Grass
Disappointingly, growth rates have slipped again over the last seven days. Last week the average growth rate was at 70kg DM/ha/day, but this is back down to 33kg DM/ha/day at present, similar to that of two weeks ago.
Demand is currently 25kg DM/ha/day, meaning building covers for the back end is being hindered significantly. It was hoped to start building covers now to extend the grazing season in the beck end, however, this week’s average farm cover is 500kg DM/ha, down from 790kg DM/ha last week. To help in building covers, grazing is being followed with the application of one bag of CAN per acre. It is hoped that with sufficient rainfall and fertiliser, growth can pick-up once again for next week.
At present, there is one paddock over 2,000kg DM/ha and this will still be skipped for grazing and taken out as surplus bales instead. This will be cut when the weather allows. Topping is also taking place on some paddocks to clean-off residuals for the next rotation.
Interval sown on 8 August
Forage crops
Thirteen acres of Redstart and six acres of Interval sown on 8 August are now showing up well through the soil. These 19 acres received 2.5 bags of 18:6:12 at sowing, as well as farmyard manure prior to sowing.
These two forage crops are earmarked for wintering this year’s weanling heifers. While stretching silage with all groups of stock might have made enough silage available as fodder for these heifers too, the decision was made to sow just under 20ac of forage crops to take the pressure off housing in the yard during the winter.
Dairy heifers and spring calves
The dairy heifers, reared last spring, were weighed last week. There are 60 heifers in total, mainly Angus and Hereford X from the dairy herd. Twenty of the strongest are receiving 5kg/head/day of ration and these will be slaughtered off grass. This group averaged 430kg.
The remaining 40 lighter heifers are on 3kg/head/day and averaged 392kg. A batch of 15 to20 of the heaviest of these heifers will now be picked for increased feeding and finishing.
All spring calves received their second treatment for worms last week. A white oral drench, Fenben 10%, was used to combat lungworm, stomach worms and intestinal worms.
Lambs
No lambs were drafted for slaughter last week. Twenty-four went in the week previous bringing the total number slaughtered this year to 105. On Monday, all lambs were weighed and 35 have been drafted for slaughter at an average liveweight of 46kg. These will go to the factory Thursday morning.
One lamb was found dead in the field on Monday morning and was sent to the laboratory for analysis. At present, there is no obvious explanation for what caused its death.
Rams
At the Sheep Ireland sale in Tullamore on Saturday, one Texel ram-lamb and one Texel shearling-ram were purchased. Both rams are five-star on the terminal index and were purchased with the view to breeding lambs with high carcase weights and confirmation next year.
Read more
Tullamore Farm: back to work after a day of farm walks
Long read: looking for a winter feed option? Let them eat kale
BETTER farm: getting on top of IBR
Grass
Disappointingly, growth rates have slipped again over the last seven days. Last week the average growth rate was at 70kg DM/ha/day, but this is back down to 33kg DM/ha/day at present, similar to that of two weeks ago.
Demand is currently 25kg DM/ha/day, meaning building covers for the back end is being hindered significantly. It was hoped to start building covers now to extend the grazing season in the beck end, however, this week’s average farm cover is 500kg DM/ha, down from 790kg DM/ha last week. To help in building covers, grazing is being followed with the application of one bag of CAN per acre. It is hoped that with sufficient rainfall and fertiliser, growth can pick-up once again for next week.
At present, there is one paddock over 2,000kg DM/ha and this will still be skipped for grazing and taken out as surplus bales instead. This will be cut when the weather allows. Topping is also taking place on some paddocks to clean-off residuals for the next rotation.
Interval sown on 8 August
Forage crops
Thirteen acres of Redstart and six acres of Interval sown on 8 August are now showing up well through the soil. These 19 acres received 2.5 bags of 18:6:12 at sowing, as well as farmyard manure prior to sowing.
These two forage crops are earmarked for wintering this year’s weanling heifers. While stretching silage with all groups of stock might have made enough silage available as fodder for these heifers too, the decision was made to sow just under 20ac of forage crops to take the pressure off housing in the yard during the winter.
Dairy heifers and spring calves
The dairy heifers, reared last spring, were weighed last week. There are 60 heifers in total, mainly Angus and Hereford X from the dairy herd. Twenty of the strongest are receiving 5kg/head/day of ration and these will be slaughtered off grass. This group averaged 430kg.
The remaining 40 lighter heifers are on 3kg/head/day and averaged 392kg. A batch of 15 to20 of the heaviest of these heifers will now be picked for increased feeding and finishing.
All spring calves received their second treatment for worms last week. A white oral drench, Fenben 10%, was used to combat lungworm, stomach worms and intestinal worms.
Lambs
No lambs were drafted for slaughter last week. Twenty-four went in the week previous bringing the total number slaughtered this year to 105. On Monday, all lambs were weighed and 35 have been drafted for slaughter at an average liveweight of 46kg. These will go to the factory Thursday morning.
One lamb was found dead in the field on Monday morning and was sent to the laboratory for analysis. At present, there is no obvious explanation for what caused its death.
Rams
At the Sheep Ireland sale in Tullamore on Saturday, one Texel ram-lamb and one Texel shearling-ram were purchased. Both rams are five-star on the terminal index and were purchased with the view to breeding lambs with high carcase weights and confirmation next year.
Read more
Tullamore Farm: back to work after a day of farm walks
Long read: looking for a winter feed option? Let them eat kale
BETTER farm: getting on top of IBR
SHARING OPTIONS