Latest news with #DairyBeefIndex
Agriland
3 days ago
- Agriland
Championing environmental sustainability: Meet the Walsh family
John and Brendan Walsh from Ballylooby, Co. Tipperary, were the overall winners of the 2024 Teagasc/FBD Environmental Sustainability Awards. The awards recognise farmers who are operating sustainable, profitable farming systems while incorporating the latest scientific developments and technologies on their farms. On Tuesday, June 10, the Walshs will host an evening farm walk of learning, nature, and fun on the farm for all the family. The event, which is titled 'Dairying at Dusk', will kick off at 6.30pm and takes place at their farm in Ballylooby, Co. Tipperary, (Eircode E21 T938). What to expect? Attendees will have the opportunity to meet John and Brendan Walsh – the father-son duo who are leading the way in running a truly sustainable dairy farm. Hear inspiring talks from the Walshs on how they are making a living and looking after nature on their farm while continuing to produce high quality food profitably. There will be fun, games, and activities for kids with a sustainability corner and a farm safety workshop with Agrikids. Attendees will be provided with complimentary refreshments, courtesy of Dairygold. This is a 'not-to-be-missed' event for all the family to enjoy in the great outdoors on a summers evening. Three key sustainability pillars The Walsh Family won the 2024 Teagasc/FBD Environment Sustainability Awards based on three key sustainability pillars, which were: 1. Efficiency and profitability Sustainability relies on balancing economic, environmental, and social factors. The Walshs have achieved this balance by running a highly efficient and profitable dairy operation. They milk 165 cows on a 63ha platform, with a total grassland area of 107ha. Their strong breeding policy, emphasising the Economic Breeding Index (EBI) and sexed semen, supports herd productivity and sustainability. Once replacement heifers are secured, they use high Dairy Beef Index sires to boost animal value. In 2024, the Walshs produced 524kg of milk solids per cow with 978kgs of concentrate per cow, achieving a gross margin of 60.2c/L and a carbon footprint of 0.83kg carbon dioxide equivalent (CO 2 eq)/kg fat- and protein-corrected milk (FPCM) – well below average. Total emissions on the farm stood at 1,039t CO 2 eq. 2. Reduced chemical nitrogen usage The Walshs have reduced chemical nitrogen (N) usage by 40% since 2020, without compromising grass production. In 2024, they used 130kg N/ha (down from 220kg in 2020) while producing 13.7t of grass dry matter (DM)/ha. Nitrogen use efficiency on the farm was 29%. Their success stems from optimised soil fertility (64% of soils are at optimal levels for pH, phosphorus, and potassium); widespread clover incorporation (52% of the grazing platform has a high or medium clover content); targeted slurry use based on testing; and extensive use of protected urea (100% in 2024). With 15% surplus slurry storage and precise application methods, the Walshs reduce the risk of nitrogen runoff and protect water quality through extensive buffer zones and GPS-guided spreading. 3. Commitment to biodiversity Biodiversity is a long-standing priority on the Walsh farm, dating back generations. Hedges are managed to promote growth and diversity, with whitethorns allowed to flourish every 50m. Groves of trees, including a 3ha forest transitioning from spruce to native species, are scattered across the farm. The Walshs plant trees annually, and the presence of barn owls, herons, and even a curlew reflects the thriving biodiversity on their farm. Key takeaways The Walsh family exemplifies a well-planned, balanced approach to sustainable dairy farming. Their message to other farmers is: start small, seek good advice, and do not fear failure. Their success story is not just about awards but about building a resilient and environmentally responsible future for Irish farming.
Irish Independent
13-05-2025
- Business
- Irish Independent
Breeder fury erupts over Teagasc's €300k/year dairy-beef project
Pedigree Breeders ask 'is the real purpose of this work long-term to eliminate the suckler farmer in Ireland?' Today at 21:30 Teagasc has said it will not proceed with a proposed dairy-beef breeding initiative – to produce 180 elite Dairy Beef Index (DBI) Angus calves annually – without industry backing. It comes as tensions over the dairy-beef plan rise as pedigree breeders accuse the state body of sidelining pedigree interests and inflating industry returns.
