Beef
Ger Dineen is an award-winning suckler farmer based in Kilnamartyra, Co. Cork, where he operates a 53-unit suckler herd on 31ha of grassland.
The early housing of beef cattle during the back end of 2017 led to increased costs in terms of meal, silage and veterinary bills.
Ger has made many changes to his farm in recent years. Adverse grass growing conditions - throughout 2012 and a difficult spring in 2013 - thought the Cork-based farmer a valuable lesson; he now matches stocking rate to the grass he can grow.
Buildings
In this week's buildings focus, we visit Francis Halliran who operates a suckler-to-weanling enterprise; the Tipperary-based farmer also works full-time off farm
Farming in Bishop’s Demesne, Co. Kilkenny, Reginald 'Reggie' Brennan operates a suckler-to-beef enterprise under an autumn-calving system.
Farming in Co. Longford, Pat and Paul Molihan - a father and son team - run a suckler-to-beef enterprise on 58% owned land and 42% rented land
Farming in Bartstown, Newbridge, Co. Kildare, Darragh Barron runs a suckler-to-beef enterprise on 30% owned land and 70% rented land.
Ronan currently operates a 70 cow spring-calving herd under a suckler-to-beef system and finishes animals off grass at under 30-months of age.
In 2016, the suckler cow's average gross output declined by 5% to €1,071 and could not cover her costs - resulting in a net loss of €28/cow.
Ken Gill began to make the transition from conventional suckler-to-beef farming to organic farming two years ago.
Thomas O'Connor was crowned the 2015 Macra na Feirme Beef Farmer of year finishing over 100 cattle annually in a suckler-to-beef system.
The average Irish suckler-to-beef system is not viable in the long term, according to Teagasc's Paul Crosson.
One of the key targets of the Teagasc Better Farm Programme is to show that beef farms are capable of making a gross margin of €1,000/ha.
