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FARMING - BEEF & SHEEP

A collection of the latest news, views and analysis from the farming desk on the topic of Beef and Sheep.

<p>The strategy outlines the importance of farmed animal biosecurity in Ireland, as well as ensuring all relevant stakeholders are aware of their role and responsibilities in practising effective biosecurity.</p>

farming

Second Farmed Animal Biosecurity Strategy launched

With the emerging biosecurity threats on the island the Department of Agriculture has launched the second National Farmed Animal Biosecurity Strategy (2025-2030) ahead of the new year

<p>With the recent mild weather, many calves are coughing - monitor this carefully as you may need to treat the group.</p>

farming

Herd Tasks: Your weekly farming checklist

<p>Suppliers to the Irish factories were disappointed with the absence of any boost in the prices for the pre-Christmas trade.</p>

farming

Sheep sector sees declining output and flat returns

It's only the best for these cows

farming

Concentrate timing, not volume, key in Teagasc beef trial

Sheep at a cattle market

farming

Sheep slaughterings dropped by 18.5% between January and November

Animal Health Ireland recognised by the United Nations

farming

Animal Health Ireland recognised by the United Nations

Brian Reidy

Hazell Mullins, Vet on the Moove

Kieran Coughlan, Farm Finance

Paula Hynes, Hoofing It

Cattle grazing on deforested pasture on a farm in the Amazon rainforest at dusk. Concept of agriculture, environment, ecology, l

Mercosur vote postponement welcome but Taoiseach's comments need clarification

IFA president Francie Gorman has called for clarification on the Taoiseach's comments regarding the securing of a derogation extension as a factor going into the Mercosur vote

Fri, 19 Dec, 2025

AMINAM HEALTH BLUETONGUE DISEASE SHEEP

Bluetongue vaccinations will be permitted in 2026

Minister for Agriculture, Martin Heydon, has announced today that blue tongue vaccines will be permitted in Ireland in 2026 following a fourth confirmed outbreak in Northern Ireland

Wed, 17 Dec, 2025

One eye cow and flies, close up of a dairy red and white, looking calm and tranquil

Bluetongue cases suspected on fourth Northern Ireland farm

The North's Department of Agriculture has announced two further suspected bluetongue cases have emerged on a fourth Co Down farm

Wed, 17 Dec, 2025

Animal Health Ireland announce the BVD action plan for 2026

Animal Health Ireland announce the BVD action plan for 2026

AHI also published an IFAC-led report that found the programme has a total economic benefit to Irish agriculture of €184.21m each year

Wed, 17 Dec, 2025

Mouldy maize silage in close up on a dairy farm

The hidden issue of mycotoxins — and what you can do about them

Mycotoxins are becoming an ever-increasing issue on Irish farms

Wed, 17 Dec, 2025

Female hands cutting a piece of ribs in a butchers shop

Beef prices face year-end pressure at factories

Some of this week's kill has been bought forward at last week's price, but the higher returns are largely unavailable.

Tue, 16 Dec, 2025

Budget calculation

Budget concerns for non-Vat registered farmers

ICOS has raised concerns regarding the reduction of the flat-rate farmers' Vat top-up from 5.1% to 4.5% will create an imbalance for non-Vat registered farmers

Tue, 16 Dec, 2025

Sheep pen

Reduced quotes for lambs dampen supplier optimism

A positive is that processors continue to hold the carcass cut-off weight at 22.5kg, providing some cushion under the returns to suppliers despite pressure on the base price

Tue, 16 Dec, 2025

Milk in the Making

Call to halt livestock imports as bluetongue threat grows

ICSA president Sean McNamara has called for processors to stop the import of livestock over the border from Northern Ireland, effective immediately

Tue, 16 Dec, 2025

IFA president and son set off by tractor to Brussels for protest

IFA president and son set off by tractor to Brussels for protest

IFA president, Francie Gorman and his son Tom set off this morning on a pilgrimage to Brussels to join a farmer protest on Thursday to coincide with an EU Council meeting.

