The Beef Edge
Business & Finance
About
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/
Episodes
- Making Contract Rearing Pay: Lessons from Pat Joyce
Pat Joyce shares his experience with a contract heifer rearing system, emphasizing efficient weight gain through grass utilization and cost management, especially silage quality. He details his breeding and AI strategies, the use of SenseH…
- Transitioning Calves to Grass
Tommy Cox advises on strategies for transitioning dairy beef calves to grass to meet performance targets, recommending concentrate supplementation before, during, and after weaning to mitigate post-weaning growth checks and disease risks.
- Weed control & planning for the year ahead
Chris Maughan of Whelehan Crop Protection joins The Beef Edge to discuss weed control strategies for grazing and silage ground, including dock and ragwort management. He also covers planning for the year ahead, clover retention, water qual…
- When Costs Climb: Protecting Profit on Beef Farms
Teagasc beef specialist David Argue explores strategies for protecting profit margins on beef farms amidst rising input costs. He discusses cost-of-production budgets for various systems, including bull beef, store finishing, and dairy cal…
- Breeding Season Prep & Newford Farm Update
Michael Fagan provides an update on the Newford demonstration farm, covering breeding season preparations and an upcoming open day on April 22nd. The event will focus on improving suckler herd efficiency through genetics and best practices.
- The Grass10 Monthly Management Tips
Nikki Kennedy and John Conroy discuss spring grassland management strategies in this monthly Grass10 update. They provide regional updates and advice on utilising grass as the season progresses.
- Getting Silage Right in a Difficult Spring
Teagasc Specialist Mark Plunkett explains how to optimize silage production during a difficult spring, emphasizing timely fertiliser application and strategic closing dates to balance yield, quality, and cost. He details recommended fertil…
- Managing Labour on Farm: Lessons from the McCarthys
Eamon and Donnchadh McCarthy share their strategies for managing labour on their farm, successfully balancing off-farm work with their suckler-to-beef system. They highlight efficient practices for calving, breeding, and finishing, along w…
- CBV in Action: Driving Beef Performance on the Conway Farm
Ciaran Conway details his beef production system on Conway Farm, focusing on the use of Commercial Beef Value (CBV) for selecting cattle and managing grassland. The farm, which won the 2025 Suckler Finisher Award, emphasizes disciplined ma…
- Commercial Beef Value (CBV): The Profit Difference in Your Cattle
David Kelly joins The Beef Edge to discuss Commercial Beef Value (CBV), noting measurable profit differences for farmers finishing cattle. He highlights how high-CBV dairy-beef cattle finish earlier and grade better, with genotyping influe…
- Beef Road Map 2030: Performance, Profit & Progress
Pearse Kelly and Dr. Paul Crosson of Teagasc discuss the Irish beef sector
- Soil First: Planning Your Nutrient Strategy for 2026
Mark Plunkett of the Teagasc Signpost Programme discusses soil fertility and planning for 2026 with Catherine Egan on The Beef Edge. He highlights suboptimal pH, P, and K levels on drystock farms, the ongoing need for lime, and the benefit…
- Weather Challenges & Grazing Opportunities This Spring
John Maher reviews the successful 2025 grass season, while Nikki Kennedy discusses managing wet conditions, optimal slurry application, and correcting P and K levels. The episode covers planning for the spring grazing rotation and details…
- Dairy Calf to Beef (Part 4): Feeding for Performance: Milk Replacer Dos and Don’ts
Liam Gannon discusses milk replacer feeding for dairy calves up to weaning on The Beef Edge podcast. He covers essential dos and don'ts for selecting and feeding milk replacer, common digestive issues, and the importance of consistency and…
- Dairy Calf to Beef (Part 3): Healthy Starts, Strong Finishes
Vet Tommy Heffernan discusses key areas for calf health and sustainable dairy beef systems in the third part of the 'Dairy Calf to Beef' series. He addresses common issues like pneumonia, scour, and coccidiosis, the impact of weather, and…
- Dairy Calf to Beef (Part 2): From Purchase to Performance - Rearing Dairy-Beef Calves
In part two of the Dairy Calf to Beef series, David Argue discusses sourcing dairy-beef calves, emphasizing health, breed, and genetics. He covers essential rearing practices like proper nutrition, housing, and health planning to ensure op…
- Dairy Calf to Beef: Building a Profitable System
Alan Dillon explains the critical factors for a successful dairy beef system, such as maximizing grass use, improving silage, and maintaining herd health. He also touches on costs, calf price, and the upcoming Teagasc DairyBeef 500 Confere…
- Pre-Calving Prep and Planning Ahead for 2026
Niall Kerins joins the Beef Edge podcast to share essential pre-calving management tips, including mineral use and preparation for calving. He also advises on updating nutrient management plans for 2026 and taking soil samples.
