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AUTUMN PRODUCER EVENT 2026

On Friday the 2^nd of October 2026, more than 250 farmers travelled to the Foyle Farms of Excellence outside Cookstown for the annual Autumn Producer Event. There was a focus on genetics, nutrition and animal health with a number of guest speakers from Farmgate Nutrition, Fane Valley, SRG, ICBF, Prominend and the Northern Ireland Safety Group.

On Farm Projects:

At the first stop, members of the Foyle Agriculture Team, Mark Kissick and Sean McCaughey, discussed a number of projects undertaken on the Foyle Farm over the past 12 months. Mark presented the results of a recent grazing trial involving two batches of homebred steers managed under a rotational paddock grazing system. Both groups received free-access minerals developed in partnership with Techna, while one group received an additional additive designed to slow the rate of passage of young, lush grass through the rumen. This was intended to increase the availability of bypass protein for digestion in the intestine, supporting improved growth and performance. Initial results were encouraging, with cattle receiving the additive achieving a 15% performance advantage and average daily liveweight gains of 1.15kg/day at grass. Mark also discussed alternative feeding programmes for the farm’s homebred steers, which are predominantly bred from Galloway-type cows crossed with top 1% Aberdeen Angus sires. Steers finished from the farm this year were slaughtered at an average age of 490 days and achieved an average carcass weight of 346kg, demonstrating the impact genetics can have on lifetime performance.

Sean spoke about the introduction of an Aquaox Nanobubble Generator on the farm. The system produces nanobubbles that improve oxygen availability in the water supply, helping to clean drinkers and pipework by reducing biofilm build-up and improving overall water hygiene. By supporting better water quality, the system has the potential to improve hydration, nutrient utilisation and feed efficiency, contributing to enhanced animal health and performance.

Genetics and Feed Efficiency

Andrew Clarke, Agriculture Manager at Foyle, and Eamon Kelly, Business Development Manager with AAQB, discussed the latest developments within the Superior Genetics Programme. Andrew introduced the recently installed feed efficiency bins on the Foyle Farm, which will monitor individual animal feed intake during a set trial period to determine feed efficiency. The aim of the project is to compare the feed efficiency of progeny from bulls within the Superior Genetics Programme against each other, as well as against progeny from other AI sires of a similar background.

Eamon presented performance data from some of the programme’s latest sires, highlighting that progeny from Rawburn Jin Eric slaughtered in 2026 finished 49 days earlier than the average of all sires while producing carcasses that were on average 19.6kg heavier. He also outlined a number of incentives available to AAQB members, including bonus schemes for Aberdeen Angus producers and access to genetics through the Foyle and AAQB Superior Genetics Programme. Producers interested in learning more can contact Eamon Kelly on 07813 176939.

SRG – The Commercial Beef Value

Lois McConaghy from SRG and Eoin Frawley from ICBF continued the discussion on the role of genetics in improving profitability within beef production systems. Lois introduced the Bovine Genetics Project to Northern Ireland suppliers and outlined the benefits that beef finishers can achieve through the Commercial Beef Value (CBV). Eoin demonstrated the CBV in practice using performance and profitability data from Aberdeen Angus and Hereford dairy-bred steers finished in 2025, showing how animals with higher CBV figures can deliver increased financial returns for finishers. All farmers interested in signing up to the Bovine Genetics Project and taking advantage of the opportunity to genotype all breeding animals within their herd can find further information and register at www.srgni.com    

Wholecrop winter wheat – Fane Valley

At the final stop of the farm tour Gary Spence and James Wallace from Fane Valley discussed the winter wheat wholecrop grown on the Foyle Farm during the 2026 season. They outlined the performance of the crop, forage analysis results and the opportunities alternative forages can provide to beef producers looking to improve efficiency and reduce production costs. With feed costs continuing to be a major factor in beef finishing systems, the speakers highlighted how home-grown forages such as wholecrop cereals can reduce reliance on purchased concentrates while providing a valuable source of energy for finishing cattle. Alternative forage crops can help farmers make better use of available land, increase flexibility within crop rotations and create opportunities for more regular reseeding programmes. Producers also heard how incorporating different forage types can help balance diets more effectively, maintain adequate fibre levels for rumen health and support higher dry matter intakes. Improved forage quality and intake can contribute to better feed efficiency, helping cattle convert feed into liveweight gain more effectively. The ability to utilise alternative forages was also highlighted as a useful tool for managing fluctuating feed prices and improving resilience within beef production systems.

Following the farm tour, attendees gathered for a series of indoor presentations covering farm safety, calf rearing and nutrition. William Johnston, Group Health and Safety Manager at Foyle Food Group, introduced the session before James Fenton interviewed a local farmer, Billy Brewster from Portglenone, who shared his personal experience of being overcome by slurry gas. His account provided a powerful reminder of the dangers associated with slurry agitation and gases and it reinforced the importance of establishing and following safety procedures to protect both farmers and livestock.

Another presentation was delivered by Anita van der Molen from Prominend, who spoke about the key principles of successful calf rearing. Her presentation focused on the importance of providing young calves with the correct nutrition from an early age and selecting a milk replacer that is suited to the feeding system being used on farm. Anita explained that skimmed-milk-based products contain casein, a high-quality milk protein which forms a curd in the calf’s abomasum following feeding. This slows the passage of milk through the digestive system, allowing protein and energy to be released and digested over a longer period. As a result, these products more closely mimic the digestion of whole milk and can support excellent nutrient utilisation and calf growth, particularly in systems where calves are fed twice daily.

She explained that whey-based milk replacers, contain highly digestible whey proteins and are often a more cost-effective option. Because they do not form the same firm casein curd, milk passes through the digestive system more quickly. This makes them particularly well suited to automatic and robotic feeding systems, where calves have access to smaller, more frequent feeds throughout the day. Alongside nutrition, the importance of providing a clean, dry and well-ventilated environment was reiterated by Anita explaining it is essential for maintaining calf health, minimising disease challenges and achieving strong growth rates. It is paramount that healthy, thriving calves are the foundation of a profitable and productive beef enterprise.

The presentations were wrapped up by Gareth Anderson of FarmGate Nutrition, who discussed the beef finishing diet currently being fed on the Foyle Farm. Gareth further outlined the mineral supplementation that was used for trial work at Foyle with Techna. He showed how this could be provided during the grazing season using a mineral rocker feeder. Gareth also discussed the products from FarmGate Nutrition and about the benefits of feeding liquid Glycopass to improve nutritional efficiency and support cattle performance.

The chosen charity for this year’s event was Rural Support and the event concluded with a steak BBQ. The annual producer event continues to provide a valuable platform for knowledge transfer, allowing farmers to learn about the latest developments in genetics, nutrition, forage production, technology and farm safety. Thanks to all who attended and participated at the event.