How this Roscommon farmer diversified into three breeds and is selling pedigree bulls for up to €7,000
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Agriland
4 days ago
- Agriland
Want a chance to tour farms across New Zealand?
LIC Ireland are giving a limited number of Irish farmers an opportunity to explore the heart of New Zealand's agricultural industry. LIC Ireland believe that this trip in November 2025 will turn doubt into discovery of their genetics which is paving the way for profitable, grass based systems in New Zealand. The tour of New Zealand is set to commence on Sunday, November 2 from Hamilton in the North Island of New Zealand to Saturday, November 15 in Invercargilll, which is the south of the South Island. The tour is set to include approximately 18 farm visits from breeder farms to commercial farms, and farmers will be exposed to farms with pure Friesian genetics, Kiwi-cross genetics, and pure Jersey genetics. The tour is set to take farmers to LIC's headquarters in Waikato, followed by trips to leading farms and key industry organisations around the country. The LIC headquarters tour will include discussions and presentations from some of the company's lead scientists, geneticists, and breeding advisers, while getting the chance to view many of the bulls up close and personal. The 13-day trip around New Zealand will also include a visit to the Kakahu Charolais farm, a farm that specialises in elite genetics for both Charolais and Angus cattle. Participants will also discover innovative practices, network with experts, and soak up the beautiful landscapes of New Zealand. LIC Ireland are urging farmers to not miss out on this unique opportunity to deepen their agricultural knowledge while experiencing the best of New Zealand. Farmers will be exposed to LIC genetics on a larger scale and experience first hand how it is empowering efficiency and profitability on New Zealand farms. LIC Ireland believe that this opportunity will show farmers how focused and targeted these New Zealand farmers' breeding programmes are, and how they are trying to constantly breed for efficient cows. Room options are as follows, and include transport once in New Zealand - including the coach, flight from North Island to South Island, and airport shuttles, as well as accommodation at hotel/motel for 13 nights: Twin share: From €1,700 per person in a twin share room; Single occupancy: From €2,200 per person in own room; Double occupancy: From €3,300 per couple in own room; The prices above exclude the cost of flights to and from New Zealand, all meals and beverages, and any additional activities. There has been a lot of interest in the trip so far and there can only be a maximum of 25 farmers on the trip. Therefore, LIC Ireland believe the trip will eventually be over-subscribed and those hoping to attend may be entered into a draw to choose the final list of attendees.
Agriland
6 days ago
- Agriland
New farm manager appointed to Newford Suckler Farm
A new farm manager has been appointed to the Newford suckler demonstration farm. Dawn Meats has confirmed to Agriland that Co. Roscommon man Shane McGuinness has now stepped into the role. The Newford suckler demonstration farm - which was established by Teagasc and Dawn Meats with support from McDonalds in 2015 - took up its new residence on a 118ac farm in Scrine, near Athleague in Co. Roscommon at the end of 2023, having relocated from a site in Co. Galway. The new farm manager replaces Stephen Frend, who is staying within the realms of Dawn Meats but moving to a procurement role with the meat processor. A statement to Agriland from Dawn Meats confirmed: "Newford farm manager Stephen Frend has taken up a new role within Dawn Meats as a procurement officer. "The new manager of the Newford Farm is Co. Roscommon man Shane McGuinness, a past student of Ballyhaise Agricultural College." The Dawn Meats statement wished both "the very best of luck in their careers". The Newford Herd consists of Angus and Hereford cross Friesian cows, originating from the dairy herd with heifers calved at 24-months-of-age. The systems on the farm are finishing male progeny at 21-23-months-of-age as steers, with a target carcass weight ranging from 310-350kg. Some of the herds main targets are: 365-day calving interval; 8-10 week calving spread; 80% of cows calved within eight weeks; Weaning a calf at 50% of the cows' own body weight. Heifers are finished at 18-20-months-of-age with a target carcass weight of 290-320kg. The farm contract rears all of its replacement heifers, which are sourced from high-index Hereford and Angus bulls. The herd is run on "a fully commercial basis", according to the farm's website. The Newford Farm aims to also "demonstrate the potential of a moderately-large suckler beef farm to generate a viable family farm income when operated to the highest-level of technical efficiency and best practice".
Irish Examiner
7 days ago
- Irish Examiner
Finished cattle shortage to continue into 2026
The severity of the shortage of finished cattle hitting the factories is showing no signs of easing to prior year levels of intake any time in the near future. All of the indications now, based on the statistical information on stocking levels and factory throughput to date, are suggesting that it will see through to the end of the year and beyond. A combination of higher live exports and earlier slaughtering of beef animals has added to the lower national herd size, all of which are coming together now to impact available supplies for the factories. Prices on offer for this week have hardened slightly more and is being driven by the competition between the processing plants to get sufficient cattle, with 'top up' and deals on defraying transport costs as 'add ins' to some deals to get the cattle. Steers are being quoted at 750-760 cents/kg with a higher percentage understood to be costing at the higher end this week and some deals for quality lots or higher numbers including transport as a 'top up' Heifer are being quoted ranging 760kg-770 cents/kg and some suppliers reporting a 'bit extra' with hard selling. There is also 'hunger' at the factories for the cows with good R grade cows worth 735-740 cents/kg this week. While numbers are low, the young bulls are also in strong demand at up to 755-760 cents/kg for R grade. All of the indications are that the finishers are moving more of the beef animals to the live sales at the marts where the factory agents compete in open bidding, resulting in prices above the factory quotes for similar animals being openly paid for the quality heavier animals in particular. Up to €5.23/kg was paid for 650kg-700kg continental bullocks within the past week, while finishers paid up to €6/kg for the forward store animals reflecting their anticipation of the continuation of the current beef trade. Fairly typical of the current live trade, a Charolais cross bullock 830kgs sold for €3,770, while €3,730 was paid for an Angus cross weighing 790 kgs, and a 780kg Limousin cross sold for €3,690 at Ennis over recent days. A lot of 400kg Charolais cross bullocks sold for €6/kg and €6.59kg was paid for a 405kg Limousin cross heifer at the same sale.
