Getting Winter Ready: Winter Nutrition

In the final episode of the Getting Winter Ready series on the Beef Edge, Catherine Egan is joined by Jimmy Lyons, Teagasc Agricultural Sustainability Support and Advisory Programme (ASSAP) Advisor based in Teagasc Listowel, to discuss water quality, farmyard management and preparing for Nitrates Action Programme (NAP) inspections. With environmental regulations and water quality inspections becoming increasingly important, Jimmy explores the most common issues identified during farm inspections and what beef farmers can do to ensure their farms are compliant. Jimmy discusses the main pollution risks around the farmyard, how contaminated water can reach local streams and rivers, and why even small amounts of agricultural pollution can have an impact on water quality. Jimmy focuses on the importance of managing dirty water correctly, highlighting practical ways to reduce the volume of dirty water collected around the yard. With cattle housed for the winter, slurry storage is another key consideration. Jimmy outlines how farmers can assess their storage capacity, reduce rainwater entering slurry tanks and understand the rules around slurry spreading dates and suitable ground conditions. Finally, Jimmy explains the support available to farmers through the Teagasc ASSAP programme and how they can access advice to identify risks and make improvements. Further details available at: ASSAP https://teagasc.ie/environment/water-quality/farming-for-water-quality-assap/assap-in-detail/ Fact sheethttps://teagasc.ie/news--events/daily/a-practical-guide-on-preventing-farmyard-pollution-new-factsheet-available/ Find your local ASSAP advisorhttps://teagasc.ie/environment/water-quality/farming-for-water-quality-assap/people/For more episodes from the Beef Edge podcast, visit the show page at:https://www.teagasc.ie/thebeefedgeProduced on behalf of Teagasc by LastCastMedia.com 

Teagasc Cattle Specialist, Niall Kerins, explores how housing conditions can influence cattle performance over the winter months, as part of the ‘Getting Winter Ready’ series on the Beef Edge.Even when nutrition and animal health are well managed, poor housing can limit liveweight gain, particularly in weanlings. Niall discusses the importance of appropriate stocking rates and space allowances for different types and weights of cattle, and why farmers should regularly reassess space requirements as animals grow throughout the winter. He also examines the importance of adequate feed-barrier space, highlighting how competition at feeding time can affect feed intake and performance, particularly among younger and more timid animals.Niall discusses how farmers can assess ventilation, carry out a simple smoke test and identify potential problems without creating harmful draughts, especially in areas housing young calves and freshly calved cows. The importance of clean, accessible water supplies, adequate flow rates and well-maintained troughs is also discussed.For more episodes from the Beef Edge podcast, visit the show page at:https://www.teagasc.ie/thebeefedgeProduced on behalf of Teagasc by LastCastMedia.com 

Teagasc nutritionist, Aisling Claffey, is on this week’s Beef Edge podcast to discuss practical winter feeding strategies for beef farmers.With cattle being housed and feed costs remaining a concern, Aisling outlines how to assess silage quality, make the best use of concentrates, maintain growth rates in weanlings and achieve good finishing performance. The discussion also covers suckler cow nutrition, body condition, minerals and vitamins, and options for farmers facing silage shortages following earlier drought conditions.Get practical advice to help farmers make informed feeding decisions, maintain animal performance and manage winter feed costs effectively.For more episodes from the Beef Edge podcast, visit the show page at:https://www.teagasc.ie/thebeefedgeProduced on behalf of Teagasc by LastCastMedia.com 

Continuing the ‘Getting Winter Ready’ series, Catherine Egan is joined on this week’s Beef Edge by Animal Health Ireland’s, Dr. Natascha Meunier, to discuss preparing cattle for housing and maintaining good animal health through the winter.Natascha discusses parasite control, dosing decisions, worms, liver fluke and lice, the role of faecal sampling, anthelmintic resistance, and practical steps farmers can take to support herd health during the housing period.Further details are also available at:Autumn/Winter Seasonal Tips - Animal Health IrelandWinter dosing – a guide from the Future Beef team - Teagasc | Agriculture and Food Development AuthorityFor more episodes from the Beef Edge podcast, visit the show page at:https://www.teagasc.ie/thebeefedgeProduced on behalf of Teagasc by LastCastMedia.com 

As part of the ‘Getter Winter Ready’ series, Teagasc cattle specialist, David Argue, discusses the Teagasc beef budgets on the latest Beef Edge podcast this week. With cattle prices at very strong levels over the past year, the economics of buying and finishing cattle have become increasingly important for beef farmers.In this episode, we take a closer look at the latest Teagasc beef finishing budgets and ask what the figures mean on the ground for farmers making purchasing decisions this autumn.David outlines the economics of buying a 550kg bullock, how much importance should be placed on the weight of the animal being purchased, and whether paying more per head for a heavier animal could actually result in a lower cost per kilogram of beef produced.The discussion also focuses on daily liveweight gain and just how quickly the economics of a finishing system can change. What difference does achieving 1.2kg/day rather than 0.8kg/day make to the overall margin?With feed accounting for a major proportion of finishing costs, David discusses how sensitive these systems are to changes in concentrate and silage prices.A specific dairy-beef runner budget is included this year, David highlights the key figures dairy-beef farmers should consider when deciding what price they can afford to pay for runners this autumn.Finally, in addition to the purchase price of the animal and feed costs, it is important to consider machinery, buildings, labour and other fixed costs when calculating the true cost of production. The Teagasc budgets provide national guidelines, but every farm is different. View the budgets for the different beef production systems at:Teagasc Beef Budgets 2026/2027 - Teagasc | Agriculture and Food Development AuthorityFor more episodes from the Beef Edge podcast, visit the show page at:https://www.teagasc.ie/thebeefedgeProduced on behalf of Teagasc by LastCastMedia.com 

