Cork farms to host CalfCare events this January

Five farms in County Cork will host CalfCare ’25 this January, an Animal Health Ireland (AHI) and Teagasc DairyBeef 500 roadshow which will promote calf health and the potential of beef production from the dairy herd.

Running from Monday, January 6th through to Friday, January 17th, these on-farm events aim to get Cork’s dairy farmers and dairy calf-to-beef farmers off to the best possible start in 2025.

Describing the busy month ahead as “an informative introduction to the farming year,”

Alan Dillon, DairyBeef 500’s programme co-ordinator, hopes that attending farmers “will use these events to refresh their calf rearing skillsets”.

JANUARY EVENTS

The following Cork holdings will hold CalfCare events during January, all of which are scheduled for an 11am start:

January 6th – Richard, Una and Joseph Forbes, Belrose, Enniskeane (P47 XD40); January 7th – Vivian and Evan Buttimer, Ford Farm, Ballinascarthy, Clonakilty (P85 A726); January 8th – John O’Connor, Coolageela, Kanturk (P51 NX70); January 9th – Brian Buckley, Pluckanes, Donoughmore (P32 Y772) and on January 17th – Karl O’Shea, Angram, Drimoleague (P47 RD42).

According to Michelle McGrath, Assistant CellCheck Programme Manager, AHI “For many farmers, it may have been a while since they last cared for calves, so by attending these events, farmers can refresh their knowledge on the best practices for calf feeding, managing common health issues, and optimising calf growth. It also provides an opportunity for farmers to ask questions that are relevant to their own farms.

CalfCare ’25 will address a range of pressing issues which farmers face during a critical time of their working year, including: Understanding dairy and beef indices to produce quality calves; achieving optimal rumen development; discussing the best means of utilising pain relief during the calving season, and finally, the prevention of pneumonia in calves.

SECTORS COMPLEMENTING ONE ANOTHER

Joe Patton, Teagasc Head of Dairy Knowledge Transfer Department, said that the coming together of the DairyBeef 500 and AHI teams to deliver the CalfCare events emphasised the importance of the calf-rearing process to both farming systems.

“It is essential that dairy farmers do all they can to produce calves that have enhanced profitability potential by suitably looking after them up to the point of transfer from the farm, thus ensuring the success of the dairy beef farmer’s operation,” he said.

“Given the success of last January’s CalfCare events, which marked the first time that DairyBeef 500 and AHI had worked together like this, we are delighted to continue this relationship to highlight how both sectors, working together, complement each other.”

With both dairy and beef farmers hosting the forthcoming events, Natascha Meunier, AHI Beef HealthCheck Programme Manager, believes that CalfCare ’25 will highlight the common skills and knowledge required by both sets of farmers.

“CalfCare ’25 is not only for dairy farmers; the management and health information is relevant to all calf rearers and we look forward welcoming all with a keen interest in gaining the best outcomes for their calves.”