An estimated 8,000 people came through the gates at Teagasc, Grange, Co Meath, on Tuesday for BEEF 2018, the Teagasc national beef open day.

Farmers were provided with an excellent display of technical boards and demonstrations on practical technologies that could help improve low profitability on beef farms.

One of the highlights of the day was the infrastructure village where farmers were brought through different types of fencing, roadway and water system construction.

Pearse Kelly, head of drystock knowledge transfer at Teagasc, told farmers at the event that there was a possible €303 increase in net margin per cow from hitting targets on weaned calves per cow per year, age at first calving and six-week calving rate.

Professor Donagh Berry, Teagasc, also outlined that many of the reproduction targets on beef farms are not being met.

He also maintains that the use of AI in suckler herds needs to increase in order for the national herd to make sufficient genetic gain.

A very quiet forum session was addressed by Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed, where he said that he believed that inefficiencies within the farm gate were a serious drag on profitability.

Breed societies

One of the main talking points of the day was the no-show by some of the countries largest beef breed societies.

The plan was that they would each have a stand in the ICBF marquee but at a meeting of several society personnel last week, it was decided that they would boycott the event in protest against BDGP and the Eurostar index system.

For a range of reports on BEEF 2018, pick up this week's Irish Farmers Journal or read them from 10.30pm on Wednesday night on the www.farmersjournal.ie.

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Breed societies boycott BEEF 2018