The Beef Edge

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...

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%...

As part of the Getting Winter Ready series, Catherine Egan is joined on this week’s Beef Edge podcast by MSD Animal Health Veterinary Manager, Cara Sheridan, to discuss an important part of preparing cattle for winter housing: vaccination. With cattle being housed and weanlings coming into sheds in the weeks ahead, Cara discusses what farmers should be considering when it comes to vaccination prog...

Teagasc specialist, James McDonnell, explains the key steps around planning the farm transfer, who should be involved and how transferring farm family clinics are a good place to start.   Transferring the family farm is so much more than just a simple business transaction, there are a number of complex issues to be addressed including: The family home is normally inseparable from the business A nu...

National Cattle Breeding Centre Beef Programme Manager, Rose Goulding, joins the Beef Edge to explain how important the right genetics are when selling weanlings.  Plus she previews the upcoming Teagasc Mart events taking place across the country. Genetics can have a major influence on the performance and profitability of a beef herd and Rose outlines the key traits farmers should be focusing on w...

Following on from the Tully ICBF Open Day, the ICBF’s Niall Kilrane joins Catherine Egan on this week’s Beef Edge with an insight into their latest research findings in relation to beef farmers. 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  

In advance of the National Ploughing Championships, Teagasc Beef Specialists, David Argue and Niall Kerins, give an insight into what’s in store for beef farmers at the Teagasc stand this year. Nutrition is such an important part of beef production and David outlines the key nutritional areas farmers should be thinking about at the moment. Silage quality can have a huge impact on animal performanc...

In advance of Generational Renewal Week 2026 which takes place from Monday 7th to Friday 11th September, Teagasc specialist Ruth Fennell joins the Beef Edge podcast to discuss succession planning and preview the week.  The week will consist of a hybrid programme of events on generation renewal and included are three webinars and two farm walks.  Whether you are just starting to consider succession...

DairyBeef 500 manager, Alan Dillon, and DairyBeef 500 farmer, James O’Sullivan from Co. Cork, discuss James’ farm system and upcoming farm walk.  James works off-farm as an AI technician and has four young children so labour efficiency is very important. He achieved over €2,600/ha net profit in 2025 and Alan compares the profitability to other dairy beef farmers nationally, while James discusses t...

Future Beef farmer, James Skehan, from county Clare is on this week’s Beef Edge to discuss his spring-calving suckler-to-beef enterprise while also working off-farm. Over the past number of years he has made significant changes to improve the profitability, efficiency and sustainability of his business, like many suckler farmers, James has adapted his system to make better use of the resources ava...

Cork dairy-beef farmer, Philip O'Neill, who operates a calf-to-store beef enterprise alongside a tillage enterprise, while also working off-farm, and his Teagasc advisor, Alan Carey, join this week’s Beef Edge podcast. Philip O’Neill farms in a Registered Farm Partnership with his mother Denise, and he manages multiple enterprises during the busy spring period which means labour efficiency is esse...

Cork beef farmer, Noel McSweeney, and his Teagasc advisor, David Hallissey, explain how they prepare for this year's Tullamore Show on this week’s Beef Edge podcast. Noel runs a progressive beef enterprise where he combines commercial cattle production with an embryo transfer breeding programme to produce top-quality show and fatstock cattle.  He discusses his journey as a young farmer, the evolut...

Teagasc Grass10 advisor, Nikki Kennedy, and Future Beef Programme Manager, Martina Harrington, discuss management tips during current drought conditions and advise on key actions to be taken. With severe soil moisture deficits on farms at the moment, Nikki gives an overview of the current situation across the country, while Martina outlines how farmers are dealing with the issues on the ground. Ma...

In advance of the Irish Grassland Association Open Day on the 30th July in Co. Cavan, Sebana Moynagh joins the Beef Edge to give an insight into her Breffni Pedigree Charolais Herd and to discuss practical beef production and grassland management strategies relevant to both pedigree and commercial suckler farmers. The Breffni Charolais herd runs approximately 90 pedigree Charolais cows in a perfor...

