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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>Agriculture minister Martin Heydon at the 2025 National Ploughing Championships in Screggan, Co Offaly. Picture: Dan Linehan</p>

farming

Martin Heydon not looking for 'a pat on the back' on his TB plan

No one is questioning the science behind the agriculture minister's action plan, but farming organisations are still not entirely convinced

<p>Back injuries (13%) were the most common injury type, followed by psychological (8%), ankle (6%), and wrist (6%) injuries.</p>

farming

Livestock leading cause of farm injury claims, new report shows

<p>The prices on offer for this week are down by at least another 10c/kg, as processors continue their determination to reduce the cost of all animals being purchased.</p>

farming

Factories slash beef prices another 10c/kg during ploughing week

Nitrogen Fertilizer

farming

National Fertiliser Database opens for 2025

Farmers react with caution to new TB eradication plan and 30 proposed actions

farming

Farmers react with caution to new TB eradication plan and 30 proposed actions

Events to showcase organic livestock systems

farming

Events to showcase organic livestock systems

Brian Reidy

Hazell Mullins, Vet on the Moove

Kieran Coughlan, Farm Finance

Paula Hynes, Hoofing It

Heydon’s TB action plan finally announced

Heydon’s TB action plan finally announced

The new action plan as part of the TB eradication scheme, involves several new key actions, including informed cattle purchases, mandatory blood testing and special cull cow sales.

Wed, 10 Sep, 2025

Brian Reidy: Can any of these calves selling for €500+ make a profit?

Brian Reidy: Can any of these calves selling for €500+ make a profit?

Calves have been selling at record prices in 2025, but is it possible for them to make any money? Independent ruminant nutritionist Brian Reidy gives his take

Wed, 10 Sep, 2025

Sheep in pens at Winslow Primestock Show, Buckinghamshire

Store lamb trade strong despite pressure on factory returns

Throughput at the factories year to date is down by more than 300,000 head, reflecting the decline in the breeding flock over recent years of poor returns

Tue, 09 Sep, 2025

BELGIUM-EU-MERCOSUR-TRADE-ECONOMY

Mercosur to bring 99,000 tonnes of low-tariff beef into EU

Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association president Denis Drennan said the commission's move to ratify Mercosur was 'a calculated betrayal'

Mon, 08 Sep, 2025

Bovine TB crisis in Ireland: why cattle disease cases are at their highest in 15 years

Bovine TB crisis in Ireland: why cattle disease cases are at their highest in 15 years

With herd incidence at a 15-year high, bovine TB remains Irish farming’s most costly, persistent and emotionally draining disease

Fri, 05 Sep, 2025

Farmers deserve Mercosur deal to be judged on safeguards, not slogans

Farmers deserve Mercosur deal to be judged on safeguards, not slogans

New text of Mercosur deal will be presented to European commissioners today, and the changes will dictate our next moves

Wed, 03 Sep, 2025

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

Throughput at the factories remains seasonally well below normal

There are increasing reports of more of the factory intake being purchased on fixed flat prices this week

Tue, 26 Aug, 2025

Fluffy Woolly Sheep

Factories paying up to 820c/kg for lambs despite 'quiet' trade

Processors are maintaining the markets continue to be 'quiet enough', and currently do not justify higher prices to the suppliers

Tue, 19 Aug, 2025

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

Weekly kill rises but remains below 2024 levels

There is more than a hint now of the factory bosses taking a more cautious approach and adjusting the cost structure and the processing operations

Tue, 19 Aug, 2025

Closeup of beef looking at camera. In a stable are many beefs. Ordinary day at organic farm.

Herd tasks: Your weekly farming checklist

Your weekly reminder of the things that should be at the top of your farm to-do list. Published every Monday on the Irish Examiner digital Farming hub

Mon, 18 Aug, 2025

Corral of Grass fed beef cattle steers at the markets for sale

Cattle output price up 43.6% in June, according to CSO

In the CSO's latest release, it was revealed that cattle experienced the most significant increase in the Agricultural Output Index

Thu, 14 Aug, 2025

feedlot intensive production system beef cattle

Brazilian beef glut set to hit UK and EU markets

This market disruption could give an early taste of the threat of the EU-Mercosur Partnership Agreement trade deal hanging over cattle farmers in Ireland, the UK, and Europe, writes Stephen Cadogan

Thu, 14 Aug, 2025

Seven Hereford Calves Eating In A Row

'Substantial increase in funding' in new Beef Welfare Scheme for suckler farmers

Agriculture minister Martin Heydon has announced the new Beef Welfare Scheme is now open for applications from suckler farmers

Wed, 13 Aug, 2025

Sheep in pens at Winslow Primestock Show, Buckinghamshire

Marts outperform factories as butcher demand stays strong

The current trade is doing nothing to maintain breeder confidence in the sector, which is at a low level

Wed, 13 Aug, 2025

Female hands cutting a piece of ribs in a butchers shop

Beef prices steady as factories weigh up cutting kill days

Beef prices have eased a shade in the UK, which the processors are pointing to as justifying a tighter grip on upward movement on the factory quotes in the weeks ahead, writes Martin Ryan

Tue, 12 Aug, 2025

Pictures: Farmers in good spirits at Tullamore Show

Pictures: Farmers in good spirits at Tullamore Show

More than 60,000 people attended the the largest one-day agricultural event in the country — which took place on the 250-acre Butterfield Estate in Blue Ball, Co Offaly, on Sunday

Tue, 12 Aug, 2025

A spot of lunch.

Teagasc fodder survey reveals 90% of farms expect to have sufficient feed for winter

Given that the majority of farms have sufficient reserves in place for the winter months, the focus should now move to building up grass for the autumn, according to advisors

Mon, 11 Aug, 2025

Signpost: Why August reflection is key for Tomas's flock improvement

Signpost: Why August reflection is key for Tomas's flock improvement

Tomas uses the BETTER farm data that he has collected since lambing time to pick out replacements

Mon, 11 Aug, 2025

Farmland

Herd Tasks: Your weekly farming checklist

Your weekly reminder of the things that should be at the top of your farm to-do list. Published every Monday on the Irish Examiner digital Farming hub

Mon, 11 Aug, 2025

Cows in a field, Orkney, Scotland

Making weaning in the suckler herd low stress

When weaning calves, reducing stress must be your priority. Stressed weanlings are much more prone to illness, such as pneumonia, writes ruminant nutritionist Brian Reidy

Mon, 11 Aug, 2025

Policymakers warned that 3.8% drop in cattle numbers could double

Policymakers warned that 3.8% drop in cattle numbers could double

The ICSA said the accumulation of increasingly tighter policies has caused farmers to reduce herd numbers

Sat, 09 Aug, 2025

Sheep price cuts make no sense with the supply collapsing, says ICSA

Sheep price cuts make no sense with the supply collapsing, says ICSA

The ICSA have said sheep farming is 'eroding into oblivion' with current beef prices sitting higher than lamb

Wed, 06 Aug, 2025

Cattle Market

Finished cattle shortage to continue into 2026

Prices on offer for this week have hardened slightly more and is being driven by the competition between the processing plants to get sufficient cattle

Tue, 05 Aug, 2025

Clarkson's farm sales

'We've gone down with TB' — Jeremy Clarkson confirms outbreak at farm

Bovine TB found on Diddly Squat Farm

Fri, 01 Aug, 2025

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

Beef intake forecast to drop by up to 90,000 head this year

This is Galway Race Week, traditionally a time when many farmers take a few days' holidays, and the factories find it more difficult to maintain intake numbers

Wed, 30 Jul, 2025

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