- Beef Outlook 2025–26: Supply, Prices & Profit on Irish Farms
Pearse Kelly from Teagasc discusses the 2025-26 beef outlook, noting supply has fallen more than forecast and is expected to remain similar in 2026. He advises farmers to complete a profit monitor in 2025 to assess performance and costs be…
- Repost: Matt Dempsey on Brazilian beef and the future of the Irish beef industry
This episode features Matt Dempsey discussing the future of the Irish beef industry, touching upon topics such as intervention, incentive schemes, and advancements in grazing and breeding. Dempsey also reflects on a past campaign against B…
- Bluetongue Explained: What Beef Farmers Need to Know
This episode features vet John Donlon explaining bluetongue, a disease primarily transmitted by biting midges, highlighting its symptoms in cattle and sheep and emphasizing the need for farmer awareness and prompt reporting to authorities.
- The latest research findings from the Derrypatrick herd
Dr. Paul Crosson shares recent research findings from the Derrypatrick and Maternal Herd at Teagasc Grange, covering dairy beef work and additive research for 2025 and plans for 2026.
- Understanding the New Vet Med Regulations
New veterinary medicine regulations, effective December 1st, require prescriptions for certain products on beef and sheep farms as part of Ireland's strategy against antimicrobial and anti-parasitic resistance. All prescriptions must be pr…
- Boosting Beef Performance with Oats
Ronan Lynch and Brian Kirk discuss the benefits of incorporating native grains, specifically oats, into beef cattle rations. Teagasc trials indicate oats perform as well as barley, and Brian Kirk shares positive farm-level results on perfo…
- The Challenge of High Beef Prices
Rupert Claxton discusses the global beef industry, noting tight supply and strong consumer demand are causing high prices. He suggests Ireland is positioned for sustainable production, and while investment opportunities exist, industry rat…
- Efficiency That Pays: Grass, Breeding & Better Results with John Barry
John Barry shares his approach to a 90-cow suckler herd, detailing his system for efficiency, breeding choices including AI, and grassland management. He emphasizes producing high-quality weanlings for market and discusses his role at the…
- A Preview of the 2025 National Beef Conference
The Beef Edge podcast previews the Teagasc National Beef Conference on November 18th, which will focus on 'Beef Farming 2025: Value, Profit and Renewal'. The conference features two sessions covering high-value weanlings and future beef fa…
- Getting Winter Ready Part 3: Health at Housing
In the final 'Getting Winter Ready' episode, Natascha Meunier of Animal Health Ireland discusses 'Health at Housing' on the Beef Edge podcast. Topics include managing lungworm, liver and rumen fluke, lice, and mites, with advice on treatme…
- John Maher’s Monthly Grass Management Tips
John Maher, Grass10 Manager, shares monthly grassland management tips with Catherine Egan on The Beef Edge. He covers current grazing conditions, national scenarios, and an action plan for closing paddocks, emphasizing flexibility and avoi…
- Getting Winter Ready Part 2: Nutrition
James Strain, a nutritionist, discusses winter cattle nutrition on The Beef Edge Podcast. He emphasizes herd health, silage quality indicators like Dry Matter Digestibility and Crude Protein, and advises on feeding rates and ration selecti…
- Getting Winter Ready Part 1: Reach for the measuring tape before housing stock
In the first part of 'Getting Winter Ready,' Niall Kerins of Teagasc Beef Specialist covers essential winter housing strategies for cattle. Key topics include optimizing space, feed barriers, ventilation, managing draughts, and evaluating…
- Beef markets and budgets with David Argue
David Argue discusses current beef markets and budgets on the Beef Edge Podcast. He notes the national weekly kill increased to 30,000 head and stresses the importance of creating tailored farm budgets.
