The Teagasc DairyBeef 500 Conference 2026 takes place on Thursday, January 29 at 7:00p.m at Ballykisteen Hotel, Co. Tipperary, and is a must attend event for anyone involved in dairy calf-to-beef production.

With 2025 delivering major changes in beef prices, this year’s DairyBeef 500 Conference, chaired by Matt O’Keeffe, editor of the Irish Farmers Monthly and host of the 'Farm Show' on KCLR, will firm focus on helping farmers understand what worked, what didn’t, and how to prepare for 2026.

DairyBeef 500 farmer, Peter O’Hanrahan from Thomastown, Co. Kilkenny will be joined by Jack Spillane, farm manager of the Tipperary Dairy Calf to Beef Demonstration Farm, and Teagasc adviser Tommy Cox who will discuss 2025 performance on farms.  

They will share what drove profitability, how they managed herd health, and how they achieved target weight gains from a grass-based system.  

The panel will also look ahead to 2026, outlining how farmers are adapting to increased calf prices and building resilient systems that can withstand potential volatility in beef markets.

The conference will provide valuable context to support these discussions with Alan Dillon, Teagasc DairyBeef 500 programme manager, who will present the 2025 profitability of the demonstration farms, examining how the sharp rise in beef prices impacted margins and what higher calf prices mean for future profitability.  

This insight will help attendees benchmark their own systems against proven, data-backed results.

Attendees will also hear practical guidance on calf purchasing and management.

Chloe Millar, Teagasc technician on the Tipperary Dairy Calf to Beef Demonstration Farm, will outline the health protocols used when sourcing over 420 calves annually and explain the purchasing formula used with regular suppliers, based on calf weight and Commercial Beef Value (CBV).

Chloe’s presentation will be complemented by Teagasc researcher Dr. Nicky Byrne, who will explain CBV in detail its influence on animal performance and profitability at both the Teagasc research farm and national levels.

Registration is now open for the Teagasc DairyBeef 500 Conference.

This free event offers a valuable opportunity for dairy-beef farmers to hear practical, data-driven insights from leading farmers, advisers, and researchers.

All those involved in, or considering, dairy calf-to-beef production are encouraged to attend.