Positive mood at DairyBeef conference on close to Limerick-Tippeary border

THE TEAGASC DairyBeef 500 Conference 2026 will take place this Thursday, January 29 at 7pm at Ballykisteen Hotel, just out the N24, in Limerick Junction.

Featuring an array of expert speakers, the conference will cover some of the important areas of dairy calf to beef production. A panel discussion with farmers and advisors will discuss the areas of focus for 2026 while also reflecting on the positives from 2025.

Dairy Beef 500 Programme Manager, Alan Dillon will open proceedings, outlining the profitability of demonstration farms in 2025 and the impact of increased calf prices on future profitability. 2025 will be remembered for the dramatic jump in farm gate beef prices and it will be interesting to see the impact of these increases on profit margins.

Speaking ahead of the conference, Mr Dillon said: “2025 brought us the finished cattle prices we always needed and while they have dropped back a little bit in recent times, farmers are in a much stronger position than they were 12 months ago.

“While there are some issues that might bring disturbances in the year ahead, beef farmers who have set up resilient, low-cost, grass-based systems are in an excellent place to weather any storm that may lie ahead in 2026 and capitalise on the current beef prices that exist.”

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Chloe Millar, a Teagasc technician working on the Tipperary Dairy Calf to Beef Demonstration Farm, will outline the health protocols followed when procuring more than 420 calves annually.

A collaboration between Teagasc, Shinagh Estates and Dawn Meats, the Tipperary Dairy Calf to Beef Demonstration Farm uses a purchasing formula when setting the price paid for calves from regular suppliers each year. Chloe Millar will outline the factors involved, such as calf weight on arrival and Commercial Beef Value (CBV), when setting purchase price.

Dr Nicky Byrne, a livestock systems researcher at Teagasc Grange, will cover the Commercial Beef Value in more detail, examining its impact on cattle being reared to finish at both a national level and on the Teagasc research farms.

A panel discussion will follow with Peter O’Hanrahan, Teagasc DairyBeef 500 participant, who farms in Thomastown, County Kilkenny, rearing and finishing over 200 calves annually as steers, Jack Spillane, farm manager at the Tipperary Dairy Calf to Beef Demonstration Farm and Tommy Cox, advisor on the Teagasc DairyBeef 500 Programme.

This discussion will reflect on farm performance in 2025, with a focus on herd health, weight gain and achieving targets within a grass-based system. It will also consider the outlook for 2026, including rising calf prices and how farmers can future-proof their systems against potential volatility in beef markets.

The event will be chaired by Matt O’Keeffe, editor of the Irish Farmers Monthly, and host of the Farm Show on KCLR.

For more information on the Teagasc DairyBeef 500 Conference, see the Teagasc website.