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Meaty business

Bernie Commins has a round-up of beef-focused news, developments, and events taking place

Beef2026 Open Day
July 1

‘Driving Sustainable Performance’ is the theme of Beef2026, which is Teagasc’s main open day for 2026, sponsored by FBD Insurance. The event will showcase systems and technological advances that can be utilised by cattle farmers from across the country, to increase production and drive income in a sustainable way. Information boards and talks on the main topics of interest to cattle farmers will be presented. These will be combined with live demonstrations and interactive sessions focusing on the latest animal and grassland research and technologies of benefit to Irish beef farmers.
Director of Teagasc, Professor Frank O’Mara said: “The beef sector is extremely important to the national economy and plays a crucial role in generating activity in the rural economy. Cattle farming is critical to rural Ireland, and the grass based, family farm systems used in Ireland provides sustainably produced beef for Irish and international markets. This is a valuable opportunity to connect with farmers and share practical ideas that support the future of Irish beef production.”
Dr Paul Crosson, Teagasc beef enterprise leader, said: “We have seen a seismic shift in beef markets in the past year, and this event will focus on the opportunities that this presents to Irish beef cattle farmers. We must of course remain conscious of the consumer demand for sustainable farm systems so, backed by practical, applied research, the best advice for farmers to drive their businesses forward will be highlighted.”

€4 MILLION DAIRY BEEF WEIGHING MEASURE ANNOUNCED

The 2026 National Dairy Beef Weighing Scheme (NDBWS) is open for applications. Designed to support farmers rearing progeny from the dairy herd, is unchanged from its 2025 iteration, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine has said. Participants in the scheme will be required to weigh eligible calves and submit the weight data to the Irish Cattle Breeding Federation. Eligible calves can be male calves of a dairy breed or male and female calves of a beef breed sire born to a dairy breed dam in a participant’s herd.
To qualify for payment, liveweight data must be submitted for a minimum of five eligible calves in a herd and for up to a maximum of 50. Farmers can weigh and upload data on an unlimited number of eligible calves in a herd but 50 is the maximum number on which they will be paid under the scheme.
All calves must be at least 12 weeks old and registered on the holding for at least 10 days at the time of weighing. Weight data should be submitted within seven days of weighing but no later than 17.30 on November 1, 2026. Farmers should note that they will only be paid on the number of eligible calves in respect of which they submit liveweight data by the closing date.
Applications for the 2026 NDBWS must be lodged online before midnight on Friday, May 15 2026 using the MyAgFood portal. Late applications will be accepted, subject to payment deductions, until midnight on Tuesday, June 9, 2026. The full terms and conditions of the NDBWS and other relevant scheme information are available on the Department’s website.

TB (bTB) programme changes now in effect

Important changes to animal testing and animal movement requirements to the bovine tuberculosis (bTB) programme came into effect on April 13. The changes being introduced  as part of the further implementation of the Bovine TB Action Plan published last year include:

  • The removal of the post-movement test option for all cows and for males over 36 months of age.
  • All dairy cows moved into a breeding herd will require a 30-day pre-movement test.
  • 30-day pre-movement testing for contract-reared heifers.
  • The introduction of mandatory gamma interferon test (GIF) testing in large breakdowns of breeding herds (this will apply to herds in a bTB restriction on or after April 2026).
  • Restriction on sale of exposed cohorts where GIF test is carried out in larger breeding herds for a period of time (this will apply to herds in a bTB restriction on or after April 2026).

Pictured at the launch of the BEEF2026 open day: Pearse Kelly, Catherine Egan, Dr Paul Crosson, Teagasc; Professor Frank O’Mara, director of Teagasc; John Calahan, chief commercial officer, FBD Insurance; Leah Kehoe, branch manager, FBD Drogheda; Margaret O’Donovan, Teagasc; and Pat Gilligan, head of sales west & farmer business, FBD Insurance.

€6m for new on-farm badger biosecurity scheme

Under the Bovine TB Action Plan, 6m has been pledged for a new on-farm badger biosecurity scheme. The scheme has opened for applications from interested co-operatives and agri-retail merchants from whom farmers will be able to purchase eligible items; applications will subsequently open for farmers. Commenting, Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon said: “Good biosecurity is important to reduce the risk of transmission of bTB from badgers to cattle and cattle to badgers. This scheme will allow farmers to reduce the risk posed by badgers to the spread of bTB by contributing to the cost of good on-farm badger biosecurity measures.”
In addition to the on-farm badger biosecurity, the minister also announced that the DAFM had recently completed a tender process for a service provider as part of its wildlife programme. “That tender evaluation is now complete, and the contract is currently being finalised. This will result in an increase in resources on the ground further improving the effectiveness of my department’s wildlife programme measures in the bTB Action Plan,” he said.

TB TESTING AND MOVEMENTS – BEEF CONTEXT

For the purpose of this article and in the context of our beef focus, the following outlines the changes in TB testing and movement requirements for beef cattle.

  1. Types of testing and movement requirements
  • A 30-day pre-movement test: Beef breed cows’ movements to dairy and suckler herds where the animal has not been tested in the last six months and the herd that is moving them out has not been tested within the last six months.
  • Animals which must have been tested in the last six months and the herd that is moving them out has been tested within the last six months: All beef breed cows moving to all herds other than CFUs (controlled finishing units – a specialised beef finisher).
  • Animals which can move for up to 12 months after the herd test, with no need for additional testing: Beef and dairy cows and male cattle greater than 36 months may be sold to CFUs for 12 months after the herd test.
  • Relapse high-risk (H) herds: Herds with three or more standard reactors in a breakdown (where there are reactors present in the same exposed cohort that were previously in a H breakdown in that herd); and at least one of the reactors at the relapse breakdown was present as part of the exposed cohort at the previous H breakdown will require testing at six-month intervals for a period of three years, post derestriction.
  1. Testing requirements for cattle entering various cattle enterprises
  • Store/fattening farms:
    • All male cattle between 42 days and 36 months of age must be within 12 months of a herd test.
    • All non-calved female cattle greater than 42 days of age must be within 12 months of a herd test.
    • Beef breed cows must be tested in the last six months, and the seller herd must be tested in the last six months, or alternatively within a 30-day test.
    • Dairy breed cows must be tested in the last six months, and the seller herd must be tested in the last six months, or alternatively within a 30-day test. However, there must be no breeding cows in these herds.
    • All male cattle greater than 36 months of age must be tested in the last six months and the seller herd must be tested in the last six months, or alternatively within a 30-day test.
  • Controlled finishing units: All cattle classes must be within 12 months of a herd test.
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