An International Dairy Calf to Beef Conference, organised by Teagasc in partnership with ABP and BSAS is taking place in county Wexford.
Speaking at the two day event, Professor Pat Dillon, Director of Research in Teagasc said; “This international dairy-beef conference is timely as it discusses advancements across the entire supply chain, from breeding and nutrition to health, processing, and marketing of beef calves originating from dairy herds. The use of sexed semen, advancements in reproductive technologies, and better beef sire selection offer opportunities for enhanced dairy-beef production efficiency.”
Dr Nicky Byrne, beef researcher, based at Teagasc Grange, looked at the evolution of Irish dairy beef production in the wake of market and policy change. He said; “Dairy-beef production contributes significantly to total beef output in Ireland and is built around the efficient use of pasture, with 80-90% of animals lifetime feed requirement coming from grazed and conserved forages. Greater availability and use of reproductive and genetic selection tools provide opportunities for farmers to increase the quality of the dairy-beef calf crop by using higher merit beef sires.”
The conference heard how research farm systems demonstrate that high-beef merit, early maturing steers can achieve a net margin exceeding €1,300 per hectare, with a carbon footprint under 13.0 kg carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) per kilogram of carcass produced. These steers are also finished approximately six months earlier than the national average for dairy-beef steers, which is typically 27 months of age.
Dr Emer Kennedy, Teagasc Researcher, addressed the role of grass in the diet of the growing calf post weaning. She stressed that pasture-based beef production offers a cost-effective, sustainable system for dairy-beef farming, with grazed grass being the cheapest feed source. She said; “Increasing the proportion of pasture in the diet can improve economic and environmental efficiency. Grazing management practices such as rotational grazing are crucial for maximizing grass utilization and animal performance. Calves weaned to an all-grass diet at 12 weeks can achieve optimal growth with minimal supplementation, though early access to high-quality pasture and parasite management is crucial.”
Offering multispecies swards, which include grasses, clover, and herbs, can further increase daily weight gains, as shown by recent studies where dairy-beef calves on multispecies swards outperformed those on perennial ryegrass or clover-only swards.