Newford Farm has entered its busiest period, with calving intensity rising sharply over the last week with over 20 cows calving. This brings the total number of calves born up to Sunday 18 February to 48, which includes one set of twins. The intensity is set to last for another few weeks, with 64 cows and 22 heifers holding to first service, while a further 18 cows held to second service (only 11 cows served thereafter).

Farm manager Matthew Murphy reports calving progressing well, with a cow with E coli mastitis on Saturday night the only downside of calving in recent weeks. The cow was described by Matthew as being quite ill, but she has responded well to ongoing veterinary treatment and started to eat and drink normally again.

There is a strong focus on trying to limit disease incidence and mastitis in these high-yielding first-cross dairy cows. Slats are being scraped down daily, with lime dusted on top of slats and also sprinkled on top of straw bedding before reapplying fresh straw.

A practice of placing foot baths outside of all sheds during the calving season worked well in 2017 and has been put in place again. Anyone entering a shed has to disinfect their footwear, which will hopefully help to prevent any disease that may occur from spreading between sheds. This is particularly beneficial in going from sheds with cows and older calves to sheds with young calves present.

Ground conditions remain poor and as well as preventing early turnout of yearling cattle or cows and calves, it is also preventing urea being applied. The table below shows the volume of rainfall in Newford farm compared with other Teagasc centres and also the difference on 2017 levels.