Mon, 15 Dec, 2025

Bluetongue outbreak

Animal health organisations launch cross-border BVD awareness campaign

BVD is of particularly high prevalence in counties Monaghan, Armagh, Tyrone and Fermanagh, according to the AHI and the AHWNI who have recently launched a cross-border campaign

Thu, 11 Dec, 2025

Cows Feeding in a Modern Barn

Brian Reidy: Dry cow diets — a steady transition into the next lactation

How you feed cows during their dry period will stimulate good appetite post calving and will really pay off in the next lactation as it will minimise stress and weight-loss post calving

Wed, 10 Dec, 2025

Signpost: The organic beef farm performing better than many conventional suckler herds

Signpost: The organic beef farm performing better than many conventional suckler herds

As steers are finished without concentrates at 19.2 months of age, Kay's organic farm exceeds many conventional suckler farm output

Wed, 10 Dec, 2025

Meat industry,meats hanging in the cold store. Cattles cut and hanged on hook in a slaughterhouse. Halal cutting.

Processors slash quotes to a seasonal low, with reductions of 10c to 20c/kg

Optimism of a pre-Christmas trade for beef animals at the factories delivering a decent end-of-year boost to the finishers has been totally dashed

Wed, 10 Dec, 2025

An aerial view of the rural landscape around Dublin Airport , Ireland, showing a patchwork of green fields divided by hedgerows

Key updates for ACRES participants revealed

The Department of Agriculture has issued several updates for ACRES participants surrounding NPIs, training courses, amendments and documentation submission deadlines

Thu, 04 Dec, 2025

Cows in a farm. Dairy cows

Bluetongue: 44 further suspected cases in Co Down

A further 44 cattle are suspected to have Bluetongue, the preliminary results of testing carried out by DAERA on a Co Down herd have revealed.

Wed, 03 Dec, 2025

Group of beef cattle looking at the camera

Strong rebound in 2025 farm incomes driven by beef and weather

Average Irish farm income rose 33% to almost €49,400 in 2025, new report finds

Wed, 03 Dec, 2025

Cattle grazing on deforested pasture on a farm in the Amazon rainforest at dusk. Concept of agriculture, environment, ecology, l

Banned hormones detected in imported beef from Brazil

Hormones banned for use in the EU have been confirmed in a Brazilian beef shipment, which has subsequently been recalled

Wed, 03 Dec, 2025

Mourne Mountains wildfire

Bluetongue latest: 20 large herds to be tested for disease

The North's Department of Agriculture (DAERA) is to begin work testing 20 large herds within the 20km Bluetongue temporary control zone to determine the level of the disease within the region.

Wed, 03 Dec, 2025

Ireland continues talks to oppose Mercosur

Ireland continues talks to oppose Mercosur

Taoiseach Micheál Martin and agriculture minister Martin Heydon stressed talks were still ongoing with EU member states on the looming Mercosur deal

Wed, 03 Dec, 2025

Meat industry,meats hanging in the cold store. Cattles cut and hanged on hook in a slaughterhouse. Halal cutting.

Southern hemisphere beef exports trim Irish share of UK market

There is scope for more imports of Australian beef, because only 30% of the total 2025 beef quota in the Australian–UK Free Trade Agreement had been used, up to November 10

Wed, 03 Dec, 2025

Meat industry slaughterhouse and food processing

Why beef prices are not falling anytime soon

Looking beyond 2026, Rupert Claxton, meat and livestock director at consultancy GIRA, said he believed beef prices should stay strong

Wed, 03 Dec, 2025

Fluffy Woolly Sheep

Live lamb trade heats up with €6-10/head lift in mart prices

Smaller entries at the live sales at the marts for the early days this week contributed to full clearances, with strong demand and prices improved by €6–10/head on last week

Tue, 02 Dec, 2025

workplace food industry - factory butchery for the production of sausages - butcher cuts meat

Hopes of pre-Christmas beef price rise fade with talk of 10c/kg cuts

There are fewer options for deals on flat pricing, with more insistence by the factories on grid-only terms for both steers and heifers, writes Martin Ryan

Tue, 02 Dec, 2025

Stretching the grazing season: How Tomás is cutting winter costs

Stretching the grazing season: How Tomás is cutting winter costs

Normally, Tomás would house his lowland ewes in early December. However, this year he wants to keep them out for as long as possible

Tue, 02 Dec, 2025

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