06-2013 - Shorthorn beef back on the menu - KIERAN MAILEY LIVESTOCK SPECIALIST 'If you have a quality product, there will always be a market for it.' That is the opinion of Adrian Morrow, estate manager at Glenarm Castle, Co Antrim. The estate farm comprises 750...
- 01-06-2013 - 32 months average age of calving heifers - ICBF - The average age of heifers calving into Irish suckler herds is 32 months, according to figures collated by ICBF. Of the heifers that calve down for the first time, approximately 83% will produce a second calf with an...
- 25-05-2013 - Can the world feed \nitself? - Last week, the 'We'll 2013' symposium took place in Holland which looked at the ability of farming to feed a growing world population which is estimated to reach nine billion people by 2050. The keynote speaker was...
- 18-05-2013 - Delayed cattle\nturnout at\nDerrypatrick - Much like all farms around the country, Teagasc's Derrypatrick herd has been experiencing problems due to the poor weather conditions through last year and this spring. Last year saw the need to purchase approximately...
- 11-05-2013 - Calving \nheifers at \n24 months \ncuts costs - Having the correct replacement policy for a suckler herd can lead to plenty of debate. Rearing your own replacements or buying heifers will have many pros and cons. The age at which a heifer calves into the herd has...
- 04-05-2013 - The right breeding mix for your farm - There have been many debates in recent years about the ideal or correct breed mix. Discussions, for example, have centred on large versus small cows, Friesian cross versus continental cows and numerous breed...
- 27-04-2013 - Sourcing quality heifers - Sourcing quality replacement heifers is becoming increasingly difficult for suckler producers. Traditional sourcing of heifers from Friesian cows crossed with a Limousin or Hereford bull provided a supply of animals...
- 20-04-2013 - Good internal \nassessments \nand audits key \nin supply chain - At a recent All-Ireland State Veterinary Conference, organised by the Veterinary Officers Association, Temple Grandin, a world-renowned animal welfare expert and professor of animal science at Colorado State...
- 13-04-2013 - Gearing up for grass growth - Grass and fodder shortages continue to increase costs and cause cashflow problems on farms right across the country. Due to the prevailing easterly wind and low temperatures, we are still experiencing growth rates of...
- 06-04-2013 - Assessing the \noptions for \nfinishing bulls - Darren Carty Livestock Specialist A lack of grass growth has put pressure on all farming enterprises. The typical bull beef production system, whereby yearling bulls go to grass for a period in spring followed by an...
- 30-03-2013 - Rearing and \nfinishing in full swing - NATHAN TUFFY LIVESTOCK SPECIALIST The dairy calf to beef programme is now in its third and final year. Last year created challenges for the participating farmers as high calf and concentrates costs inflated the variable...
- 09-03-2013 - Buying cattle\n- the great spring gamble - In February, we featured the options for selling cattle this spring time for farmers with cattle that are still two to three months off finishing. This week, I will outline things from the buyer's perspective. Usually...
- 23-02-2013 - Dealing with thin cows and difficult calvings\n - Poor quality fodder is leading to increased complications at calving in spring herds. This week, we look at what steps farmers can take to deal with problems. Journal Vet A large number of cattle farmers this winter...
- 26-01-2013 - What future for beef production as support collapses? - With Government having reduced support of the national suckler herd by €127 per cow over the past five years, livestock editor Justin McCarthy asks -- What future does suckler beef production now have in Ireland?...
- 19-01-2013 - Feeding options to help stretch silage supplies - How are you fixed for fodder supplies at present? If you are short of silage, what is your plan for stretching fodder until turnout? Many farmers are under serious pressure to source additional forage to see them...
- 05-01-2013 - Global beef price boom on the cards - Rabobank predicts record beef prices in 2013 Justin McCarthy livestock editor Stable supply combined with higher grain prices will see global beef prices reach record levels in 2013. The positive price forecasts are...
- 29-12-2012 - BVD tagging your calves - This is the third in the eight-part series on the BVD eradication programme. This week we focus on the tagging protocol and how to take a tissue sample from a calf. AHI recommend the calf to be tagged and a tissue...
- 15-12-2012 - One year on - is once bred heifer still a runner? - Darren Carty livestock specialist It is over a year since the once bred heifer production system was featured in the Irish Farmers Journal. The article featured Mayo suckler farmer Ruairi Delaney who farms just outside...
- 08-12-2012 - Ad-lib feeding - getting the basics right - 1 Select the right type of animal: Ad-lib meal feeding is a high cost finishing system. However, provided high levels of performance are achieved, the cost per kilo of carcase gain is typically 10% less when compared to...
- 01-12-2012 - Hitting the spec -- The key to maximising carcase value - Steers - Slaughter leaner and lighter I accept that some farmers will dismiss the need to produce to a market specification on the basis that when supplies are tight the price differential between in-spec and...
- 24-11-2012 - Financial\nperformance of dairy calf to beef systems - Paul Crosson and Robert Prendiville Teagasc, Grange In recent years, there has been a notable shift from steer beef to bull beef production for dairy calf to beef systems. This can largely be attributed to greater live...
- 10-11-2012 - New\ndirection for Tully - New direction for Tully darren carty livestock reporter For many years, the National Bull Performance Centre at Tully, Co. Kildare has been home to some of the country's leading young pedigree bulls. However, the centre...
