This year’s Teagasc National Beef Conference 2025, taking place next week (Tuesday, November 18) in Athenry, Co. Galway, will have a strong focus on producing high-value weanlings.

It will also focus on managing farm profitability, and supporting generational renewal and has been designed to give farmers clear, practical information on how to add value, plan for profit, and prepare for the future.

The event, which starts at 5:00p.m, will hear from farmers who will share insights on their weanling and finishing systems, discuss how they’re planning for generational renewal, and explore practical approaches to tax planning.

Session 1 at National Beef Conference

High-value weanlings: From breeding decisions to market demand

In Session 1, chaired by Keith Fahy of Teagasc and Galway Bay fm, attendees will hear a panel discussion featuring farmers John Barry, Future Beef farmer from Nenagh, Co. Tipperary and Thomas O’Connor, beef-finishing farmer from Athy, Co. Kildare.

The session will focus on how to breed, feed, and sell weanlings that the market wants. Also featuring in this panel discussion will be Dr. Katie Quigley from the Irish Cattle Breeding Federation (ICBF); Prof. David Kenny, Teagasc and Brendan Egan, Castlerea Mart manager.

John Barry who runs a 90-cow suckler herd full-time in Nenagh, Co. Tipperary has steadily developed the enterprise with significant investments, including two new sheds, upgraded laneways and fencing, and the installation of a new cattle crush to make vaccinating and dosing more efficient.

The herd is split between spring- and autumn-calving, with around 60 cows calving from February to April and the remainder from August to October.

The preferred cow type on the farm is a Limousin–Simmental cross, although Charolais and Belgian Blue crosses also feature in the herd.

Most cows are R+ to U– grade animals with good milk. Artificial insemination (AI) is used on more than 75% of the herd.

John selects sires from Belgian Blue, Charolais, and Limousin breeds, while a Limousin stock bull is used for mop-up.

Red Angus sires are also used on Belgian Blue-type heifers. John produces top-quality U and E grade weanlings for both the local and export markets.

Thomas O’Connor is farming just outside Athy, Co. Kildare and has built a dynamic and progressive enterprise.

Named FBD Young Beef Farmer of the Year in 2015, Thomas went on to serve as chairperson of the Kildare branch of the Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA) from 2020 to 2024, advocating for farmers across the county.

His mixed enterprise brings together beef, sheep, and tillage production in a highly integrated system.

The farm’s main focus is on finishing high-quality continental-bred young bulls, steers, and heifers, sourced both privately and through livestock marts.

Thomas will discuss what he is looking for when buying cattle for his finishing system at the National Beef Conference.

Session 2 – beef 2025 and beyond

Session 2 will be chaired by former RTÉ and Radio 1 Countrywide presenter, Damien O’Reilly, who now works with the Irish Co-operative Society in Brussels.

The session will see farmers Eamon and Donnchadh McCarthy from Youghal, Co. Waterford and Trevor Boland from Co. Sligo join a panel discussion which will focus on the challenges and solutions for generational renewal on Irish beef farms.

Father and son team Eamon and Donnchadh McCarthy are active participants in the Teagasc Future Beef and Signpost Programmes.

They operate a suckler-to-beef enterprise comprising 55 suckler cows, with the herd split between spring- (60%) and autumn- (40%) calving.

Both Eamon and Donnchadh also work off-farm. Male calves are finished as under-16-month bulls, while heifers not retained for breeding are finished at 18–20 months.

The best home-bred heifers are kept as replacements. The McCarthys use 100% AI, with a focus on Simmental, Limousin, Angus, and Aubrac genetics.

Easy-calving sires are carefully selected for maiden heifers, while high terminal index sires, mainly Charolais, are used across the remainder of the herd to produce high-performing progeny.

At the conference, Eamon and Donnchadh will discuss their succession plan and the steps they are taking to prepare the next generation for the future of the farm.

Also featuring in this panel discussion will be Dr. Emma Dillon, senior research officer and economist on the Teagasc National Farm Survey and Ruth Fennell, collaborative farming specialist, Teagasc.

Beef farm profits in 2025

Tax planning for this year and beyond

2025 has been a good year for weanling producers, with higher prices in the weanling ring boosting confidence across the beef sector.

Traditionally, many farmers have viewed income tax filing deadlines as the key target at year-end, but this year the focus will need to shift.

Trevor Boland, a beef farmer in Co. Sligo and accountant with IFAC, will review 2024 farm figures and discuss projections for 2025, which indicate that many suckler and beef farmers nationwide are facing larger than usual income tax bills.

During his presentation, Trevor will outline practical strategies to help farmers manage and reduce income tax liabilities, invest in their farms for the future, support their families, and create safer, more sustainable farm businesses.

Global beef markets – what’s driving prices?

With current prices, it’s more important than ever to look at how we breed, sell, and sustain our farms and attendees will hear from Rupert Claxton (meat director, GIRA) who will provide a global perspective on where the beef market is heading.

Whether you’re looking to improve your breeding, plan ahead for tax, or start the conversation about passing on the farm – the Teagasc National Beef Conference will have something for you.

This is a free event which is open to anyone to attend and gets underway at 5:00p.m next Tuesday, November 18 at the Raheen Woods Hotel, Athenry, Co. Galway.

Click here for further details on this year’s conference

Liam MacHale

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