Ken Gill operates an autumn calving, organic suckler to beef system located in Co Offaly and he joins Catherine Egan on this week’s Beef Edge podcast to explain his system.
He has 73 suckler cows calving from the end of July to mid-September and all progeny are brought to beef with the aim to slaughter at 24 months.
Ken says that one of the big changes he had to make when converting to an organic system was in relation to housing on the farm.
Being organic means that crop rotation is vital to ensure the continued health of the soil and to aid weed suppression. Oats are grown for sale, with a small quantity retained for feeding on the farm. Red clover/perennial ryegrass is grown for quality silage and winter fodder crops are also sown in certain areas of the farm.
100% A.I. is used to avail of the best genetics available, with visual being the main heat detection aid. Ken offers advice for farmers considering an organic system and says that it is a profitable system for him.
Ken will also feature in the first of a three part Future Beef webinar on Wednesday 20th March at 8pm.
On Monday, March 25th at 8pm the webinar will focus on getting your cow back in calf and on Wednesday March 27th at 8pm the webinar will focus on genetics for the future.
Further webinar details are here:
https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/beef/demonstration-farms/future-beef-programme/events/
You can read more about Ken’s system here:
https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/beef/demonstration-farms/future-beef-programme/farmers/ken-gill/
For more episodes from the Beef Edge podcast, visit the show page at:
https://www.teagasc.ie/thebeefedge
Produced on behalf of Teagasc by LastCastMedia.com
The key things consider when sourcing quality calves for your beef system
An Update on the Maternal Herd in Teagasc Grange
How to manage nutrition with high feed costs this winter
The parasites to watch out for this winter and how to treat them
Newford Demonstration Farm Update
How calving at 24 months helps to reduce emissions, with Kildalton suckler herd manager, John O’Connor
Autumn calving suckling to weanling system thriving in Co. Meath
Agri Climate Rural Environment Scheme (ACRES) – all you need to know
Top tips when it comes to transferring the family farm
The Key Steps to Consider in Conversion to Organic
Your Renewable Energy Options Explained
What does the new Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme mean for your farm?
How DairyBeef 500 farmer, Richard Long, is reducing age at slaughter on his farm
Grass Tips in Advance of the Last Rotation
How to manage soil fertility for the rest of the year
Future Beef: Autumn Calving update with Cork farmer, Ed Curtin
The Key Messages for Suckler Farmers from Beef2022
The Best Kept Secret of the Beef2022 Open Day
DairyBeef 500 and what it hopes to achieve in the next five years
The Beef2022 Forum on Supporting Sustainable Beef Farming
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free
City Manager Unfiltered
Potencial Americano
The ASIC Podcast
The Chris Plante Show
Strict Scrutiny