‘Planning for healthy profits’ is the theme for this year’s Teagasc National Beef Conference, which is taking place in the Tullamore Court Hotel, Co. Offaly, on Tuesday, October 17.
The first session will look at the three key areas of animal health, breeding and grassland, while the evening session will provide an update on some recent research projects and the implications of their findings.
The specific topics covered at the upcoming conference will include: improving the control of liver and rumen fluke; beef research updates; successfully using AI in a 100-cow suckler herd; grassland management; and the impact of Brexit on the Irish beef Industry.
Commenting ahead of the conference, Teagasc’s head of drystock knowledge transfer, Pearse Kelly, said: “Liver fluke and rumen fluke have implications on costs and output so identifying if there is a problem and the best strategies to deal with it is important.
“The Newford Suckler Herd, established by Dawn Meats and Teagasc, will outline how they have managed to switch to 100% AI to avail of the top beef genetics.
The Grass10 Campaign is highlighting how grassland offers so much potential to beef farmers in terms of optimising animal performance, sustainability and it is our most cost-effective feed.
Research findings are flowing from the Teagasc animal and grassland research programme and the conference provides an opportunity to get updated on some recent research projects and the implications of their findings.
Speakers at the conference will include: Dr. Theo de Waal, University College Dublin; Matthew Murphy, manager of the Dawn Meats/Teagasc Newford Suckler Demonstration Farm; John Maher, Teagasc co-ordinator of the Grass10 campaign; John Heslin, Teagasc Grange; Stephen Connolly, ABP; Dr. Mark McGee, Teagasc Grange; and Dr. Kevin Hanrahan, Teagasc Rural Economy Programme.
This is an approved Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine Beef Knowledge Transfer event.