Sheep And Beef #farming

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FARMING - BEEF & SHEEP

A collection of the latest news, views and analysis from the farming desk on the topic of Beef and Sheep.

<p>The quality of Irish beef has improved immensely over recent years and there is a market there for it at a premium price which is beginning to deliver a better return to the producers.</p>

farming

Past two months' trade has surprised both the finishers and the factories

The factory throughput for December appears to be on course to hit an all-time high by the end of the month

Brian Reidy: Changing grass silages and balancing it this winter

<p>It is rare but it does appear that both the processors and the finishers have been caught off guard this year-end.</p>

farming

Irish beef market 'appears much stronger than had been expected'

Fasciola hepatica, or liver fluke

farming

Almost half of Irish herds have animals with signs of liver fluke

Bleating Sheep

farming

Sustain Sheep project to delve into ovine emissions

Sheep in pens at Winslow Primestock Show, Buckinghamshire

farming

Lamb prices up 40c/kg to 810c/kg

Brian Reidy

Hazell Mullins, Vet on the Moove

Kieran Coughlan, Farm Finance

Paula Hynes, Hoofing It

Karen Walsh, Law of the Land

Close up shot of raw meat hanging on hooks at a slaughterhouse

Beef prices rise another 5-7c/kg in pre-Christmas boom

Prices being offered for supplies across the range of categories have improved by a further 5-7c/kg, driven by very keen competition between the processors for available stock to fill the Christmas orders.

Wed, 04 Dec, 2024

Mouldy maize silage in close up on a dairy farm

Mycotoxin risks and the simple steps you can take to eliminate them

While a healthy animal is less susceptible to problems — especially when mycotoxins are only present in low levels — any animal can be at risk, writes Alltech InTouch feeding specialist Thomas O'Sullivan.

Fri, 29 Nov, 2024

Meat industry,meats hanging in the cold store. Cattles cut and hanged on hook in a slaughterhouse. Halal cutting.

Irish beef prices hit new record ahead of Christmas

An extra 5-10 cents/kg has been added to the factory quotes for both steers and heifers this week

Tue, 26 Nov, 2024

Brian Reidy: Grazing late in the year? Time to consider next year

Brian Reidy: Grazing late in the year? Time to consider next year

The extended grazing season has been a fantastic boost but if the cattle eat it all now, it will not be there at the other end of the winter

Wed, 20 Nov, 2024

Herd of cows grazing, roaming and breeding on cattle farm, field and rural meadow in the countryside. Dairy animals, bovine and

Pneumonia: the silent killer

Controlling BRD in suckler weanlings is challenging.

Wed, 20 Nov, 2024

Fluffy Woolly Sheep

Suppliers reporting up to 800c/kg for sheep this week

The strength of the factory trade is being reflected in the live sales at the marts, where several lots are now topping €200/head as the butchers compete for lots.

Wed, 20 Nov, 2024

Breeding really is a numbers game for efficient sheep production

Breeding really is a numbers game for efficient sheep production

The cows and other cattle have been housed for three weeks now. I am in the Sucker Welfare Scheme, so the calves got 1kg of meals for four weeks before weaning, and they got 2kg of meals after weaning.

Tue, 19 Nov, 2024

The meat processing plant. carcasses of beef hang on hooks.

Strong year-end as beef base quotes increase

The base quotes for steers have increased by up to 10c/kg this week, with processors offering 515-525c/kg.

Tue, 19 Nov, 2024

New Cork Marts chief executive to take over in 2025

New Cork Marts chief executive to take over in 2025

Cork Marts has announced that Cahir-based auctioneer Jonathan O’Sullivan has been appointed as the group's next chief executive. It follows the recent announcement that current chief executive Seán O’Sullivan will retire in early 2025.

Wed, 13 Nov, 2024

workplace food industry - factory butchery for the production of sausages - butcher cuts meat

Indications pre-Christmas beef market has peaked

It is the middle of November and the processors are coming closer to having the lion's share of their requirements for the pre-Christmas supermarket trade on their books.

