FUTURE OF FARMING
2024 BASELINE REPORT
History of the Sysco ABP Regenerative Farm
Introduction to the partnership
Sysco and ABP have partnered on a five year regenerative farming project on a dedicated demonstration monitor farm. The partnership showcases the benefits of key regenerative farming practices on efficiency & sustainability across six key pillars.
What is regenerative agriculture
Regenerative agriculture is an end-to-end farming system that protects and intentionally enhances our natural resources. Based on the principles of working in harmony with our natural environment, our approach mitigates climate change and supports the future of Irish farming families. In essences, it’s good farming practices.
The Sysco ABP Regenerative Farm, located in South Tipperary has been in the Coady family for over 300 years. Aoibhin is the seventh generation to farm the land, alongside her parents Michael and Eva. The farm has a long history of raising calves, with its more recent developments beginning in the 1970’s by Aoibhin’s grandfather, who started with 24 cows and some beef cattle. In the late 1990’s, Aoibhin’s father Michael took over and expanded the herd to over 70 cows. Since then, the farm has focused primarily on a dairy calfto-beef operation, steadily growing year after year. Today, Aoibhin is raising over 88 calves and 58 lambs across 95 acres.
Regenerative Pillars
PILLAR 1
Livestock Responsibility
KEY TARGETS:
• Increase carcass weight
• Increase genetic merit of dairy beef calves
• Reduce instances of liver/lung issues on AHI factory report
• Maintain mortality rate
BEEF
The livestock responsibility pillar incorporates practices around improving the genetics of beef animals as well as best in class animal welfare practices. Progress under this pillar is tracked using the ABP Beef Benchmark Report.
ABP Beef Benchmark Report
The ABP Beef Benchmark Report was developed in collaboration with The Irish Cattle Breeding Federation (ICBF). Independently verified by ICBF, it allows farmers to benchmark their herd performance against the national average across such measures as greenhouse gas emissions, age of finish and carcass weight.
The cattle on the Sysco ABP Regenerative Farm have an average carbon footprint of 13.9kg of carbon per kg of carcass weight. When compared to the national average for cattle within the same category, they have a 0.49kg lower GHG emission which accounts for 3.5% lower emissions per kg of beef.
GREENHOUSE GAS OUTPUT PER KG CARCASS WEIGHT (2023)
(THE
GREENHOUSE GAS OUTPUT PER KG CARCASS WEIGHT (2024)
(THE
The above tables are based on information from the ABP Beef Benchmark Report developed by the ICBF and ABP.
Beef X dairy, as seen above comes from the male beef sire and female dairy dam.
The green house gases (GHG) from beef farms in Ireland are measured in kilogram of carbon equivalent per kilogram of beef carcass weight.
LAMB
To compliment the beef production system on the Sysco ABP Regenerative Farm a total of 58 female lambs were purchased at approximately six months old.
Sheep grazing outdoors during the autumn and winter months has many benefits which include:
• Playing a key role in ragwort weed control which can reduce grass yield, potential to kill livestock and is unsightly.
• Sheep and lambs play a holistic role in the control of ragwort. Ragwort is a poisonous unsightly weed which can poison beef animals if grazed. Lambs have the ability to graze ragwort with no negative impact on animal health.
Comparing the 2024 results to 2023, the cattle have a higher carbon footprint. The main reason for this is due to the poorer weather conditions which impacted animal performance across the country. This can be seen with a higher national average carbon footprint for 2024.
• Reduces fertiliser inputs, as they naturally fertilise the grass.
• All lambs were processed in Irish Country Meats. The average carcass weight was 22.7kg. The carcass confirmation scores across the herd consisted of:
IMPROVED GENETICS
AGE OF FINISH BEEF X DAIRY STEERS
The age of finish refers to the age at which the animal is processed at site. By using improved genetics to reduce the age of finish, animals are able to be finished younger whilst still being of a comparable weight and grading, thus reducing the amount of C O2 emissions.
