Breeder fury erupts over Teagasc's €300k/year dairy-beef project

Pedigree Breeders ask 'is the real purpose of this work long-term to eliminate the suckler farmer in Ireland?'
Today at 21:30
Teagasc has said it will not proceed with a proposed dairy-beef breeding initiative – to produce 180 elite Dairy Beef Index (DBI) Angus calves annually – without industry backing.
It comes as tensions over the dairy-beef plan rise as pedigree breeders accuse the state body of sidelining pedigree interests and inflating industry returns.

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a day ago

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Why fresh ideas are key to ongoing success of Irish food sector

This is one of the most important and respected industries in the country, supporting over 60,000 high-quality jobs and generating strong exports each year. But consumer expectations are changing fast. People want food that's healthier, more sustainable, and more transparent – and the companies that thrive in the years ahead will be those that respond quickly and innovatively to those demands. Innovation isn't a luxury – it's a necessity. And the sector is responding. New data released at the summit showed that Enterprise Ireland-supported food and drink companies invested €166m in research and development in 2024, with 113 firms each investing more than €100,000. That's a strong step forward. But we know it needs to go farther. Food Vision 2030 sets out a target for privately funded R&D to reach 1pc of turnover across the agri-food sector. That's a bold and important ambition – and meeting it will be essential if we're to remain globally competitive. What stood out most at this year's summit was the power of collaboration. Across the day, we heard from start-ups, scale-ups, researchers, and established brands, all working with agencies like Bord Bia, Teagasc, BIM, FSAI, and our Food Technology Gateways. That joined-up effort is one of Ireland's biggest strengths. We also saw how technology is reshaping food – from AI and precision fermentation to breakthroughs in personalised nutrition, smart manufacturing and sustainable packaging. These aren't just trends; they're real opportunities for Irish companies to lead and grow. And it's not just about technology – it's about mindset. Businesses that build innovation into how they think, hire, plan and invest are the ones best placed to adapt. That point came through clearly in case studies from firms like Keogh's, Lily O'Brien's, Kepak, and West Cork Distillers. At Enterprise Ireland, we're committed to supporting that journey –by funding innovation, connecting companies to research expertise, and helping them scale internationally. The ambition is already there. Now we need to back it with urgency and action. This summit was about momentum – and ensuring that today's challenges become tomorrow's opportunities. With the right investment and collaboration, Ireland can continue to lead in producing high-value, sustainable food for the world.

Agriland

7 days ago

• Agriland

Factory quotes: Beef prices cut for third consecutive week

This week's factory quotes for beef cattle sees prices cut for the third consecutive week, with a further 10c/kg taken off price offers. Weekly kill numbers are low – remaining below 30,000 head – with this decline being caused by a reduced cow kill as heifer and steer (bullock) supplies remain firm for the time of year. Factory sources have informed Agriland that there is a push to get base prices back towards €7.00/kg, but farm lobby groups have hit out at the move by factories to reduce prices. UK beef prices have also been in decline in recent weeks with the average deadweight 'U3' steer price, excluding premiums, at £6.59/kg in the week ending Saturday, June 7. This price was down from £6.69/kg the previous week, according to the Livestock and Meat Commission (LMC). Factory quotes: Heifers and steers This week, most outlets are quoting €7.20/kg for steers and €7.30/kg on the grid for heifers. While these are the official quotes for this week, most outlets that had cattle pre-booked are paying €7.30/kg and 7.40/kg on the grid for these steers and heifers respectively. Despite this, procurement staff have said the reduced price rates will take hold and have not ruled out further price cuts in the coming weeks. Breed bonuses of up to 30c/kg remain available for eligible Angus heifers and steers, but most outlets are paying an Angus bonus of 20-25c/kg. The Hereford breed bonus is at 15c/kg at most sites this week, with some outlets offering less and others offering more. Cow price 'U' grade cows are being quoted at up to €7.20/kg at the higher-end of the scale, with offers of €6.90-7.00/kg more common. 'R' grade cows are being quoted at up to €7.00/kg, with €6.80-6.90/kg more common offers for these. 'O' grade cows are being quoted at €6.50-6.60/kg and 'P' grade cows are being quoted at €6.40-6.50/kg. There remains considerable variation in cow price even within grades, depending on cow carcass weight and specification. Bulls Under-24-month bulls are being quoted at €7.40-7.50/kg for 'U' grades, with 'R' grade bulls being quoted at €7.30-7.40/kg. 'O' grade bulls are being quoted at €7.20-7.30/kg and 'P' grade bulls are being quoted at €7.10-7.20/kg. Under-16-month bulls are being quoted at €7.20/kg on the grid.

Agriland

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• Agriland

Co. Louth free-range farm walk to focus on ‘sustainability'

A farm walk is due to take place next week at the family-owned free-range Belview egg farm in Co. Louth, with the aim of promoting sustainability in the sector. Dermot Herlihy, who has a strong focus on environmental responsibility within poultry on his enterprise, will host the farm walk on Wednesday, June 18 at 11:00a.m. The Teagasc-organised walk will take place in Carrickbaggot, Co. Louth, and all are welcome to attend. The company – which was established in 1978 by Dermot and his wife Nicola – has grown over the last 40 years from 5,000 hens to a brood of 288,000 hens today. The event will primarily discuss poultry manure in tillage, European Innovation Partnership (EIP) farming for water quality, as well as solar panels and energy savings. Poultry manure in tillage Broiler litter is a mixture of chicken manure and bedding material, and is a fertiliser often used for tillage crops in Ireland. It can be a very cost-effective way of building soil fertility in comparison to artificial fertilisers, particularly on soils low in phosphorus (P). Chicken manure has a high dry matter content, which helps to build soil organic carbon, improve the soils water-holding capacity, and can also improve the soil biological activity. Broiler litter is rich in essential nutrients, including P, nitrogen (N), potassium (K), and trace minerals. European Innovation Partnership (EIP) The Farming for Water European Innovation Partnership (EIP), will provide €50 million to approximately 15,000 farmers up to the end of 2027 in a bid to improve water quality, according to Teagasc. There are over 40 measures to choose from, including: completing a rainwater management plan; a farmer training course; and a Nutrient Management Plan. It also provides funding for items such as solar pumps, stream fencing, and hedge and tree planting. This grant aid is targeted to specific priority areas for action. Solar panels and energy savings For many farmers, solar power is becoming a prominent option when dealing with current environments. Research suggests solar panels can cut energy costs, support sustainability, and give electrical independence to farmers. Depending on battery specification, a farmer can displace the majority of his electricity, and may even be approved to be eligible to return to the grid. If eligible, the Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Scheme (TAMS) provides a 40% grant on a solar PV investment, while young qualified farmers can get up to 60% in grant aid.