Longford Farming: Teagasc National Beef Open Day

Teagasc are delighted to invite all beef farmers and stakeholders in the Irish beef industry to the National Beef open day ‘BEEF2024’ which takes place on Wednesday 26th June in Teagasc, Grange, Co. Meath. The theme of this year’s event is ‘Securing your future’.
The focus of BEEF2024 will be on the application of technologies that will help beef farmers increase the profitability and environmental sustainability of their family farm businesses. BEEF2024 will be hosted on a new site on the farm with a new and improved layout and structure on the day. It is a free event and all are welcome to attend.

What’s happening on the day?
On the day there will be two technical main stands. The first stand will focus on ‘Securing your future in beef farming’, in which the key challenges and opportunities will be discussed along with production systems to balance income and lifestyle. Market & environmental policy demands will also be outlined. The second stand is titled ‘Management toolbox for beef farms’, in which optimal suckler & dairy-beef systems will be discussed along with driving genetic gain for beef cattle.
There will be 4 technical villages that attendees will visit. The first village ‘Grassland & forage’ will feature live displays in relation to low emissions slurry application and grazing management There will be demonstrations in relation to the use of protected urea fertilizers, calibration of spreaders and farm infrastructure. Depending on your enterprise you can choose to visit either the ‘Suckler Beef’ or ‘Dairy calf-to-beef’ village. There will be cow simulators used to demonstrate the principles of safe calving and handling of livestock. Cattle from the various suckler and dairy-beef studies at Grange will be on display. There will also be displays on calf rearing, antimicrobial & anthelmintic resistance and assessing cattle for finishing.
This is followed by the ‘Advisory, Education & Opportunities Village’ which features Teagasc advisory services, education options within the farm sector, organic beef farming, renewable energy options and forestry.
Technologies and live demonstrations in relation to grazing management, animal nutrition, beef genetics, reproductive management, animal health and welfare, and farm planning will form the main focus of the day. Finally the open day will conclude in the Forum Centre where will be an opportunity to engage with industry stakeholders. There will be a number of technology companies will also be there on the day

Forums featuring farmers in Dairy Beef 500 and Future Beef programmes
There will be a number of panel discussions covering key topics across a range of beef cattle production systems. These will take place in the Forum Centre and will be staged throughout the day. Future Beef programme Farmer Shane Keaveney and Dairy Beef 500 programme farmer Martin Connolly will feature at this year’s National open day.
Martin Connolly has been rearing dairy-bred calves, bringing them to beef, for many years. The high level of fragmentation, combined with the general heavy nature of land in the area, brings challenges in terms of grassland management and especially grazing at the shoulders of the year. Martin purchases around 160 calves every year and sources most of the calves locally. Martin had put high emphasis in recent years on making quality silage to reduce winter feed costs and has incorporated red clover on the farm to help with this. On the day Martin will outline the latest technologies he is using on his farm to increase profitability and sustainability of his dairy beef system. The Dairy Beef forum will take place at 12.30 pm.
Shane farms with his wife Grainne and three children in Granlahan, Ballinlough, Co. Roscommon. Shane operates a 38 spring calving suckler system. The male calves are finished as under 16 months bull beef. The heifers are sold as forward stores. The cow type is mainly LM/SA crosses. A terminal CH stock bull is used and Shane has started to use some AI as a source for replacements. In recent years Shane has placed huge focus on maximising weight gain from grass through improving grass growth by increasing soil fertility and efficient use of fertiliser on the farm. To reduce the fertiliser bill and to improve silage quality, red clover was sown in 2023. On the day Shane along slide Galway Future Beef farmer Aonghusa Fahy will outline the latest technologies they are using on their farm to increase profitability and sustainability of their suckler beef systems. The Future Beef forum will take place at 1.30 pm.
The concluding forum of the day ‘Securing your future in beef farming’ will take place at 2.30 pm. In this forum the main opportunities and challenges facing the sector and beef farm families will be discussed, in particular, succession and inheritance. Keynote speakers from the beef sector will outline the strengths of the sector and the potential to enhance profitability, sustainability and lifestyle through the deployment of the latest technologies.
The beef sector remains one of the most important contributors to the national economy in Ireland, supporting in excess of 70,000 beef farmers with an export value of approximately €2.7 bn. It also contributes approximately 10,000 jobs across processing, distribution and transport in predominantly rural areas. The level of domestic spend has a huge multiplier effect on the overall economy and is a key part of the sector’s importance to regional development. Its strengths lie in its pasture-based production systems underpinning its strong sustainability credentials and it is well-placed to meet the increased global demand for beef.
This major Open Day will outline the key steps to developing a pathway for securing a future in the Irish beef sector.
Teagasc acknowledges with gratitude the support of FBD Trust who will be available on the day to meet attendees.

BEEF2024 on Tuesday 26th June in Teagasc, Grange Eircode C15 PW93, 9 am- 4pm is a day not to be missed. Further information www.teagasc.ie/beef2024