Niall Claffey

Niall Claffey Profile Picture

Niall is the beef specialist with AgriLand. The University College Dublin (UCD) graduate took up this post in September 2017. In this position, Niall covers technical and news content - at both a national and international level. Hailing from an agricultural background, he is involved in the running of a suckler farm in Westmeath. He also sits on the management team of the Teagasc Green Acres Calf-to-Beef Programme. Along with hands-on knowledge here in Ireland, Niall has significant experience in the international agricultural industry - in New Zealand, Australia, the UK and France. During his time in UCD, he travelled to New Zealand as part of his Professional Work Experience, gaining valuable knowledge on a dairy enterprise extending over 2,700ha. Upon finishing his degree in UCD, Niall travelled to Australia where he managed a large-scale beef enterprise. He also participated in sowing and harvesting for a season where he operated a wide range of machinery. When Niall returned home, he took up a position with Liffey Meats, working at their Ballyjamesduff site and also in France. Niall is also a council member of the Irish Grassland Association (IGA).

No change in base quotes but beef kill soars to record high
No change in base quotes but beef kill soars to record high

Some factories across the country have reported a lower kill on the back of ex-hurricane Ophelia last week. There were...

‘Joined-up thinking’ needed between dairy and beef
‘Joined-up thinking’ needed between dairy and beef

The value of beef output from the dairy herd will equal 60% of the total Irish beef output in years...

Western suckler herd moves to 100% AI breeding
Western suckler herd moves to 100% AI breeding

The Newford demonstration farm and suckler herd was set-up in 2015, with the aim to operate a profitable 100 cow suckler-to-beef...

80% of beef heifers fail to meet calving-age targets
80% of beef heifers fail to meet calving-age targets

In 2016, less than 20% of beef heifers calved at 22-26 months. Heifers averaged 31.5-months-of-age at the point of first calving,...

At what rate should you be supplementing your cattle at this winter?
At what rate should you be supplementing your cattle at this winter?

Accounting for over 75% of the total variable costs, feed is the single largest variable cost on Irish beef farms....

Reducing exposure to liver and rumen fluke
Reducing exposure to liver and rumen fluke

Some 86% of condemned livers, in meat factories, were due to liver fluke, according to a recent trial conducted by University...

Sheep factories: Quotes unchanged as Ophelia takes its toll
Sheep factories: Quotes unchanged as Ophelia takes its toll

Like some of the beef factories, ex-hurricane Ophelia left many sheep processing plants without power on Monday afternoon (October 16)....

Drop in beef quotes as highest kill of 2017 recorded
Drop in beef quotes as highest kill of 2017 recorded

Procurement managers, across the country, have reported strong numbers of beef cattle being available for slaughter. However, yesterday’s kill is...

Sit back and relax: Medal-winning combine sets itself
Sit back and relax: Medal-winning combine sets itself

New Holland has notched up a silver medal at the upcoming Agritechnica show for its “pro-active and automatic” combine setting...

Is there money to be made in black and white beef this winter?
Is there money to be made in black and white beef this winter?

Beef farmers looking to finish Hereford or Friesian steers will struggle to break-even this winter, due to high store costs...

Food exports: ‘Seventh year of consecutive growth’
Food exports: ‘Seventh year of consecutive growth’

The Irish food and drink industry recorded its seventh year of consecutive growth in exports during 2016. Since 2010 the...

Young bull prices need to improve for farmers to break-even
Young bull prices need to improve for farmers to break-even

Latest figures from Teagasc show that farmers operating bull-beef systems will require a break-even price of 422-444c/kg on a 180-day finishing...

In the quest for new food markets; quality will prevail
In the quest for new food markets; quality will prevail

Anuga, which claims to be the world’s largest food fair, commenced on Saturday, October 7, in Cologne, Germany. It runs...

Sheep factories: 10-15c/kg wiped off processors’ quotes
Sheep factories: 10-15c/kg wiped off processors’ quotes

Procurement managers across the country have reported that plenty of sheep are available for slaughter this week. An increase in...

Opportunities explored in the German food market
Opportunities explored in the German food market

Bord Bia has announced that it is increasing its investment in the German food and beverage market. This comes as...

Executing the plan perfectly on a Co. Sligo dairy farm
Executing the plan perfectly on a Co. Sligo dairy farm

Unhappy with the performance of their dairy farm, in terms of grass growth and reproductive performance, Brian and Pamela Conlon...

National Potato Day: Consumers urged to choose Irish potatoes
National Potato Day: Consumers urged to choose Irish potatoes

National Potato Day takes place today, Friday, October 6. IFA (Irish Farmers’ Association) President Joe Healy has called on consumers...

Bord Bia to outline Brexit initiatives at Anuga
Bord Bia to outline Brexit initiatives at Anuga

Bord Bia will set out its range of new Brexit supports for Irish food exporters at Anuga, which takes place...