Roscommon suckler and sheep farmer, Olivia Hynes, joins Catherine Egan and Teagasc Sheep Specialist, Damien Costello, to give an overview of her system and a preview of the FutureBeef National Farm Walk taking place on her farm on 29th July at 6:30pm. Olivia runs an intensive mixed grazing enterprise, with 49 cows calving in 2026.  In 2024, Olivia moved to a 100% AI breeding programme, a major shi...

This is a bonus episode of The Beef Edge featuring a recording of the Beef Pulse forum on ‘Driving Sustainable Calf to Beef Systems’ which was chaired by Breffni O’Brien, Beef specialist with Agriland.    On the panel were -       Amie Coonan, calf to beef farmer from Co. Tipperary -       Charles Smith, General Manager at Certified Irish Angus -       Margaret Kelleher, Genetics Operations Manage...

Teagasc Technologist to the Tipperary Dairy Calf-to-Beef Demonstration Farm, Chloe Millar, joins Catherine Egan on the Beef Edge podcast to give an update on the farm and an insight into the National Open Day taking place on the farm on Wednesday 22nd July @ 11am.    Chloe first outlines how calves are sourced and reared on the farm.  With over 400 calves purchased annually, the key criteria when...

This is a bonus episode of The Beef Edge featuring a recording of the Beef Pulse Forum on Market & Policy Outlook from the recent Teagasc BEEF2026 Open Day.   Sean Doorley, Teagasc Beef & Sheep Adviser, was joined by Frank O’Mara, Director, Teagasc, Kevin Hanrahan, Head of Rural Economy, Teagasc, and Joe Burke, Senior Manager of Meat and Livestock with Bord Bia.     For more episodes from...

It was another hugely successful Open Day at Teagasc Grange this year with the theme of ‘Driving Sustainable Performance’ showcasing the latest technology and insights into Irish beef farming.   For this week’s Beef Edge, Catherine Egan spoke to some of those in attendance including Director of Teagasc, Professor Frank O’ Meara, Joe Burke from Bord Bia, Kevin Hanarahan Head of Rural Economy with T...

DairyBeef 500 advisor, Tommy Cox, gives some top tips to manage your dairy beef system in the coming weeks and Teagasc advisor, John Kilboyle, previews the National DairyBeef 500 Open Day on the farm of Keith and Olivia Lowry taking place on the 9th July in Co Galway.   Tommy outlines the key grassland management tips for dairy-beef farmers currently and into July and August, particularly in a yea...

Teagasc Researcher, Peter Doyle, and Grass 10 advisor, Nikki Kennedy, join this week’s Beef Edge to discuss the grazing demonstration at BEEF2026which is taking place at Teagasc Grange.   Nikki outlines how the demonstration focuses on pre-grazing and post-grazing sward heights.    Many farmers are facing difficult decisions this year due to variable grass growth and Nikki outlines the key indicat...

Teagasc ASSAP programme manager, Cathal Somers, and Teagasc Specialist with the Signpost Programme, Mark Plunkett, discuss the importance of lime and soil fertility and the impact it can have on water quality, production and profitability.   Water quality continues to be a major focus for farmers and Cathal outlines the main pressures affecting water quality on beef farms and the eight key actions...

Teagasc researchers, Paul Smith and Emily Roskam, discuss the latest research on growing and finishing cattle, how this is being implemented on farms and look ahead to the upcoming National Beef Open Day, BEEF2026, taking place on July 1st at Teagasc Grange.   Emily says the biggest opportunities to improve feed efficiency in growing cattle without increasing costs on farm is through good grasslan...

Teagasc Research Technologist, Edwin Carroll, and Future Beef Programme Manager, Martina Harrington, are on this week’s Beef Edge podcast to give an update on the suckler beef research taking place in Teagasc Grange and how this is being implemented on the Future Beef Programme farms.  Plus they preview the upcoming National Beef Open Day - BEEF2026 - taking place on July 1st in Teagasc Grange.  ...

DairyBeef 500 Manager, Alan Dillon, and Teagasc researcher, Jamie O’Driscoll give an update on the dairy beef research taking place in Teagasc Grange and how this is being implemented on the DB500 Programme farms.  Plus they preview the upcoming National Beef Open day BEEF2026 taking place July 1st in Teagasc Grange.   Alan and Jamie discuss the importance of the CBV when purchasing calves and the...