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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>ABP's abattoir will not be affected and the Waterford plant will continue to receive cattle. File picture</p>

farming

230 jobs at risk at ABP Waterford plant

The company confirmed that the proposed redundancies relate to the cutting and deboning operation at the site

<p>The EU-Mercosur agreement edged forward. MEPs approved enhanced safeguard mechanisms allowing tariff preferences on sensitive agricultural imports to be suspended if volumes rise 5% above a three-year average and prices fall 5% below EU equivalents.</p>

farming

The week everyone missed: TB, CAP reform and Mercosur moves on

<p>Attendees of the conference will hear from Teagasc sheep researchers, ASSAP advisors and contribute to an interactive panel.</p>

farming

National hill sheep conference planned for Westport

Rural Landscape With Pastures In Ireland

farming

Organic farming scheme attracts 269 more farmers

TB lesions detected in factories double

farming

TB lesions detected in factories double

Fluffy Woolly Sheep

farming

Hogget prices cut again as pressure mounts on sheep sector

Brian Reidy

Hazell Mullins, Vet on the Moove

Kieran Coughlan, Farm Finance

Paula Hynes, Hoofing It

Close up shot of raw meat hanging on hooks at a slaughterhouse

More life in cattle trade, but processors remain cautious

Flat price deals and the carrot of partial or full transport costs being on the negotiating table are also beginning to surface again, particularly for larger lots of steers and heifers

Tue, 10 Feb, 2026

Macra calls for Heydon to intervene and protect Ireland’s food reputation

Macra calls for Heydon to intervene and protect Ireland’s food reputation

Macra says Ireland’s reputation as a trusted, high-quality food producer depends on unity, transparency and respect throughout the sector

Fri, 06 Feb, 2026

Confident in Her Line of Work

Calls for entries for the International Year of the Woman Farmer ambassador

Department is searching for its Irish farming ambassador and hosting a photo competition

Fri, 06 Feb, 2026

Farmers protest outside the Dáil as Bord Bia chair defends his position

Farmers protest outside the Dáil as Bord Bia chair defends his position

Farmers hear from farming organisation spokespersons and burn Bord Bia paperwork as they protest outside the Dáil.

Thu, 05 Feb, 2026

Burren farm blending tradition and a modern vision has plans to develop

Burren farm blending tradition and a modern vision has plans to develop

Featuring in the CAP Network's 'Women in Agriculture' booklet, Carina Roseingrave, alongside her brother, has expanded their farm to a mixed enterprise.

Wed, 04 Feb, 2026

Increased pre-movement tests form part of TB plan

Increased pre-movement tests form part of TB plan

Also part of the plan to help herds remain free of TB are simple, low-cost biosecurity measures

Wed, 04 Feb, 2026

Protests continue at Bord Bia over chairman's Brazilian beef imports

Protests continue at Bord Bia over chairman's Brazilian beef imports

Protests have escalated in Dublin as farmers gain access and occupy the Bord Bia HQ in Dublin.

Tue, 03 Feb, 2026

Fluffy Woolly Sheep

Further factory cuts deepen pressure on hogget prices

Waning confidence in the sector has been further undermined by another reduction of 10c/kg for hoggets at processing plants

Tue, 03 Feb, 2026

Agri Aware’s farm Walk & Talk returns with additional dates

Agri Aware’s farm Walk & Talk returns with additional dates

Agri Aware have announced extra dates to their Walk & Talk series, hosting secondary school students studying agricultural science on farms over the coming weeks

Tue, 03 Feb, 2026

Close up shot of raw meat hanging on hooks at a slaughterhouse

Limited extras offered as beef processors maintain price control

There is no indication tighter supplies relative to previous years’ intake, or ongoing producer demands for higher returns, are likely to have any major influence on prices in the short term

Tue, 03 Feb, 2026

A farmer holding a handful of freshly cut silage, showing the texture and quality of the forage used for livestock feed. Capture

Brian Reidy: Why dry matter intake is key to early lactation performance

Maintaining fresh-cow dry matter intake is one of the secrets to keeping cows healthy and productive throughout lactation, writes independent ruminant nutritionist Brian Reidy

Tue, 03 Feb, 2026

Close up of calves on animal farm eating food. Meat industry concept.

