The Beef Edge

• Calf housing tips to maximise performance

  Teagasc DairyBeef 500 advisor, Tommy Cox, discusses calf housing to maximise performance on this week’s Beef Edge podcast.  Tommy says that good ventilation, adequate space, good drainage and warm sheds that are clean and comfortable are essential.  Good ventilation to ensure air is fresh and no draughts are important. Natural ventilation is used in the vast majority of calf houses.  Tommy recommends to provide 2.0-2.3 m2 pen area per calf.  Good drainage is something that is often overlooked.  Tommy says that calves spend about 80% of their time lying down so they need a dry bed. A dry environment will also reduce the spread and growth of bugs. All calf houses should be built with a damp-proof course to prevent rising dampness. A slope of 1:20 in the calf pen area is recommended Calves perform best at 15-20 degree Celsius, but they don’t generate sufficient heat to insulate themselves from colder temperatures until after they are weaned. Deep beds of straw are effective in protecting calves from the cold. Hygiene is obviously very important. Floors and walls should be easily cleaned. For more episodes from the Beef Edge podcast, visit the show page at:https://www.teagasc.ie/thebeefedge Produced on behalf of Teagasc by LastCastMedia.com 

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• Fertiliser application and the fertiliser register

  Continuing the two-part series on fertiliser application, Teagasc specialist Mark Plunkett from the Teagasc Signpost programme, joins Catherine Egan on the Beef Edge podcast to discuss fertiliser application and the fertiliser register. Mark reviewed 2024 regarding fertiliser usage and particularly chemical N.  There was a 10% increase, he said, compared to 2023. Chemical N use was at an all-time low in 2023 and in addition, 2024 proved to be a challenging grass growing year and was perhaps the reason for increased N use.   In 2024 the straight N market increased by 2% in 2024 to 58%.  Compound N market increased by 6% compared to 2023 and in 2024, 17% of the total N was Protected Urea (+4% on 2023).  There were 28,736 tonnes of phosphorus (P) applied in 2024.  Phosphorus reduced by 6.6% in 2024. There were 88,058 tonnes of potassium (K) applied in 2024 which was an increase of 7.45%.  The continued decline in the use of P is a real concern for soil fertility and N use efficiency on farm.  While the increase in K application is positive, Mark highlighted the importance of lime, especially as 65% of soils are deficient in lime; if lime was corrected on grazing ground there are multiple benefits.  Mark has also said that weather conditions played a huge part in poor grass growth last year and farmers should use protected urea in the year ahead. Fertiliser should be applied when ground is dry enough to travel on with tractor and spreader without causing damage.   Soil temperatures are above 5ºC and rising and with 4-5 days of dry weather forecast, you want fertiliser and slurry to stay where you spread it. Finally, Mark explained the benefits of using compound fertiliser based on a nutrient management plan and highlighted the importance of sulphur. For more episodes from the Beef Edge podcast, visit the show page at:https://www.teagasc.ie/thebeefedge Produced on behalf of Teagasc by LastCastMedia.com  

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• February Grass Update

  Teagasc Grass10 advisor, Niamh Doyle, has her monthly update discussing grass management tips for the month ahead. Niamh discusses over-winter growth and the importance of assessing opening covers and the need to ensure conditions are suitable before spreading. Niamh also encourages anyone who has soil samples to collect to do so in the coming weeks to address soil fertility this year. You can subscribe to the Grass10 newsletter here:https://www.teagasc.ie/crops/grassland/grass10/grass10-enewsletter/ For more episodes from the Beef Edge podcast, visit the show page at:https://www.teagasc.ie/thebeefedge Produced on behalf of Teagasc by LastCastMedia.com

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• The Rules & Regulations of Nitrates

  As thoughts on farms move to fertiliser application, Teagasc specialist Tim Hyde joins Catherine Egan on the Beef Edge podcast for the first of a two-part podcast on the rules and regulations surrounding nitrates.   Tim reminds listeners of the open period for chemical fertiliser, farm yard manure and slurry across the different zones, plus he outlines the regulations around roadways, storing bales and buffer zones. Tim then discusses the differences between grassland and whole farm stocking rates and the rules that apply. He describes the low emission slurry spreading for farmers stocked over 130kg organic N/ha and >100kg organic N/ha from 01/01/2025. In relation to ⁠P build-up, Tim describes what extra allowances there are for farms stocked over 130kg organic N/ha. For ⁠non-derogation farmers that are stocked over 170kg but exported slurry to remain compliant, Tim explains the additional rules that are applicable to these farms. Finally Tim comments on the importance of fertiliser planning to know your allowances for the fertiliser register and to allow for more accurate nutrient management planning. Next week, Mark Plunkett from the Teagasc Signpost programme will go through all the requirements in relation to fertiliser application and the fertiliser register. For more episodes from the Beef Edge podcast, visit the show page at:https://www.teagasc.ie/thebeefedge Produced on behalf of Teagasc by LastCastMedia.com  

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• The benefits & use of the new Mart Tracker and Commercial Beef Value (CBV)

  Chris Daly from ICBF joins Catherine Egan on this week’s Beef Edge podcast to discuss the new Mart Tracker and the Commercial Beef Value (CBV).  Chris outlines the benefit of the Mart Tracker and the impact that it will have for farmers. He also discusses the CBV and how important it is for farmers buying as well as selling calves and cattle overall.  Chris describes the values farmers should be looking for in cattle that are suckler, dairy x beef and dairy x dairy.   Mart Tracker available here https://webapp.icbf.com/v2/app/mart-tracker How to use the Mart Tracker https://www.icbf.com/how-to-use-the-new-icbf-mart-tracker/ If you have any issues accessing the Mart Tracker or CBV values for your herd please contact ICBF. Email support is [email protected] or phone 023-8820452 during office hours (9am – 5.30pm).  For more episodes from the Beef Edge podcast, visit the show page at:https://www.teagasc.ie/thebeefedge Produced on behalf of Teagasc by LastCastMedia.com  

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