Cavan’s Charlie Smyth on his Dairy Calf-to-Beef System
Teagasc DairyBeef 500 farmer Charlie Smyth is on this week’s Beef Edge podcast to give an insight into his dairy beef system and upcoming farm walk on 10th July at 7pm. Charlie explains how he purchases and rears 100 dairy beef calves every spring and operates a steer and heifer finishing system. Whether sourced directly from farms, or through local marts, calf selection is based on strong beef genetics and high Commercial Beef Values (CBV), with Charlie placing a firm emphasis on quality. Despite sourcing calves from a wide range of suppliers, a strict health plan keeps calf mortality low. All calves are put on a vaccination programme for pneumonia and IBR shortly after arrival. Calves are outdoors about three weeks now, and they will receive their first worm dose shortly. Charlie highlights the extensive paddock system on the farm with 24 extra drinking troughs installed this year to improve grass utilisation. As the farm is fragmented in 5 blocks, managing stock groups to match demand is important and to date over 200 bales have been removed as surplus. Along with the Smyths, Teagasc advisors and specialists will also be available on the night of the farm walk for interactive discussions and to answer all questions that arise. There will be a lot of valuable information and experiences to be shared and anyone with an interest in dairy calf-to-beef systems should attend and admission is free. For further information on the event go to: https://teagasc.ie/event/dairybeef-500-smyth-php/ 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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Teagasc Ballyhaise College Beef Farm Update
Noel Prunty and Liam McWeeney, from Teagasc Ballyhaise College, join Catherine Egan on this week’s Beef Edge Podcast to give an update on breeding season and how the bulls performed finishing under 16 months. Noel gives a review of calving season 2025 and discusses how AI was used for the start of the breeding season before the stock bull. Liam highlights the management of the heifers calving at 24 months while Noel discusses grassland management on the farm and managing the different grazing groups to maintain quality. Liam also highlights the U16 month bull performance and the management of the bulls during the finishing 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
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June Grass Management Tips
With surplus grass on most farms, Grass10 Manager, John Maher, has grassland management tips for the coming weeks. 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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Tipperary Dairy Calf to Beef Demonstration Farm Update
Teagasc Technician, Chloe Millar, from the Dairy Calf to Beef Demonstration Farm in Co. Tipperary gives an update on this week’s Beef Edge podcast on rearing calves this spring and management on the farm currently. There were 381 calves sourced on the farm this spring with the calves sourced from seven farms from specific sires with high dairu beef indexes. There was a focus on selecting sires with high CBV and beef carcass in the sub-indexes. Chloe talks through the process from once the calf arrives on the farm up to weaning. They were on average 80 days of age and 93 kg at weaning. Chloe also outlines the key targets for these calves over their lifetime and how the cattle finished last year. Performance at grass is very important to every beef system with Chloe outlining the management at grass currently and the reseeding that was carried out this year. The farm is hosting an AHI Teagasc calf care event on the farm on the 24th June @ 7pm and further details are at:https://animalhealthireland.ie/event/calfcare-event-ballyvadin-beef-farm/ There are a number of calf care events taking place from 23rd-26th June and for further details go to: https://animalhealthireland.ie/event/calfcare-event-peoples-farm/ 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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Men’s Health Week Tips & Advice
As part of Men’s Health Week, Laurence Gaughan, Regional Project Manager in the west of Ireland with the HSE, is on this week’s Beef Edge podcast with some tips and advice on mental health for farmers. Farmers tend to prioritise farm work and the health of their animals and Laurence discusses how to keep healthy. He also outlines financial planning actions that can also help overcome stress and worry and he discusses the new mental health initiative, Taking Stock. Further information is available on www.westbewell.ie and you can also contact:· Samaritans, 116 123 (24 hours)· Pieta, 1800 247 247 (24 hours)· Your Mental Health, 1800 111 888· Text About It, 50808· MABS, 0818 072 670 (Money advice service, Mon-Fri, 9am-8pm)· Alone, 0818 222 024 (National support and referral line for older people, 7 days a week, 8am-8pm)· Citizens Information, 0818 07 4000 (Mon-Fri, 9am-8pm) 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
The Beef Edge is Teagasc’s podcast for all the latest news, information and advice for Irish beef farmers, presented by Catherine Egan.
Visit the show page at: https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/beef/the-beef-edge-podcast/
Ireland