All farmers will have an opportunity to see the beef systems operating at the Teagasc Kildalton Agricultural College, Piltown, Co. Kilkenny on Wednesday, September 6 at 6:00pm, Teagasc has announced.
Speaking ahead of the upcoming farm walk, Paul Hennessy – Principal of Kildalton College – said: “The focus for beef and suckler farmers attending will be on autumn management of the Kildalton herd – including weaning, grassland management and finishing cattle off grass.
“The walk will also examine the physical and financial performance of the suckler herd, including the various beef finishing systems in the college,” he added.
As well as the 60-cow spring-calving suckler herd, there will be an opportunity to hear about the four cattle systems operating at the college.
• Continental cross bull beef finished at 16 months;
• Continental cross steer beef finished at 24 months;
• Continental cross heifers finished at 18-20 months;
• Dairy beef 0-1 and 1-2 year old cattle in a leader-follower system finished at 24 months.
John O’Connor, the Teagasc technician who runs the beef unit, also spoke about the event, saying: “As we approach the autumn, it’s a great opportunity for farmers to see all stock on display and see how they have performed at grass over the summer.
“We will have the spring-calving sucker cows and calves, our replacement heifers, our finishing steers and finisher heifers all there for visitors to see.
“And there will be an opportunity to review the livestock performance and financial budgets on the college’s four beef production systems,” he added.
At the farm walk speakers will focus on weaning management, autumn grassland management, livestock vaccinations and autumn animal health.
It was confirmed that the farm walk will be a Department of Agriculture approved Knowledge Transfer Beef National Event.