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For anyone who missed Tuesday evening’s virtual farm open evening, videos can be accessed at www.farmersjournal.ie/thrive. The virtual open evening profiled the Irish Farmers Journal dairy calf-to-beef demonstration farm in Cashel Co Tipperary, home to 270 dairy calf-to-beef animals.
Jack Kennedy, Adam Woods and Declan Marren cover topics such as calf-rearing, grassland management, genetics used, animal performance and finishing strategies. Viewers can watch the event in its total length or view the different individual topics covered on the night as separate videos. The team also debates wider industry issues with Andrew Cromie, ICBF; Joe Burke, Bord Bia; Rose Goulding, Progressive Genetics and Munster Bovine; Sean McCarthy, Kerry Group; Vincent Griffith, Aurivo; and John Lynch Dovea Genetics. The Thrive programme was set up in 2018 and aims to highlight the role that genetics, grassland management and high levels of animal performance have on dairy calf-to-beef production systems.
The programme also aims to bridge the gap between beef and dairy farmers and highlights that through working together a more sustainable future for all involved can be realised. The dairy beef index plays a central role in this and its take-up by both dairy and beef farmers is discussed as part of the event.
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