FUTURE OF FARMING 2025 FARM REPORT
FUTURE OF FARMING | SYS C O & A B P
SYSCO & ABP
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 aims to showcase 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 calf-to-beef operation, steadily growing year after year. Today, Aoibhin is raising over 88 calves and 58 lambs across 95 acres. Unless otherwise stated, this report reflects the performance of the steers on this farm only. The data presented in this report is farm data from 2024.
Six Regenerative Pillars
O U R A P P R OAC H TO R E G E N E R AT I V E AG R I C U LT U R E I S B AS E D O N S I X P I L L A R S
Livestock Responsibility 2
Soil Health
Water Quality
Crop Diversity
Biodiversity
Farmer Education 3
FUTURE OF FARMING | SYS C O & A B P
SYSCO & ABP
PILLAR 1
Livestock Responsibility G R E E N H O U S E GAS O U T P U T P E R KG C A R C ASS W E I G H T ( 2024 )
KEY TARGETS: • Increase carcass weight • Increase genetic merit of dairy beef calves
( T H E LOW E R T H E G H G O U T P U T P E R KG CA R CASS W E I G H T T H E B E T T E R YO U R H E R D R A N KS )
• Reduce instances of liver/lung issues on AHI factory report • Maintain mortality rate
Beef X Dairy
Steers
Your Herd Percentile Rank
Coady Farm Average
National Average
National Top 10%
13.9Kg
14.39
11.86
(minimum of five animals needed for rank)
National Btm 10%
National Top 10%
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 below the national average. The Dairy X Beef Steers 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. The Dairy X Dairy Steers have an average carbon footprint of 14.31kg of carbon per kg of carcass weight, 1.04Kg lower than the national average. 4
The above tables are based on information from the ABP Beef Benchmark Report developed by the ICBF and ABP.
The green house gases (GHG) from beef farms in Ireland are measured in kilogram of carbon equivalent per kilogram of beef carcass weight.
Beef X dairy, as seen above comes from the male beef sire and female dairy dam.
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: • 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.
• 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: 34 R Score 24 U Score
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FUTURE OF FARMING | SYS C O & A B P
SYSCO & ABP
IMPROVED GENETICS
C BV - W I T H I N H E R D R A N K I N G Top Third
Average
Bottom Third
No. of Animals
15
15
15
CBV
€132
€94
€56
Lifetime ADG
0.75
0.76
0.66
Age at Slaughter
761
774
773
Weight
337kg
324kg
296kg
Grade
O=
O=
O=
AG E O F F I N IS H B E E F X DA I RY ST E E RS 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 CO2 emissions. The Sysco ABP Regenerative Farm results indicate that animals are being processed on average 72 days younger than the national average dairy beef steers. The data presented is from the ICBF Benchmark Report for the farm.
S L AU G H T E R P E R F O R M A N C E : SYS CO A B P H E R D VS N AT I O N A L AV E R AG E No. of Animals
Sysco ABP Herd
National Average
Difference
Carcass Weight
53
329
324
-5
Carcass Conformation
53
O+
O=
Carcass Fat
53
3=
3=
0
Age
53
750
822
-72
Slaughter Performance Dairy X Beef dairy steers
MORTALITY
PROACTIVE ANIMAL HEALTH
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%.
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.
2023
1% (3/220 animals)
2024
<0.5% (1/220 animals)
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
O N FA R M A N D L I F E T I M E P E R F O R M A N C E Top Third
Average
Bottom Third
No Index
No. of Animals
14
14
14
11
Commercial Beef Value
€151
€111
€76
N/A
Lifetime ADG
0.80
N/A
N/A
N/A
Age at Slaughter
751
745
750
756
Weight
333kg
335kg
318kg
333kg
Grade
O+
O+
O=
O+
Commercial Beef Value (CBV) - within herd ranking
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: €2,158 • Bottom third: €2042 Difference: Higher CBV cattle on the Sysco Regen farm had an increased carcass value €116, while been 1 day younger at finish
Total increased value of higher CBV value: €299.22 per animal or a 16% higher margin due to animal breeding.