Agriland
05-05-2025
- Business
- Agriland
Hereford dairy-beef progeny trial on ABP Demo Farm
The ABP Demo Farm and Irish Hereford Prime are involved in a joint initiative aimed at enhancing the genetic performance, sustainability, and market value of Hereford cattle in Ireland. The current research initiative has been ongoing since 2020, and the performance of 150 calves from 13 different sires have been recorded by the ABP Demo Farm since the inception of the joint initiative. The breed improvement element of Irish Hereford Prime's beef sustainability programme involves a structured initiative offering Hereford genetics through artificial insemination (AI) sires to farmers for use on their breeding cows. Irish Hereford Prime, alongside the Irish Hereford Breed Society, have invested in AI sires that are currently standing in Dovea AI station, as well as the purchase of Irish and international Hereford semen that may not be widely used on the dairy herd due to cost or availability. These bulls are selected based on the following traits: Superior carcass traits (weight and conformation); Shorter gestation periods; Excellent calving ease; Reduced age at finish . Every year, a number of the calves born from the programme are purchased by the ABP Demo Farm and are reared through to finishing at 19-21-months-of-age with their performance recorded. Data is collected on a number of key performance traits including: Weight gain; Health; Back fat scanning; Methane; Feed intake; Water intake; Carcass data; Meat quality. In 2025, the calves purchased through the trial were from the following two sires: Awbegpoll 1 Fisher (HE9777) Knockmountagh Cuchullain (HE9637) Fisher is one of the highest-index Hereford sires available in Ireland across all traits, with a Replacement Index of €131, a Terminal Index of €115, and a Dairy Beef Index (DBI) of €147. The bull has a calving difficulty figure of 2% on beef cows and 3.7% on dairy cows and is in the top 1% of the breed on gestation length at -1.51 days. Fisher is an heterozygous polled sire with +11.2kg carcass weight and is in the top 5% of the breed on conformation. Cuchullain has a DBI of €104 and is +11kg for carcass weight. He is -15 for days at finish and has a beef sub-index of €100. Irish Hereford Prime and the ABP Demo Farm aim to provide updates throughout the year on how the progeny from these two sires are performing. In 2024, progeny from Karoonda Sampson (HE4654) and Battalion Fronteir (HE4658) were slaughtered on the ABP Demo Farm. Their performance is outlined in the table below: Sire Progeny Grade Cold weight Age (Months) Progeny Grade Cold weight Age (months) HE4654 Steers O=/+ 319kg 21.2 Heifers O+ 277 18.7 HE4658 Steers O=/+ 324kg 21.1 Heifers O=/+ 250 18.7 Commenting on the data, ABP Demo Farm manager Sean Maher said that the progeny from both of the sires 'performed very well, taking into account two difficult years from a weather perspective'. ABP Food Group's agri-sustainability manager Stephen Cnnolly said: 'At ABP, we are delighted to support Irish Hereford Prime with this programme. 'We think that it is an excellent initiative and aligns to our goal of supporting genetic improvement of beef cattle in Ireland with benefits to our farmer, the environment, and our customer.' Data is critical to making strides in breed improvement and the ABP Demo Farm is a critical part of that with over 85,000 live weights recorded on the farm since 2015 combined with the addition of three Greenfeeds on the farm through collaboration with the Irish Cattle Breeding Federation (ICBF) and the Meat Technology Ireland (MTI). This programme allows for the collection of methane data which is a major benefit for the industry. Niall O'Mahony, chair of Irish Hereford Prime said: 'We look forward to seeing the results of the 2024-born Hereford cross cattle that will be slaughtered at ABP later this year'.
Agriland
29-04-2025
- Business
- Agriland
Aubrac society sale and dispersal set for Tullamore this Saturday
Over 70 pedigree-registered Aubrac cattle are set to be offered for sale at GVM Tullamore Mart, Co. Offaly, this Saturday, May 3. The Irish Aubrac Cattle Society's pedigree sale will feature pedigree breeding bulls, weanling heifers, maiden heifers, and in-calf heifers, with over 50 lots catalogued for the sale. All animals on offer in the sale will be penned by 10:00a.m., with the sale set to kick off at midday. Online bidding will also be available through LSL Auctions. Speaking to Agriland ahead of the sale, the chairperson of the Irish Aubrac Cattle Society, James Donnellan, said: 'Whether you are looking for a bull or a heifer to meet the requirements of the Suckler Carbon Efficiency Programme (SCEP) or you're a dairy farmer looking for a bull to 'mop up' for the breeding season, you will do no better than Aubrac – the top breed for the Dairy Beef Index (DBI).' All cattle are pre-sale inspected and the society chairperson emphasised that online bidding is available for those who cannot travel on the day. He also reminded farmers to register with GVM Tullamore Mart before the sale. Dispersal Also taking place in conjunction with the society sale is the dispersal of the Glenford Pedigree Aubrac Herd owned by PJ and Kelly McGrath. The herd, which is being dispersed due to a change in farming enterprise, bred its first Aubracs in 2011 using French imports. The Glenford Pedigree Aubrac Herd has achieved notable success at agricultural shows since its foundation and only last year, won the overall supreme Aubrac champion title at the 2024 Tullamore Show and FBD National Livestock Show. Progressive Genetics and Munster Bovine have sponsored a €100 voucher for the buyer of the top-priced animal in the Glenford Herd dispersal. The upcoming society sale follows the success of last October's premier show and sale, where a new joint society sale record price of €5,000 was set by two stock bulls. According to the cattle breed society, the Aubrac breed is known for its hardiness, docility, ease of calving, high meat-to-bone ratio, efficient feed conversion, high-carcass quality, and versatility. The breed hails from the rugged mountains of Southern France, where survival in harsh conditions has shaped them into 'one of the most resilient and versatile breeds around'. Originally used for milk and draft, the breed has retained its milking ability and placid temperament, adding to its natural beefing ability, hardiness, and low production costs, making it a complete suckler cow. The Irish Aubrac Cattle Society was formed in 1998 and now has over 200 members.
