LATEST ARTICLES
Focus
‘Scientists versus show coats’ continues
Adam Woods
The pedigree breeders council and ICBF battle continues to roll on. Emanuel O’Dea takes a look at some of the reasons some pedigree breeders are disengaging with ICBF
19 March 2025 Markets
Beef Management: Stock bull purchase and utilisiing good weather
Adam Woods takes a look at some tips when buying a stock bull and getting cattle turned out.
12 March 2025 Letters
Promote not demote ICBF’s Euro-Star indexes
"I need each cow to pay her way." - Denis Large, suckler farmer, Co Tipperary
Upset over change to ICBF ratings
"We were stunned, angry and I felt so annoyed and upset at the financial situation he found himself in." - Margaret Lehane, Kanturk, Co Cork
26 February 2025 Letters
Tensions continue between ICBF and various societies
The latest from last week's beef stakeholder forum meeting in Tullamore.
19 February 2025 Breeding & health
‘Our focus must remain on the commercial beef farmer’ - ICBF
Adam Woods and Nevan McKiernan sat down with ICBF boss Sean Coughlan to discuss the recent decision by breed societies not to print indexes in sales catalogues.
12 February 2025 Breeding & health
Incorrect to say show heifers have no stars - NCBC
Farmers' arguments with ICBF indexes should focus on the maternal index's weightings, rather than on stars versus no stars, NCBC's Goulding said.
5 February 2025 News
SCEP scheme overtaken by high beef prices - ICMSA
The association is calling for a review into the scheme and that farmers removed for not having been part of Sustainable Beef and Lamb Assurance Scheme (SBLAS) should be allowed to rejoin.
29 January 2025 News
Sucklers steal the show in Newport Christmas sale
Well-bred dairy in-calf heifers made over €1,500 each and well-bred suckler in-calf heifers made upwards of €1,800 each at Newport Mart's annual Christmas sale in Tipperary.
27 December 2024 Markets
Letter: technical review into accuracy of ICBF ratings needed
The Pedigree Breeders Council is calling for a fully independent technical review into the accuracy and the impact of the Irish Cattle Breeding Federation star ratings on the national herd.
5 December 2024 Letters
Beef Management: breeding indoors and looking after first calving heifers
This week's Beef Management takes a look at breeding indoors, sexed semen use, injection site management and looking after first calving heifers.
4 December 2024 Management
Farmer Writes: the never-ending story of TB
TB was the main event on Tommy Moyles' farm last week as the annual herd test took place. If that wasn't enough, he attended a meeting on the subject on the eve of reading the test.
16 October 2024 Farmer Writes