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.
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.
Other Lung Pneumonia Lung Score Liver Abscess Other Liver Fluke Liver Score Health Score Animals Slaughtered 0
6
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
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FUTURE OF FARMING | SYS C O & A B P
SYSCO & ABP
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 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.
National Average (Drystock)
Optimum Soil Health
79.4%
13%
Optimum pH
79.4%
43%
Optimum Phosphorus (P)
100%
43%
Optimum Potassium (K)
93.7%
53%
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.
K INDEX DISTRIBUTION 6.29%
8.66%
26.7%
67%
91.3%
4
3
1
2
PH HEALTH
20.6%
LIME REQUIRED
4
3
2
1
OVERALL HEALTH
20.6%
79.4%
8
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.
Sysco ABP Farm
1 P INDEX DISTRIBUTION 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 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.
79.4%
NO LIME REQUIRED
SUB OPTIMUM
OPTIMUM
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FUTURE OF FARMING | SYS C O & A B P
SYSCO & ABP
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.
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Tests are carried out at three locations on the Sysco ABP Regenerative Farm to ensure it is within all necessary thresholds. The tests carried out on the water quality on this farm were done in accordance with the LabTrust standard. One of the aims of this project is to apply for EIP funding under the Farming for Water EIP. If successful, a plan will be put in place to invest in measures on the farm that aim to improve water quality and reduce nutrient run-off.
WELL ONE Test
Unit
Target
14/06/2024
23/09/2024
PH
pH
6.0 - 9.0
8.4
8.2
Ammonia
mg/l
0.04-0.065
0.02
0.02
Total Phosphorus
mg/l
0.025-0.035
0.005
0.005
Test
Unit
Target
14/06/2024
23/09/2024
PH
pH
6.0 - 9.0
8.4
8.17
Ammonia
mg/l
0.04-0.065
0.02
0.02
Total Phosphorus
mg/l
0.025-0.035
0.006
0.008
Test
Unit
Target
14/06/2024
23/09/2024
PH
pH
6.0 - 9.0
8.1
8.19
Ammonia
mg/l
0.04-0.065
0.02
0.05
Total Phosphorus
mg/l
0.025-0.035
0.014
0.031
FRANKS
RIPARIAN
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FUTURE OF FARMING | SYS C O & A B P
SYSCO & ABP
PILLAR 4
Crop Diversity • 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. Concentrates are 4.2 times more expensive than grazed grass. 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.
Biodiversity KEY TARGETS:
KEY TARGETS: • Increase grass walks to 15 per year
PILLAR 5
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.
• Maintain hedgerows on farm
• Reduce hedgerow pruning to every second year on outside farms to allow ecosystems to thrive
Biodiversity Plan: 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.
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.
Improved agricultural grassland
84.1% (27.2 ha)
Hedgerows
14.3% (4.6 ha)
Buildings and artificial structures
1.6% (0.5 ha)
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
Percentage of farm
12
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FUTURE OF FARMING | SYS C O & A B P
SYSCO & ABP
Bord Bia 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.
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 Ag Nav 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.
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Farmer Education KEY TARGETS: • Attend two farm walks per year
AG NAV DATA Ag Nav 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.
PILLAR 6
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
• 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.
4. Apply lime to correct soil pH 5. Measure grass growth 6. Implement nutrient management plan
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FUTURE OF FARMING | SYS C O & A B P
SYSCO & ABP
Conclusion & Next Steps The Sysco ABP Regenerative Farm is performing well across all key targets under each pillar. Updated reports in the future will be developed to explore progress under each of the 6 key pillars of this Regenerative Agriculture project. 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. Key areas of focus for our next report will include water quality, introduction of more red clover to reduce fertiliser usage on farm and purchase of feed and opportunities for wider industry collaboration.
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