This article is from page 38 of the 2007-12-04 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 38 JPG
THE challenges facing suckling beef production and in particular the pro- duction of weanlings will be top of the agenda at a Clare Teagasc Semi- nar which takes place in the Auburn Lodge Hotel this evening at 8pm. This seminar is taking place at a critical time for farmers in suckling with the fall of about €100 per head in weanling prices and a drop of over 25 per cent in weanling exports. This has resulted in a squeeze on margins and while we can expect an improvement in prices in the years ahead the implementation of effi- cient practices at farm level will be essential to achieve a reward for the
time and labour spent in weanling production.
‘This Seminar will enable farmers to get the best advice on increasing the value of output and reducing the costs of production in suckling which are the key factors that determine profit,’ said Gerard MacMahon, ‘Tea- gasc Area Manager.
“With the increase in concentrate prices, we will need to get a greater proportion of live weight gain from grass – a feed that Ireland can pro- duce better and cheaper than any- where else in Europe.”
Better breeding through the use of ICBF breeding programmes enables farmers to identify the best bulls both AI and stock bulls to produce
high quality weanlings.
It also identifies the best cows from which to breed replacements. The biggest overhead cost in suckling is that of keeping the suckler cow. Strategies to reduce the over-win- tering costs of suckler cows will be outlined.
Meanwhile, Clare IFA in associa- tion with Clare Marts, Teagasc and ICBF will hold an information meet- ing at Ennis Mart on Monday, De- cember 10, at 8pm.
The important forum will cover all aspects of the €80 Suckler Cow Yel tessa len
“There are a lot of issues that need to be addressed and questions an- swered as a lot of farmers are only
receiving poor third hand informa- tion,’ said County IFA Chairman, Seamus Murphy.
“It is essential that weanling pro- ducers in Clare maximise on this scheme as it is the only life line to maintaining suckler cow numbers in the county.”
John Bryan, National Chairman IFA Livestock Committee, will ad- dress the meeting and cover all as- pects of the scheme and there will also be a presentation from Vivian Silke of Teagasc on beef produc- tion in Clare and a presentation from Sean Coughlan ICBF on their involvement in the scheme and the necessity for animal events record- ing going forward.