The Sysco ABP Regenerative Farm results indicate that animals are being processed on average 56 days younger than the national average (2023 & 2024).
SLAUGHTER PERFORMANCE - NATIONAL AVG, TOP 10% AND SYSCO ABP RANK BASED ON INDUSTRY DATA FROM JAN 23 TO DEC 23
ON FARM AND
LIFETIME
PERFORMANCE
THE ROLE OF ANIMAL BREEDING: COMMERCIAL BEEF VALUE (CBV) DAIRY X BEEF STEERS
What is CBV? CBV is a selection index that allows farmers to identify the most profitable animals for beef production. The role of animal breeding is a key element of the Sysco ABP Regenerative Farm. The example below highlights the economic benefits to the farmers for selecting better beef genetics.
At €6.00/kg base price carcass value:
• Top third: €2,163.54
• Bottom third: €1,900.32
Difference: €263.22 higher carcass value in higher CBV animals.
Top third finished 12 days younger (cost saving of €36/animal).
Total increased value of higher CBV value: €299.22 per animal or a 16% higher margin due to animal breeding.
CBV - WITHIN HERD RANKING
MORTALITY
Mortality rate on this farm is exceptional. This is a result of the animal husbandry skills that have been passed down through generations. Low farm mortality has a positive impact on farm returns and improves carbon emissions. The target mortality is >5%.
2023 1% (3/220 animals)
<0.5% (1/220 animals)
ANIMAL WELFARE
Animal welfare is the top priority, giving the utmost care and respect to each animal in the herd. Reports received when the animal is processed allow us to assess the prevalence of certain medical conditions to inform improvements that can be made for overall herd health.
LIVER/LUNG REPORT
A liver abscess occurs as a result of a high grain diet or health issues as a calf. Five per-cent of animals showed signs of a liver abscess. The diet for finishers has been altered in 2024/2025 to improve this.
PROACTIVE ANIMAL HEALTH
Proactive animal health is a key pillar of the farm. With the use of a strong vaccine programme it helps prevent illness across the herd. Other key measures include excellent housing facilities, a high standard of hygiene and sourcing calves from high quality local dairy farms.
All calves receive the below vaccinations to prevent illness:
• Pneumonia/IBR – Internasal 4 - 6 weeks old (pneumonia prevention)
• Coccidiosis drench (scour prevention)
• Tribovax 10 – 14 weeks (black leg prevention)
• All cattle receive a Tribovax 10 yearly booster to prevent black leg disease
Liver fluke or liver fluke damage was present in 4.5% of animals processed. Liver fluke disease is a parasitic disease of grazing animals caused by a flat worm that is commonly found in grassland that may be on heavier/wetter soils.
Liver fluke disease causes annual losses estimated to be around €90 million to the Irish livestock and dairy industry. Economic losses caused by liver fluke are mainly associated with a decrease in meat and milk production. Depending on the degree of infection, liver fluke may cause reduced meat production of up to 20% in cattle.
PILLAR 2 Soil Health
KEY TARGETS:
• Achieve 100% optimum pH levels across farm
• Maintain soil key nutrient levels of phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) through soil sampling and targeted slurry application
Soil health is crucial for long-term farm viability. Healthy soil provides essential nutrients that crops require for growth and reduces the need for synthetic fertilisers. The structure of healthy soil allows water to infiltrate and be retained effectively and perhaps most importantly, healthy soil acts as a carbon sink, meaning that it stores organic carbon which reduces atmospheric CO₂ levels.
The Sysco ABP Regenerative Farm soil health status is significantly above average across all parameters, as outlined in the opposite table. Soil samples are typically taken every three years. The farm was soil sampled in 2023, by Sensus (previously known as Farm Eye). Repeat sampling will take place in 2026.
The key things monitored in soil health are: pH levels, key nutrients (P, K and N) and the requirement for lime. The pH level of soil plays a key role in soil fertility.
