Flagship Teagasc beef event at Grange today

A major Open Day for beef farmers and the beef industry takes place today at  the Teagasc Research Centre at Grange, Dunsany. The event, which will focus on the application of technologies to help beef farmers increase the profitability of their beef farming business, is the flagship event for 2014 in Teagasc.

Every aspect of the technology and financial management of the beef enterprise will be covered by Teagasc Researchers, Advisers and Specialists on the day. This includes suckler beef systems, calf-to-beef options, high performance from grass, breeding and health herd management.

 Local Teagasc adviser, Ned Heffernan said that Beef 2014 will include a 'Grassland Village' which will demonstrate the latest technologies in grassland management including a grassland demonstration. Mr Heffernan said “utilisation of leafy highly digestible grass is one of the key areas in maximising cattle performance and ultimately margins and profitability”.

The Teagasc/Irish Farmers Journal BETTER Farm Beef Programme will be comprehensively outlined at the event. In addition sustainable farm environmental management and production and marketing of quality beef will also be highlighted in some of the “Open Day Beef Villages” on the day.

The event will afford the opportunity for farmers to meet with Beef Industry Partners including the Department of Agriculture, Bord Bia, Irish Cattle Breeding Federation (ICBF), Animal Health Ireland (AHI) and University College Dublin. Representatives from the meat industry will also be in attendance.

A feature of the day’s activities will be a forum entitled 'My Future in Beef' which will include farmer speakers from five successfully managed beef and suckler farms. Professor Gerry Boyle will also address this hour long forum which will be chaired by Justin McCarthy, Editor of the Farmers Journal.

Larry O’Loughlin, Regional Manager Teagasc said that this is an ideal opportunity for beef and suckler farmers to see at first hand every aspect of the technology and business management involved at farm level. He also said that the event is particularly suitable to farmers in local Beef Technology Adoption Groups.

“All in all there will be something for everyone at this major beef open day at Teagasc, Grange” concluded Mr O’Loughlin.