David Argue has been appointed as a Teagasc cattle specialist based at Teagasc Ballyhaise, and will cover the northeast of the country.
Argue comes from a drystock farming background in Co. Cavan and graduated from Dundalk Institute of Technology with a bachelor of science (honours) in sustainable agriculture. He then went on to study a masters of science in animal behaviour and welfare, at Queen's University Belfast.
He is currently a Teagasc business and technology drystock advisor in the Teagasc Louth/ Meath /Dublin /Laois /Kildare advisory region, based in Navan, Co. Meath.
He previously worked as a Teagasc green acres calf to beef cattle advisor, and in his early career he was an education officer in both Ballyhaise Agricultural College and in the Teagasc advisory office in Teagasc Claremorris.
Speaking after his appointment, Argue said: “I’m looking forward to working with farmers, advisors and the wider agricultural industry, bringing science-backed technical messages to support cattle farmers to be profitable and sustainable.
"For example there are opportunities for more farmers, both dairy and beef producers, to use the commercial beef value (CBV) index as a criteria for purchasing calves."
Argue added that farmers could stand to gain invaluable insights into the genetic potential of calves, in particular the carcass weight conformation, and predicted age at slaughter by integrating the innovative technology.
The head of the Teagasc drystock knowledge transfer department, Pearse Kelly, congratulated Argue on his appointment and said that, “David brings valuable experience and knowledge to the cattle specialist team, and I look forward to working closely with him as we exchange technical knowledge with cattle producers, from the Teagasc beef research programme.“
Teagasc recently announced it was considering a system of warnings, similar to weather warnings, for nitrogen leaching, drought, grass disease, and field trafficability.
The system could see Teagasc working with Met Éireann to include the warnings it its weekly farming commentary. The system could use warnings on a national or more local level.