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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.

Brian Reidy
Hazell Mullins, Vet on the Moove
Kieran Coughlan, Farm Finance
Paula Hynes, Hoofing It
Brian Reidy – Herd Management Denis Lehane – Lighten Up Hazell Mullins – Vet on the Moove Karen Walsh – Law of the Land Kieran Coughlan – Farm Finance Paula Hynes – Hoofing It BACK TO FARMING HOME PAGE
Signpost: Tomas prepares his ewes, rams and replacements for the busy breeding season
Signpost: Tomas prepares his ewes, rams and replacements for the busy breeding season
I have been busy on the farm over the last number of weeks with certain tasks that have to be prioritised. In the past while, I have dipped all the sheep on the farm. I have also been checking the lowland and hill flock ewes for body condition.

Sun, 05 Oct, 2025

Herding Sheep
More support needed to halt sheep sector decline
The sheep sector continues to decline, with the IFA Sheep Chair calling for more support to farmers provided by the Government.

Wed, 01 Oct, 2025

A cows on a pasture on a summer. Livestock on free grazing. Livestock farm. Agricultural landscape, cow on green grass field.
Total cattle numbers at an almost 12-year low
According to a provisional report by the CSO, the total number of cattle in Ireland is at a 12-year low, with farming organisations citing several factors

Wed, 01 Oct, 2025

Herding Sheep
More support needed to halt sheep sector decline
The sheep sector continues to decline, with the IFA Sheep Chair calling for more support to farmers provided by the Government.

Wed, 01 Oct, 2025

Sheep in pens at Winslow Primestock Show, Buckinghamshire
Steady lamb prices with deals up to 800c/kg for regular suppliers
Expectations are that trade will remain stable in the immediate future

Wed, 01 Oct, 2025

AMINAM HEALTH BLUETONGUE DISEASE SHEEP
Bluetongue high-alert period coming to an end
Bluetongue virus still circulates widely in mainland Europe, reported for the first time this year in Bulgaria, Croatia, and Slovenia

Wed, 01 Oct, 2025

Close up shot of raw meat hanging on hooks at a slaughterhouse
Weekly cattle intake tops 30,000 head for first time since April
Improved weather during the second half of September helped finishers hold on to stock, as better ground conditions meant the expected surge in factory supply did not materialise

Wed, 01 Oct, 2025

Alfalfa silage and thermometer
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, 29 Sep, 2025

Cork students make it to Certified Irish Angus Schools Competition finals
Cork students make it to Certified Irish Angus Schools Competition finals
Clonakilty's Sacred Heart Secondary School’s ‘Angus Advocates’ are finalists in the Certified Irish Angus Schools 2024 Competition finals.

Fri, 26 Sep, 2025

Dairy cow waiting to be milked
Economic Breeding Index drops by €97 with new updates
The ICBF has said farmers “just have to recalibrate their thinking” when it comes to the lower figures.

Wed, 24 Sep, 2025

Black and white dairy cow grazing contentedly relaxed and happy while other cows graze behind. Methane and greenhouse gases a bi
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

Wed, 24 Sep, 2025

John Deere 6920 Tractor and Mower cutting Grass for Silage on a Farm in the UK
Brian Reidy: What are your feeding options for stock for the coming winter?
As we head into October, attention will turn to preparing for housing and the winter-feeding plan

Tue, 23 Sep, 2025

Cows Feeding in a Modern Barn
Improving feed utilisation in winter diets
Feed utilisation refers to how efficiently animals convert the feed they consume into productive outputs such as body weight gain

Tue, 23 Sep, 2025

Sheep pen
Confidence grows in sheep sector as autumn trade stabilises
The return to stability in the trade has helped to instil a bit more confidence in producers for a more positive run of trade to the end of the year

Tue, 23 Sep, 2025

Meat industry,meats hanging in the cold store. Cattles cut and hanged on hook in a slaughterhouse. Halal cutting.
EU beef production drop key driver of beef prices
Beef producers visiting the Bord Bia stand at the National Ploughing Championships in Tullamore last week were very interested in the market prospects over the coming months

Tue, 23 Sep, 2025

Putting five-star bulls to the test for finishing performance in Youghal
Putting five-star bulls to the test for finishing performance in Youghal
The bulls we choose for the autumn herd will be selected with two things in mind: improving both the maternal and terminal traits of the herd, write Waterford suckler farmers Eamon and Donnchadh McCarthy

Tue, 23 Sep, 2025

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

Wed, 17 Sep, 2025

Livestock leading cause of farm injury claims, new report shows
Livestock leading cause of farm injury claims, new report shows
Animal-related injuries accounted for almost a fifth of all claims to the Injuries Resolution Board— with cattle most commonly cited in claim applications, followed by horses, dogs and sheep

Wed, 17 Sep, 2025

Female hands cutting a piece of ribs in a butchers shop
Factories slash beef prices another 10c/kg during ploughing week
The supply increased by 1,300 head last week to 28,914 head, which was 9,500 less than the same week last year, but for 2025, it was the highest weekly supply since the beginning of June

Tue, 16 Sep, 2025

Nitrogen Fertilizer
National Fertiliser Database opens for 2025
Farmers and other fertiliser users and operators can now declare the closing stock of fertiliser held on their farms and premises

Tue, 16 Sep, 2025

Farmers react with caution to new TB eradication plan and 30 proposed actions
Farmers react with caution to new TB eradication plan and 30 proposed actions
Irish farmers give mixed reaction to the new TB action plan, warning it risks unfairly burdening farmers without clear commitments from others

Thu, 11 Sep, 2025

Events to showcase organic livestock systems
Events to showcase organic livestock systems
A specialist roadshow hopes to boost Ireland’s growing organic livestock sector, by exploring how Ireland can expand production to meet growing consumer demand and strengthen rural communities.

Wed, 10 Sep, 2025

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

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