The ability to influence and inspire suppliers and customers is vitally important, if we are to continue making the necessary improvements in production systems to maintain Ireland and the UK’s leadership position in sustainability. As a grass based livestock producing region, addressing the challenges of climate change, biodiversity loss and rising input costs are key to the sustainability of our industry.
We have always been at the forefront of research and development in agriculture, partnering with leading academic institutions, commercial partners and industry bodies. Our Demonstration Farms are an important part of our agricultural strategy, seeking to find the best way of producing sustainable, quality beef.
Inspire sustainable farming to foster better animal health and welfare, enhance meat quality and restore biodiversity, soil health and water quality.
The Newford Farm and the Tipperary Farms run by Dawn Meats in conjunction with Teagasc are two examples of multi-stakeholder collaboration which are helping to share knowledge and best practice across the wider farming community with more than 8,000 farmers participating in knowledge sharing events at Newford Farm since its establishment in 2015.
In May 2024, the Tipperary Dairy Calf to Beef Demonstration Farm was established in Ireland. It is also part of the Teagasc Signpost Farms Programme (sponsored by Dawn Meats and other industry stakeholders) and is operated by Dawn Meats and Shinagh Estates, with independent technical advice provided by Teagasc.
Goal
Building on learnings from Newford and exploring genetics from dairy beef, Tipperary aims to;
- Demonstrate the significant advantage of strong collaboration between beef and dairy farmers in the transfer of calves between both parties
- Operate a financially sustainable farm business using excellent pasture management, early age at slaughter and high animal health welfare
- Minimise both nitrogen and phosphorus losses to the environment
- Implement mitigation strategies to reduce the impact of dairy calf-to-beef farming on climate change
- Incorporate a proportion of the farm into high diversity landscape features
- Implement mitigation strategies to reduce ammonia emissions to the environment
- Reduce the use of antibiotics and anthelmintics
Together these management practices when fully deployed, will highlight the positive impact on emissions performance which will be reported upon at Open Days and subsequent Plan Four Zero updates.
Newford Demonstration Farm
The Newford Demonstration Farm is a 75ha spring-calving suckler-to-beef demonstration farm in Co. Roscommon, operated by Dawn Meats and Teagasc with support from McDonald’s. The farm demonstrates how a profitable, grass-based beef system can be achieved using first-cross beef-bred cows from dairy dams. By measuring animal performance, labour efficiency, and production economics, the project supports the development of practical, sustainable solutions for Irish beef farmers.
Key targets that have been consistently achieved over the last 10 years at Newford:
- Achieving a 6-week calving rate in excess of 80 %.
- Maintaining a 10-week calving period, and a 365-day calving interval.
- Using 100 % AI as a breeding policy.
- Lowering the age of slaughter of cattle to 18 – 22 months.
- Reducing use of chemical Nitrogen fertiliser through the inclusion of clover.
- Demonstrate the benefits of good grassland management.
Tipperary Demonstration Farm
The Tipperary Demonstration Farm is a 134ha dairy calf-to-beef demonstration farm in Ballyvadin, Co. Tipperary, operated through a partnership between Teagasc, Dawn Meats and Shinagh Estates Ltd. The farm rears approximately 300 dairy-beef calves annually, with cattle finished as steers and heifers between 20 and 26 months of age. The system focuses on maximising production from grazed grass and high-quality silage while maintaining high standards of animal health, welfare and meat quality. The farm demonstrates how strong collaboration between dairy and beef farmers can support a profitable and sustainable dairy calf-to-beef system. By measuring animal performance, pasture utilisation, environmental impacts and production economics, the project helps develop practical solutions to improve the economic and environmental sustainability of Irish beef production.