Maintaining the soil pH at the optimum level (6.3 - 6.5) will increase the microbiological activity of the soil, and result in better soil nutrient recycling and release.
Soil pH is also critical for maximising the availability of nutrients (N, P and K) applied in organic and chemical fertilisers. Lime is a natural soil conditioner (derived from limestone) that corrects soil acidity by neutralising the acids present. The Coady’s are required to spread 20% of the farm with lime to increase soil pH on those fields.
The below charts represent the soil fertility status of the ABP Sysco Regenerative Farm. The national target for soil fertility is to improve all P and K levels to Index 3 & 4 and to maintain them at this level, to ensure optimum conditions for grass growth. The charts indicate all soils on the farm are optimum for P levels and only 26.7% are below target for K levels, this is above industry average.
The pH health measures the acidity or alkalinity of a soil, with the ideal soil pH being close to neutral. 20.6% of the soil on the farm require lime to rectify their high acidity levels.
Overall when P, K and pH levels are taken into consideration the farm has 79.4% of soils at optimum levels. Over the coming years the remaining 20.6% will be a focus.
P INDEX DISTRIBUTION
PILLAR 3 Water Quality
KEY TARGETS:
• Maintain water quality results at well one (Franks). Franks refers to a stream running through the land on the farm
• Improve water quality results (COD, pH, P) at Riparian zone
Water is a critical natural resource. Ensuring Ireland has water of good quality available across the country is essential from an economic and quality of life perspective. Our water is used for drinking, industry, energy generation and recreation. Water is also home to a wide variety of plants and animals.
Activities impacting water quality include: hydro morphology (physical changes to waters), urban and domestic wastewater, forestry, peat extraction, industry and roads, as well as agriculture.
Water on the Sysco ABP Regenerative Farm is tested by ABP’s Advantage Team, a dedicated team of farm liaison officers who support and offer guidance to farmers on ways to improve their economic and environmental sustainability. Tests are carried out at three locations on the Sysco ABP Regenerative Farm to ensure it is within all necessary thresholds.
WELL ONE
FRANKS
RIPARIAN
*Chemical oxygen demand (COD) is the amount of dissolved oxygen that must be present in water to oxidise chemical organic materials, like petroleum. COD is used to gauge the short-term impact waste water effluents will have on the oxygen levels of receiving waters. In 2025, we will continue to take water samples to ensure parameters remain steady and within the suitable target range.
PILLAR 4 Crop Diversity
KEY TARGETS:
• Increase grass walks to 15 per year
• Utilise grass measuring data to make informed decisions on farm
On the Sysco ABP Regenerative Farm the main crop grown is grass. By optimising pasture management and supporting rotational grazing we can ensure soil health and maximise forage use without degrading the land. Grass measuring assists in determining when livestock should graze, preventing overgrazing and allowing time for regeneration.
GRASS MEASURING
Grazed grass gives Irish farmers a major competitive advantage over many international counterparts. The cost of producing one kilogram of live weight gain from grazed grass is 85% less than an intensive concentrate-based system.
With the implementation of grass measuring Aoibhin will successfully be able to track the amount of grass available to animals at any one time. Once Aoibhin knows how much grass her animals demand she can match her grass supply to that demand. In times where supply is greater than demand, surplus grass can be taken out for silage or reseeding to ensure all grass is utilised.
Aoibhin started grass measuring in 2024 using the ‘cut & weigh’ method. This is carried out using a 0.5 x 0.5m quadrant, shears and weighing scales.
Using a 0.5m x 0.5m quadrant, you must place it in an area which represents the average grass cover of the field you wish to measure. Using grass shears, you cut the grass within the quadrant and weigh this grass using the weighing scales. Using this weight, you can calculate how much grass is within the entire field.
Seven grass walks were completed overall. A grass walk entails walking the entire farm and doing the above ‘cut & weigh’ measurement in each field. This data is recorded on an app called Pasturebase.
