Niall Patterson Co Leitrim

The cows started calving within the last three weeks. It is going well so far. The cows were in good body condition at calving (average BCS 3.0) and I have found that this is definitely a factor in helping the cows have adequate colostrum and ensuring easy calving.

As calving takes place indoors, calf health is very important on the farm. Turnout can be late due to the heavy soil type that we have here. I have found that ensuring that calves get plenty of colostrum is important to cut down on the risk of scours and other forms of sickness.

A pre-calving mineral mix is fed six weeks prior to calving. After calving, the cows will get 2kg of the same ration and ad-lib first-cut silage until they are settled back in-calf. Through blood sampling of cows, we identified an iodine deficiency on the farm and we will bolus cows to address this issue in advance of the breeding season.

I plan to house the ewes in January, weather permitting.

They will also be scanned at the same time. Keeping calving pens clean is also important. The weanling heifers are currently being fed ad-lib silage and 2kg of concentrates. The ration is comprised of maize meal, wheat, distillers, maize gluten and soya hulls with a crude protein of 16%. The weanling bulls are being fed 3.5kg of the same ration and ad-lib silage.

The silage analysis came back with 65 DMD and a protein level of 13.4%. I was a little disappointed with the silage quality as I expected it to be better, but I am happy with the protein level.

Frank and Des Beirne, Co Longford

All stock on the farm are housed now. The autumn-calved cows were left out later in order to try and get as many cows served outdoors as possible.

The autumn-calved cows are being fed a total mixed ration. The breakdown consists of ad-lib silage (69 DMD), 0.25kg straw, 0.2kg soya, 0.2kg rape seed meal and post-calving mineral mix. They have been taken off concentrates and I have increased the silage rate to ad-lib.

They were scanned last week and all proved in-calf except six cows. All these cows, if served now, would be calving outside our 12-week calving spread so will be fattened once the calves are weaned.

The calves are being fed 1.5kg of an 18% crude protein mixed ration as it will offset the reduced milk intake. Faecal samples were taken last week in order to decide what product should be used. Results are similar to last year, indicating a low positive rumen fluke in the autumn-calving cows and positive result from the weanlings.

Results came back negative for liver fluke, so they will be faecal-sampled in the next month to check again.

The bulls that I expect to be finished in January are getting 1kg of straw, 1.5kg molasses, 0.5kg soya, 0.5kg rape seed, 1.6kg citrus pulp, 3kg maize, 5kg barley and 5kg silage. Lime, mineral vitamin mix is also fed. 100g of acid buffer is also added to their diet.

Their average daily gain at last weighing was 2.2kg since previous weighing 33 days ago and they did 2kg/day since September. We would like to wish James Keane the best of luck in his new position. We look forward to working with Shane Devaney in the coming years and wish him every success.