Breifne O'Brien

Breifne O

Breifne hails from a suckler, beef and sheep farm in Co. Cavan. He studied Agri-Environmental Science in University College Dublin. During his college years, he presented an agri-focused radio show on Belfield FM called 'Keepin' it Country'. In addition to his knowledge and passion for Irish agriculture, he also gained extensive international experience through time spent working on a 4,500-cow dairy farm in South Dakota in the US. He has previously worked in the agri-news sector and more recently has gained professional experience working in cattle procurement in the Irish beef sector.

60% drop in Irish dairy calf exports to date this year
60% drop in Irish dairy calf exports to date this year

Irish dairy calf exports have fallen by 60% in the first nine weeks of this year compared to the same...

Beef kill: Supplies of finished cattle drop as prices firm-up
Beef kill: Supplies of finished cattle drop as prices firm-up

After a few weeks of price cuts, beef prices appear to have stabilised, as supplies of factory fit cattle are...

What 4 counties have the highest amount of liver fluke cases?
What 4 counties have the highest amount of liver fluke cases?

In the Animal Health Ireland (AHI) Beef HealthCheck Newsletter’s spring edition, Dr. Natascha Meunier, Beef HealthCheck programme manager outlined the...

Beef focus: Ideal suckler setup and more in Borrisokane
Beef focus: Ideal suckler setup and more in Borrisokane

Based just outside of Borrisokane in Co. Tipperary, the Moran family farm is running a broad range of farm enterprises....

Spring grazing unworkable on many farms as rain persists
Spring grazing unworkable on many farms as rain persists

Persistent rainfall across many parts of the country has delayed spring grazing, with reports from beef farms across the country...

Who are the 8 beef farmers forming ABP’s Monitor Farms?
Who are the 8 beef farmers forming ABP’s Monitor Farms?

The eight beef farmers that are ABP Food Group’s Monitor Farms have been announced. These farmers are finishing cattle in...

Diary date: BEEF2024 set for Teagasc Grange on June 26
Diary date: BEEF2024 set for Teagasc Grange on June 26

The Teagasc BEEF2024 Open Day will take place on Wednesday, June 26, at the Teagasc Animal and Grassland Research and...

Mart report: Heifers, bullocks and dry cows at Balla Mart
Mart report: Heifers, bullocks and dry cows at Balla Mart

Balla Mart in Co. Mayo hosted its weekly heifer and bullock sale on Saturday, March 9, with the trade described...

Sellers and buyers of better calves ‘team up’ in new initiative
Sellers and buyers of better calves ‘team up’ in new initiative

Dairy farmers who are producing the better calves for beef production and beef farmers who are rearing calves, but are...

Over 2,300 Irish cattle set sail to Africa as more sought
Over 2,300 Irish cattle set sail to Africa as more sought

Over 2,300 cattle boarded the livestock-carrier vessel the ‘Shorthorn Express’ at the weekend, as the ship departed from the east...

Factory quotes: Prices edge up as 3 short weeks approach
Factory quotes: Prices edge up as 3 short weeks approach

This week’s factory quotes have seen beef price increase by 5c/kg in a few cases, but the majority of processors...

Mart report: Weanling bull and heifer prices at Granard Mart
Mart report: Weanling bull and heifer prices at Granard Mart

Granard Mart in Co. Longford hosted its weekly sale of suckler cows, as well as weanling heifers and bulls on...

Average carcass weights for all cattle types fall in 2023
Average carcass weights for all cattle types fall in 2023

Average beef carcass weights fell slightly in 2023, according to latest figures from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the...

Opinion: Are low-price calves better value than pet lambs?
Opinion: Are low-price calves better value than pet lambs?

This week, Agriland was informed of a number of examples where farmers purchased calves at average prices of €7/head, and...

Factory-fit organic U grade steers making over €6.10/kg
Factory-fit organic U grade steers making over €6.10/kg

Qualifying in-spec organic U-grade steers are currently making €6.13/kg, according to the latest forward pricing template from organic beef processing...

2024-born dairy-beef calves arrive to ABP Demo Farm
2024-born dairy-beef calves arrive to ABP Demo Farm

The first of the 2024 born dairy-beef calves have began to arrive on the ABP Demo Farm. These calves are...

Vet warns ‘no guarantee’ of late feeding reducing night calvings
Vet warns ‘no guarantee’ of late feeding reducing night calvings

A Teagasc vet has said that there is no guarantee that the number of cows calving at night will reduce...

Teagasc set to develop 100ac organic beef research farm
Teagasc set to develop 100ac organic beef research farm

Teagasc has confirmed that plans are currently in place to develop an organic beef research farm at Johnstown Castle, Co....