Kilkenny Farming - Dairy calf to beef demonstration farm launched by Teagasc

A Dairy Calf to Beef Demonstration Farm has been launched in a joint initiative between Dawn Meats, Shinagh Estates and Teagasc.

Located just over the Kilkenny - Tipperary border, the Tipperary Dairy Calf to Beef Demonstration Farm was officially launched last week.

This was established to demonstrate best practice in breeding, rearing and finishing dairy-beef animals.

Building a sustainable outlet for dairy-beef calves coming from the dairy industry is a priority for both the dairy and beef industries.

This new farm will demonstrate profitable dairy calf-to-beef systems using the best available dairy-beef genetics coupled with best practice in animal husbandry with a particular focus on pasture and silage management.

The dairy calf-to-beef demonstration farm is based at Ballyvadin, Fethard. This 112 hectare farm is leased for 15 years from April 2022 and is rearing over 300 dairy-beef calves to finish each year.

The project demonstrates the benefits of closer integration between the dairy and beef farming sectors to produce profitable dairy beef.

“There are more dairy-beef animals coming from the dairy herd now than before, and a demonstration farm like this one is important for Teagasc in the dissemination of information and to communicate best practice to other farmers,” Professor Frank O’Mara, Teagasc Director said.

Niall Browne, Chief Executive of Dawn Meats, said: “The key to this project is that it’s a true partnership between the beef and dairy industry. It will send a strong message to the supply chain. This farm can demonstrate the importance of using the best genetics to produce a beef calf, operating high animal health standards, getting the feeding right both at grass and indoors, and achieving the levels of finish required by the market place.”

Donal Santry, Chairman of Shinagh Estates, said, said that as a dairy farmer from West Cork, he saw the importance of this project in developing a proper sustainable outlet for calves, and the learnings from the Tipperary Dairy Calf to Beef Demonstration Farm will be relevant nationwide.

Key actions for the farm include: Demonstrate the significant advantage of strong collaboration between beef and dairy farmers in the breeding and transfer of healthy calves between both parties.