The farmer information event event will take place on Thursday, January 23, at The Munster Arms Hotel, Bandon, Co. Cork at 7:30p.m.

The aim of the event is "to highlight the advantages of this new programme for both dairy and beef farmers and how collaboration between both sectors delivers positive outcomes", according to the organisers.

The objective of the joint project is to produce superior Angus-cross calves with higher-than-average Commercial Beef Values (CBV's) that have the potential to deliver additional value to both dairy and beef farms.

To do this, a breeding initiative was instigated with Certified Irish Angus, ABP Bandon and Bandon Co-op in Spring 2024. The aim was to improve the genetic beef merit of the Angus calves being born from dairy cows in the Bandon region.

A total of 20 dairy farmers from Bandon Co-op were selected and the dairy cows on these farms were offered a select team of three high beef merit Angus bulls:

Drumcrow Tribesman (AA8172);
HW Lord Horatio (AA6682);
Coolrain Patriarch (AA5280)

The sire Drumcrow Tribesman is part of the Certified Irish Angus Elite Breed Improvement Programme and is owned in partnership with Dovea Genetics.

HW Lord Horatio and Coolrain Patriarch are both Angus sires owned by Munster Bovine.

Dairy cows had to be offered these Angus straws before May 31, 2024 and deliver calves by mid-March 2025. All calves were required to be genotyped so accurate CBV values could be obtained.

It is now planned that these calves will be traded to beef farmers participating in ABP’s Advantage Beef Programme and are supplying their cattle to the ABP Bandon facility.

The event will give an overview of the Advantage Beef Programme and focus on not only producing a better calf, but also on the care and attention required on both dairy and beef farms to ensure these animals are given every opportunity to achiever their full genetic potential.

Speakers on the night will cover the following topics:

The role of the Elite Breed Improvement Programme;
How to improve genetics and produce a more marketable calf;
Animal health and vaccinations, calf transition from dairy to beef farms;
Selecting the right milk replacer, achieving target weights and nutrition;
Water European Innovation Partnership (EIP) programme.

Speaking ahead of the event, Charles Smith from Certified Irish Angus said: “Certified Irish Angus is committed to producing better beef, in a better way, for a better world.

"Projects such as this where we provide direction to farmers in a very meaningful way, coupled with working in partnership with Bandon Coop and ABP Bandon, makes the mission more local and meaningful.”

ABP Food Group's agri-sustainability manager for Ireland and Poland, Stephen Connolly, said: “As a company, we believe collaboration is key to delivering sustainable and efficient dairy and beef production systems.

"We look forward to meeting all the farmers involved on the night and welcome any beef and dairy farmers that feel it could benefit their farming operation.”