- Financial planning & managing cash flow for the rest of the year
IFAC Accountant Trevor Boland joins The Beef Edge podcast to discuss financial planning and cash flow for beef and suckler farmers. He covers 2024 profits, potential tax liabilities for 2024 and 2025, and strategies like Stock Relief, Fami…
- Why you need a farm succession plan
James McDonnell and Clare O'Keeffe discuss the critical importance of farm succession planning, generation renewal, and the role of mediation in ensuring farm business viability. Teagasc offers 'Transferring the Family Farm' clinics to ass…
- John Maher’s Monthly Grass Management Tips
John Maher, Grass10 Manager, joins Catherine Egan to discuss the current grass situation nationwide. He outlines steps for developing an autumn rotation plan on farms and addresses the management of red/yellow rust appearing on grass plant…
- Update from the Derrypatrick Herd
Teagasc Researcher Peter Doyle provides an update on the Derrypatrick herd's breeding performance and grassland management. He covers this year's calves, weaning, red clover management, and ongoing research on finishing cattle.
- Matt Dempsey on Brazilian beef and the future of the Irish beef industry
On the 300th episode of The Beef Edge, Matt Dempsey joins host Catherine Egan to discuss the future of the Irish beef industry. Dempsey shares insights on agricultural innovations, past campaigns regarding Brazilian beef imports, and the o…
- The Beef Welfare Scheme – what you need to know
Margaret Brennan explains the new Beef Welfare Scheme 2025, detailing eligibility criteria for suckler beef farmers. The scheme includes a mandatory meal feeding action and optional actions for vaccination or testing, with specific payment…
- DairyBeef 500 farmer, Peter O'Hanrahan, explains his farm system
Peter O'Hanrahan shares insights into his dairy beef system, including calf sourcing, rearing on an automatic feeding system, and a rotational paddock grazing strategy. The episode also covers calf performance, an upcoming farm walk, silag…
- Michael Biggins on his spring calving suckling to weanling system
Michael Biggins shares details of his spring calving suckler to weanling system, including AI usage, weanling management, and strategies for maximizing weight gain. The episode also previews an upcoming farm walk focused on profitable wean…
- John Maher’s August Grass Management Tips
John Maher provides August grassland management tips, covering current grazing conditions, national scenarios, and action plans for drought, deficit, and surpluses to maintain sward quality for autumn.
- Drystock Sustainable Grassland Farmer of the Year, Peter Byrne, on his Dairy Beef System
Peter Byrne, winner of the Drystock Sustainable Grassland Farmer of the Year, shares insights into his dairy beef system, focusing on grassland management, reseeding, and clover integration to reduce chemical nitrogen. An upcoming farm wal…
- How to increase efficiency and reduce emissions
Enda Geoghegan discusses farm strategies for increasing efficiency and reducing emissions, including nutrient management and the use of protected urea, based on findings from the Signpost Programme Report.
- The Long Established Young Farmer scheme & update on scheme deadlines
Aidan Murray provides an update on the Long Established Young Farmer scheme, detailing eligibility and a €5,000 maximum payment. He also covers deadlines for the Suckler Carbon Efficiency Programme and National Dairy Beef Weighing scheme,…
- The benefits of joining the National Genotyping Programme
Mark Waters from ICBF explains the National Genotyping Programme on The Beef Edge podcast. This initiative aims to genotype the national herd, offering farmers benefits such as labor savings through early tagging, reduced costs for genotyp…
- John Maher's July Grass Management Tips
John Maher provides July grassland management tips, covering current grazing conditions and national scenarios. He details action plans for drought, deficit, and surplus, and outlines strategies for maintaining sward quality into autumn.
- Future Beef Farmer, Kay O’Sullivan’s conversion to organic
Kay O’Sullivan discusses her conversion to an organic beef finishing system, current farm management practices including grass, clover, and multi-species management, and herd health. An upcoming national beef walk on her farm will cover fi…
- TAMS Update with Seamus Nolan
Seamus Nolan, Teagasc Specialist, provides an update on the TAMS 3 scheme on The Beef Edge podcast. The discussion covers eligible items for farm improvements across ten schemes, highlighting new additions like the Solar Capital Investment…
- Cavan’s Charlie Smyth on his Dairy Calf-to-Beef System
Charlie Smyth discusses his dairy beef system on The Beef Edge podcast, covering calf sourcing, rearing 100 calves annually, health protocols, and paddock management for grass utilization. A farm walk on July 10th will offer further insigh…
- Teagasc Ballyhaise College Beef Farm Update
Noel Prunty and Liam McWeeney provide an update on the Teagasc Ballyhaise College beef farm, discussing the breeding season, bull performance, calving, AI usage, heifer management, and grassland strategies.