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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>(Right to left) Teacher Mary O’Riordan with students Niamh O’Sullivan, Ellen O’Neill, Lucy Kirby and Ciara O’Driscoll with their project mascot Eire the Angus. Picture: Larry Cummins</p>

farming

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.

<p>With the new update, data from the 2015 herd will become the new baseline for figures on EBI and Beef Indexes.</p>

farming

Economic Breeding Index drops by €97 with new updates

<p>Grass remains very low in dry matter, so it is important to monitor animal intakes and performance and supplement where necessary.</p>

farming

Herd Tasks: Your weekly farming checklist

Brian Reidy: What are your feeding options for stock for the coming winter?

Cows Feeding in a Modern Barn

farming

Improving feed utilisation in winter diets

Sheep pen

farming

Confidence grows in sheep sector as autumn trade stabilises

Brian Reidy

Hazell Mullins, Vet on the Moove

Kieran Coughlan, Farm Finance

Paula Hynes, Hoofing It

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

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

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