Members of the Ulster Farmers’ Union (UFU) lately visited ABP’s demonstration farm in Co. Carlow to be taught extra about the newest outcomes from a collaborative analysis challenge between ABP, Teagasc and the Irish Cattle Breeding Federation (ICBF).

The analysis is targeted on enhancing the all-round sustainability of dairy beef manufacturing programs by improved genetics.

The newest set of knowledge was mentioned with 25 members of the UFU who walked the farm.

The information signifies a big discount in beef cattle emissions is achievable by enhancing genetics within the beef herd.

A possible for an emission discount of as much as 13% has been demonstrated alongside improved returns for farmers of as much as €200/animal.

Liam McCarthy of ABP Northern Eire accompanied the UFU members on the go to.

He mentioned:

“We imagine this analysis has the potential to play a big function in serving to the agriculture sectors in each Northern Eire and the Republic attain their carbon discount targets.

“ABP is already translating the learnings into our dairy-beef enterprise mannequin with Dale Farm generally known as Horizon right here in Northern Eire.

“An identical programme is up and operating within the Republic of Eire, known as the ABP Benefit Beef Programme.”

The analysis performed on ABP’s Demonstration Farm is predicated on six years of knowledge and includes over 4,000 animals and is relevant throughout totally different beef manufacturing programs.

The farm consists of 280ac break up into three primary blocks on two parcels of land.

The 2021-born heifers on the ABP Demo Farm have began receiving concentrates, because the heifers and steers within the group will likely be completed earlier than the 2022-born calves are housed for the winter.

Nonetheless, 50% of the 2021-born cattle have been weighed this month and so they have a mean weight of 487kg. The cattle which have been weighed had a mean every day achieve (ADG) of 0.92kg/head/day.

The 2022-born calves will likely be weighed on the finish of the month. The calves had an ADG of 0.87kg/head/day and a mean weight of 160kg once they have been final weighed in July.