Teagasc conference to boost beef farming profits

The upcoming Teagasc National Beef Conference will explore ways to increase profitability on cattle farms while helping farmers achieve a healthier work-life balance. Set to take place on Monday, 30 November, at 5pm in the Hodson Bay Hotel, Athlone, County Roscommon, the event promises to unite industry leaders, researchers, and farmers under the theme ‘Profitable Beef Farming, Balanced Lifestyle’.

The conference aims to deliver actionable strategies that improve beef farm performance from birth through to slaughter, alongside advice on managing farming commitments alongside family life. Professor Frank O’Mara, Director of Teagasc, will open the conference by discussing the key challenges and opportunities facing the beef sector today.

The first session, ‘Driving Performance and Profit from Birth to Slaughter’, will feature Teagasc Cattle Specialist Martina Harrington, who will reveal how suckler farmers can boost profitability by €600 per cow. Dr. Paul Smith, a researcher at the Teagasc Animal and Grassland Research and Innovation Centre in Grange, will share insights from the Beef Quest project on optimising animal growth and performance.

A panel discussion will follow, including Teagasc Ruminant Nutritionist Dr. Aisling Claffey, University College Dublin’s Dr. Marijke Beltman, veterinary surgeon Brian Jordan from Castle Forbes Estate in County Longford, alongside Martina Harrington and Dr. Paul Smith. They will examine practical approaches to maximising output across the beef production system.

The second session, ‘Better Beef, Better Balance’, chaired by TV presenter Helen Carroll, will focus on integrating beef farming with family and other responsibilities. Suckler beef farmer Aonghusa Fahy from Ardrahan, County Galway, will discuss his experience balancing a full-time teaching career with part-time farming.

The panel discussion, ‘Making Time for Better Beef Farming’, will include Aonghusa Fahy, suckler and sheep farmer Olivia Hynes from County Roscommon, dairy calf-to-beef farmer Colin Callanan from County Galway, Teagasc Schemes Support Unit Specialist Seamus Nolan, and Ger Hartnett from the Health and Safety Authority (HSA).

Pearse Kelly, Head of Drystock Knowledge Transfer at Teagasc, emphasised the conference’s value: “This event will provide beef farmers with crucial insights to enhance both technical and financial performance while also making time for family, health, and life beyond the farm gate. I strongly encourage all cattle farmers to attend.”

For the full programme and registration details, visit the official Teagasc website at https://teagasc.ie/event/national-beef-conference/.