Wed, 13 Nov, 2024

Dairy farm

Crypto vaccine launched for 2025 calvers

Recent Dutch research focusing on dairy heifers suffering from scour indicated a cost of between €140 and €190 to bring those heifers back to health.

Wed, 06 Nov, 2024

Meat industry,meats hanging in the cold store. Cattles cut and hanged on hook in a slaughterhouse. Halal cutting.

"Hunger" among processors to get beef cattle stocks

Base prices for both steers and heifers have strengthened by 5-10c/kg in a push by factories to source sufficient stock to fill their pre-Christmas orders.

Wed, 06 Nov, 2024

Fluffy Woolly Sheep

Sheep trade moves in one direction

Processors added another 10c/kg to their quoted prices this week, with trade moving in one direction as it benefits producers who stuck with sheep breeding despite lean years.

Wed, 06 Nov, 2024

Grass fed beef cattle hereford heifers feeding from trough during drought

Feed efficiency can help both your pocket and the planet

Kate Keogh, David Kenny and Mark McGee of Teagasc report on research that makes one animal more feed-efficient than another.

Fri, 01 Nov, 2024

Setting the scene for the Teagasc National Beef Conference

Setting the scene for the Teagasc National Beef Conference

The countdown is on to the Teagasc National Beef Conference, scheduled to take place on Tuesday, November 19, in the Landmark Hotel, Carrick-on-Shannon, Co Leitrim.

Wed, 30 Oct, 2024

Jim Woulfe on making the leap from hobby to high-performance beef farming in Mallow

Jim Woulfe on making the leap from hobby to high-performance beef farming in Mallow

The Woulfe farm enterprise has crossed the bridge from being a hobby farm to being a high-performing, scientifically managed enterprise where attention to detail is “second to none”.

Wed, 30 Oct, 2024

Cattle Farm Management

Brian Reidy: Tips for making autumn breeding go all the smoother

Keep good records of any heats you see, regardless of if you are using AI or a stock bull. One of the main purposes of this should be to allow you to identify cows not cycling and in need of intervention

Tue, 29 Oct, 2024

Holstein Dairy Cow

Herd Tasks: Your weekly farming checklist

Your weekly reminder of the things that should be at the top of your farm to-do list. Published every Monday on the Irish Examiner digital Farming hub.

Tue, 29 Oct, 2024

Sheep pen

Another 10c/kg added to lamb prices

There has been some wishful thinking lamb prices could hit as high as €8/kg by Christmas.

Tue, 29 Oct, 2024

Holstein cow walking over an automatic slurry scraper

Preventing water entering your slurry tank

The permitted period for slurry spreading ended on September 30 and will re-open in mid-January

Wed, 23 Oct, 2024

Sheep in pens at Winslow Primestock Show, Buckinghamshire

Lamb prices up a further 10-20c/kg

Suppliers are reporting that up to 750c/kg is being paid by the processors this week to get sufficient intake to supply market demand.

Wed, 23 Oct, 2024

Milking the cows

Herd Tasks: Your weekly farming checklist

Your weekly reminder of the things that should be at the top of your farm to-do list. Published every Monday on the Irish Examiner digital Farming hub.

Wed, 23 Oct, 2024

Female hands cutting a piece of ribs in a butchers shop

IFA: Prices edges upwards, but more needed

IFA Livestock Chair Declan Hanrahan said beef prices are edging upwards, but warned that more is needed from the market. UK prices have also increased again in the past week and are currently over €1/kg above prices here.

Tue, 22 Oct, 2024

Meat industry,meats hanging in the cold store. Cattles cut and hanged on hook in a slaughterhouse. Halal cutting.

Northwest beef prices running 10-15c/kg ahead of southern factories

The disparity is making a sizeable difference in the value of a load of finished steers and heifers.

Tue, 22 Oct, 2024

Have you weighed for SCEP?

Have you weighed for SCEP?

The Suckler Carbon Efficiency Programme (SCEP) has a number of key requirements, one of which is the weighing of cow and calf pairs on your farm.

Thu, 17 Oct, 2024

Farming Crossword

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PLAY THE WEEKLY FARMING CROSSWORD

The interactive version of the crossword that appears in Thursday’s Farming supplement. No cheating.