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

Tue, 03 Feb, 2026

Teagasc hosts ‘Meat Matters’ food innovation event

Teagasc hosts ‘Meat Matters’ food innovation event

Industry leaders recently attended the Teagasc 'Meat Matters' event as part of the Food Innovation Gateways initiative to explore innovation and opportunities for fresh meat

Tue, 03 Feb, 2026

AHI urges farmers to act fast on BVD this spring

AHI urges farmers to act fast on BVD this spring

'Tag. Bag. Test. Remove' has become Animal Health Ireland's motto this spring to move Ireland towards bovine viral diarrhoea eradication

Fri, 30 Jan, 2026

Herding the Sheep

Celebrating women driving progress across Irish agriculture

Tickets now available for the third annual International Women's Day lunch hosted by Macra and the Agricultural Science Association

Thu, 29 Jan, 2026

Bord Bia chair Larry Murrin has Heydon’s 'full confidence' after Brazilian beef import

Bord Bia chair Larry Murrin has Heydon’s 'full confidence' after Brazilian beef import

Farming organisations have called for Mr Murrin's resignation following the revelation his company Dawn Foods had imported and utilised Brazilian beef

Thu, 29 Jan, 2026

Hereford cattle

China suspends beef exports from Ireland following bluetongue outbreak

Under the protocol governing the beef trade between Ireland and China, the Irish Government is required to notify the authorities in China of an outbreak of certain notifiable diseases, including bluetongue

Wed, 28 Jan, 2026

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

More 'life' in cattle trade, but processors remain cautious

Suppliers are reporting there is an extra 5–10c/kg being paid for both categories in deals with processors to secure more stock, writes Martin Ryan

Wed, 28 Jan, 2026

Sheep pen

Sheep trade under strain as factories reduce hogget prices

Prices have been reduced by 10–20c/kg, to the grave disappointment of suppliers, writes Martin Ryan

Wed, 28 Jan, 2026

Baby calves in a barn

DairyBeef 500 conference to focus on calf sourcing, better genetics and health

The Teagasc DairyBeef Conference plans to outline important areas of dairy calf to beef production with presentations and a panel discussion.

Tue, 27 Jan, 2026

Grass and daisy covered rural lane, lined on either side by hedgerows

Proposed changes to Eco Scheme a 'meaningless measure'

Farming organisations have pushed back against the proposed changes to the Eco Scheme, saying the removal of previously approved actions within the scheme 'dilute' farmers' efforts

Tue, 27 Jan, 2026

AMINAM HEALTH BLUETONGUE DISEASE SHEEP

Bluetongue outbreak confirmed in Wexford

Following a confirmed outbreak of bluetongue on a farm in Wexford, agriculture minister Martin Heydon reminds farmers vaccines for the virus are now available

Mon, 26 Jan, 2026

Beef Cattle Open Range on Large Ranch

Farmers can now change their SCEP yearly reference number for 2026

Any changes made to the 2026 yearly reference number, either increases or decreases, will have an associated impact on the requirements or actions to be carried out by the farmer and on the maximum payment that the participant will be eligible to draw down later in 2026

Thu, 22 Jan, 2026

Retired man looking at cattle grazing in a field

Two in five farmers have no formal successor as ageing demographics fuel looming succession crisis

The newest Ifac Farm Report has revealed that two in five farmers have no formal successor despite the ageing population, succession planning proving to be a ongoing challenge

Thu, 22 Jan, 2026

Macra demands immediate action on young farmer supports

Macra demands immediate action on young farmer supports

Macra president Josephine O'Neill said urgent action was required to support young farmers and warned delaying until CAP 2028 would be 'simply too late'

Wed, 21 Jan, 2026

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