Grass10 Advisor, John Conroy, joins Catherine Egan with grassland management tips for the month ahead. John discusses closing up paddocks in rotation, starting with the paddocks near the farmyard – the sheltered and the driest paddocks that will be grazed in early spring. He outlines the targets for the month ahead to extend grazing, reduce demand to maximise days at grass and aim to have 60% of the farm closed by the first week of November. John also reminds farmers that the deadline to declare fertiliser closing stocks is fast approaching. The declaration must be submitted through the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine’s MyAgFood.ie portal, with October 15, 2026, the final date for submissions. Where a farmer has fertiliser remaining, the closing stock declaration must include the type of fertiliser and the quantity of each product being held. Farms with no fertiliser in stock must also submit a nil declaration. Closing Stocks are classified as any fertiliser held on hand at 23.59 on September 14 each year. And don’t forget, October 31st is the last day for spreading farmyard manure, where weather and ground conditions allow. The closed period begins on 1 November. Farmyard manure must not be stored in fields during the closed period.For more episodes from the Beef Edge podcast, visit the show page at:https://www.teagasc.ie/thebeefedgeProduced on behalf of Teagasc by LastCastMedia.com 

As part of the Getting Winter Ready series, Catherine Egan is joined on this week’s Beef Edge podcast by MSD Animal Health Veterinary Manager, Cara Sheridan, to discuss an important part of preparing cattle for winter housing: vaccination.With cattle being housed and weanlings coming into sheds in the weeks ahead, Cara discusses what farmers should be considering when it comes to vaccination programmes, timing and administration.Cara outlines the key respiratory diseases affecting housed cattle, including RSV, PI3, Mannheimia and IBR, as well as the importance of vaccination against clostridial diseases. She explains how far in advance of housing that vaccines should be administered, how two-shot programmes should be timed, and the importance of following the specific instructions on the product label.Cara also  highlights whether different vaccines can be administered together, considerations for bought-in cattle, and some of the most common vaccination mistakes — from poor storage and handling to incorrect administration and failing to complete a vaccination course.Finally, Cara shares a practical checklist for farmers preparing cattle for housing in the coming weeks.For further details go to:https://teagasc.ie/animals/beef/dairy-calf-to-beef/dairybeef-500/dairybeef-500-factsheets/vaccination-programmes-for-calf-to-beef-farms/ https://animalhealthireland.ie/assets/uploads/2021/06/BS-Cattle-Vacccination-2021.pdf?dl=1For more episodes from the Beef Edge podcast, visit the show page at:https://www.teagasc.ie/thebeefedgeProduced on behalf of Teagasc by LastCastMedia.com 

Teagasc specialist, James McDonnell, explains the key steps around planning the farm transfer, who should be involved and how transferring farm family clinics are a good place to start. Transferring the family farm is so much more than just a simple business transaction, there are a number of complex issues to be addressed including:The family home is normally inseparable from the businessA number of family members/ siblings/ children to be catered for fairlyIf the transfer is during the owner’s lifetime, the owner will require an income, as well as possibly the recipient depending on the circumstancesCreating an arrangement that can provide a solution for the different opinions of the family members involved the discussion Further information is available at:Succession Inheritance - Teagasc | Agriculture and Food Development Authority Teagasc run Transferring the Family Farm clinics every year and these clinics are designed to help farm families through the process and all aspects that need to be considered when transferring the family farm.For further details:Transferring the Family Farm - Teagasc | Agriculture and Food Development AuthorityFor more episodes from the Beef Edge podcast, visit the show page at:https://www.teagasc.ie/thebeefedgeProduced on behalf of Teagasc by LastCastMedia.com 

National Cattle Breeding Centre Beef Programme Manager, Rose Goulding, joins the Beef Edge to explain how important the right genetics are when selling weanlings.  Plus she previews the upcoming Teagasc Mart events taking place across the country.Genetics can have a major influence on the performance and profitability of a beef herd and Rose outlines the key traits farmers should be focusing on when selecting bulls or replacement females.She highlights the individual traits that farmers need to focus on such as milk and carcass confirmation in details within the terminal and replacement indexes.While the genomic evaluations are now widely used, the additional information of the myostatin gene can be utilised on farm and Rose discusses selecting sires to breed weanlings on plainer type cows that are non carriers of the gene or vice versa.Using a synchronisation programme is a great way to use AI on sucker farmers and the 0-7-10 programme for heifers greatly helps when working off farm and reduces heat detection aids.  For more, see page 62 of the Suckler-Catalogue-2025.pdf. Teagasc will host a series of Beef Mart Events at marts across the country this autumn, providing practical advice to help farmers breed high-quality weanlings and maximise animal performance over the winter. The events will feature live demonstrations of AI-sired weanlings, alongside advice from Teagasc advisors and specialists, AI breeding companies, nutritionists and veterinary practitioners.Further information is available at:Events - Teagasc | Agriculture and Food Development AuthorityFor more episodes from the Beef Edge podcast, visit the show page at:https://www.teagasc.ie/thebeefedgeProduced on behalf of Teagasc by LastCastMedia.com 

Following on from the Tully ICBF Open Day, the ICBF’s Niall Kilrane joins Catherine Egan on this week’s Beef Edge with an insight into their latest research findings in relation to beef farmers.For more episodes from the Beef Edge podcast, visit the show page at:https://www.teagasc.ie/thebeefedgeProduced on behalf of Teagasc by LastCastMedia.com