- 15-06-2013 - Beef management - Bull beef: Where fodder reserves are going to be tight this winter, there is an option of killing autumn-born weanlings as bulls under 16 months. However, it should be stressed this is a highly specialised system and is...
- 08-06-2013 - Beef management - Finishing off grass: When finishing cattle at grass, energy is more important than protein, so supplementing with rolled barley will suffice. The level of barley required will depend on grass quality and cattle type, as...
- 01-06-2013 - Beef management - Buying cattle: I have been talking to a few farmers who buy cattle in marts and have had problems with store cattle not thriving, even though they have been at grass for over one month. Under fleshed cattle can avail of...
- 25-05-2013 - Beef management - Grass utilisation: Grass growth is extremely variable. Reseeded swards and those with a high ryegrass content in the south of the country have performed well with reports of recent growth around 100kgDM/ha per day....
- 18-05-2013 - Beef management - Ground conditions: Heavy rainfall has continued in the west and northern regions of the country, causing deteriorating ground conditions. Cattle should be rehoused to prevent sward damage, otherwise grass will be...
- 11-05-2013 - Beef management - Closing for silage: If you have not already done so, you need to close off ground now for silage. Even with low grass covers on some farms, silage ground should be closed as it is getting late in the season to operate a...
- 04-05-2013 - Beef management - Pneumonia: Pneumonia is a major problem at the moment, according to farmers. Milder temperatures during daytime, cold nights and tight grass supplies are placing many younger animals under stress. Where autumn calves...
- 27-04-2013 - Beef management - Fodder advice: The fodder crisis is now at a critical level throughout Ireland. This week, we feature a special J3 supplement outlining the possible fodder options available to livestock farmers to help cope with the...
- 20-04-2013 - Beef management - Cow numbers: From talking to farmers, the indications are they intend on reducing cow numbers this year. Considering the duration of winter, fodder issues and cash flow, it seems logical to sell off cows to ease...
- 13-04-2013 - Beef management - Calf scour: Talking to farmers in the past week it appears that the lack of available scour vaccine is beginning to hit home. With products out of stock throughout March, there are numerous cases of calf scours at...
- 06-04-2013 - Beef management - blackleg: There have been a few calls of late regarding Blackleg in young weanlings. Blackleg is a clostridial disease and is entirely preventable with proper vaccination. It is often transmitted when cattle go back to...
- 30-03-2013 - Beef management - Fodder: Last week has put serious pressure on feed availability throughout the country. It is a tough time but with careful feed rationing, farmers will prove how resilient they are and hopefully manage to stretch...
- 23-03-2013 - Beef management - Cryptosporidium: I have been getting calls regarding problems with cryptosporidium in the past week. Unlike most scours, there is no vaccine available to prevent Cryptosporidium and treatment is limited to Halocur, as...
- 16-03-2013 - Beef management - Bull Beef: Meat processors have tightened up on the carcase weight and age of bulls being slaughtered as retailers keep a close eye on the spec of animals supplied. For bull beef markets, the required supermarket spec...
- 09-03-2013 - Beef management - Quality Assurance: If you are not already a certified member of the Bord Bia Quality Assurance Scheme, then you should apply immediately. The horsemeat scandal has brought food safety into the limelight. As a result,...
- 02-03-2013 - Beef management - Calving difficulties: There are increasing reports of calving difficulties around the country due to a combination of long housing periods on slats, poor body condition, poor forage and lack of mineral supplementation....
- 23-02-2013 - Beef management - Purchasing a new stock bull: The spring sales for breeding bulls are underway so if purchasing a new bull there are a few things to bear in mind. In a herd of 40 cows, you can get away with having four or five poor...
- 26-01-2013 - Beef management - Scanning cows: Late calving cows are a scourge to have on farm at any stage as they are out of sync with all major management tasks. They are also one of the most costly animals you can have on the farm. For autumn...
- 19-01-2013 - Beef management - Bull fertility: Now is the time to give your stock bull his NCT. Testing semen quality will give you time to address any problem that may present itself during March and April. Collecting a sample will take 30 minutes...
- 12-01-2013 - Beef management - Calving Intervention: There is a tendency to intervene too early when a cow is calving, especially late at night. Starting to pull the calf too early before the pelvis has fully opened, or the calf is not in the correct...
- 05-01-2013 - Beef management - Bull Beef: It is tempting to double up bulls when you have killed a few out of a number of pens, especially when you are tight for space. No matter how quiet or used to each other you think the bulls are, never mix them...
- 29-12-2012 - Beef management - Feeding: Animals that have been on an intensive diet since October should be coming fit for slaughter. Feeding a high level of meals to steers for more than 90 days is uneconomical - intakes increase and performance...
- 12/09/12 - Download Teagasc / Irish Farmers Journal BETTER Farm booklet for the Marty Lenehan farm walk on 11 September 2012
- 27/09/11 - Winter Finishing budget calculator prepared by Teagasc
- 17/09/11 - Recent beef and suckler farm walk booklets
- Farmers Journal Scanning and Lambing Date Calculator
- Quality Payment Structure for Steers and Heifers - By Justin McCarthy
- Justin's Suckler Page
- Suckler Cow Welfare Scheme Date Calculator
- Make the most of your fodder this winter
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