PILLAR 5 Biodiversity
KEY TARGETS:
• Maintain hedgerows on farm
Biodiversity Plan:
• Reduce hedgerow pruning to every second year on outside farms to allow ecosystems to thrive
Biodiversity refers to all varieties of life living in one location, such as animals, plants, fungi, and even micro-organisms like bacteria that make up our natural world. Each of these species and organisms work together in ecosystems, like an intricate web, to maintain balance and support life. Biodiversity supports everything in nature that we need to survive: food, clean water, medicine, and shelter.
A biodiversity assessment, measuring the percentage of space dedicated to hedgerows and nature in general, was conducted by Sensus in 2024. This will establish a baseline for the farm and allow us to monitor changes over time, thus creating a biodiversity plan for the farm.
The Sysco ABP Regenerative Farm contains 14.3% hedgerows, compared to the average beef farm in Ireland which contains less than three percent of the 700,000km of hedgerows in Ireland.
A second biodiversity measure for the farm uses the Department of Agriculture system. The current score for the farm is 14.8% space for nature. The target is 10% space for nature for farms in Ireland.
Farm Carbon Footprint - 2023
The carbon footprint of the farm refers to the amount of CO₂ emissions per kilo of animal. Carbon emissions are calculated via the Bord Bia Carbon Calculator, which calculates that the Sysco ABP Regenerative Farm has a carbon footprint of 8.22kg CO₂/kg of live weight gain. This is 1.81kg CO₂/kg less than the national average which was 10.03kg CO₂ kg for 2021 - 2023.
AGNAV DATA
AgNav is a new sustainability online platform. It provides farmers with accurate and verifiable data to identify mitigation strategies and support decision making on farm, which assists in meeting agriculture’s Climate Action Plan targets. It has been developed by Teagasc, ICBF and Bord Bia with the support of the Department of Agriculture.
The intention of the platform is to maximise efficiency and deliver a higher level of service to farmers intent on making changes on their farms. It facilitates environmental improvement and enhanced economic performance.
The vision for AgNav is that it will deliver continuous evolution of science led support and engagement tools, providing accurate and verifiable data to farmers working to deliver on Climate Action Plan targets and sustainability improvements.
Resources in relation to research, data collection and analysis, education and planning will be connected via the platform to create a “one stop shop” for farmers implementing climate action and sustainability improvements on their farms.
AGNAV ACTIONS FOR THE SYSCO ABP REGENERATIVE FARM 2023 - 2025:
1. Improve silage quality
2. Use protected urea
3. Create a herd health plan
4. Apply lime to correct soil pH
5. Measure grass growth
6. Implement nutrient management plan
PILLAR 6 Farmer Education
KEY TARGETS:
• Attend two farm walks per year
• Join a local dairy calf to beef discussion group
Farmer education is a critical element of regenerative farming. Education and training helps farmers implement key environmental and efficiency practices on their own farm, therefore making them more economically and environmentally sustainable.
• Attend one national Teagasc beef event per year
Through the Sysco ABP Regenerative Farm, Aoibhin and the Coady family have gained knowledge across a wide range of subjects including grassland management, genetics, soil health, animal health and nutrition. These insights were gained through attending ABP hosted farm walks, Teagasc open days, one to one training on farm and online forums.
Conclusion & Next Steps
The Sysco ABP Regenerative Farm is performing well across all key targets under each pillar. Every year an updated progress report will be developed to explore how each area is progressing year on year.
Updates and learnings will be shared throughout the year on Sysco’s dedicated regenerative agriculture page. For more information, visit www.syscoireland.com/regenerative-agriculture
Sysco are committed to communicating and sharing the key learnings from the Sysco ABP Regenerative Farm with suppliers through social media and farm events. The farm events will allow more farmers to obtain the benefits of adopting regenerative farming practices, leading to a more economically sustainable and environmentally friendly future.
The key areas of focus for 2025 include grassland management, improvement in cattle forage for the winter months and water quality.
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