The extended grazing season in Newford farm, the 100-cow suckler-to-beef demonstration herd in Athenry, Co Galway, is coming to an end.

Cows have a few days grazing remaining and will be housed on Tuesday with weanling heifers planned to be housed later in the week.

Weanling bullocks are grazing on the Tuohy’s land block and, weather permitting, have another 10 days' grazing remaining.

Grass growth rates have dipped sharply following last week’s heavy frost with the latest grass walk recording growth rates in the low teens.

Grass utilisation in recent weeks has been excellent with the extended grazing season greatly helping to put the winter fodder budget into surplus territory.

After housing

Once housed suckler cows will be offered low-quality silage ad-lib. The silage tested 61DMD with a protein content of 9%. It was harvested from rented permanent pasture with old grasses, hence the lower quality.

The second-cut sample has been sent for analysis.

Cows with a poor body condition score at weaning will be re-assessed at housing and penned according to condition.

It is likely there will be in the region of 20+ cows falling below a target condition score of 2+ with the year particularly challenging for first calvers. These cows will receive concentrate supplementation in mid-pregnancy as has been the case in recent years.

This approach has worked well in having cows calving down at the optimum condition score and underpinning subsequent breeding performance.

Weanlings and finishing steers will be offered baled silage which tested with a DMD in the mid-70’s and a positive protein figure of 13%. Concentrate supplementation will continue at 2kg when weanlings are housed with the allocation reviewed depending on performance and possibly reduced later in the housing period.

There has been an average of eight grazings achieved to date with the farm on target to achieve 10 grazings were it not for drought conditions in June and July.

Heifers have performed well since weaning and will be housed in sheds on the Newford block next week.

Once housed weanlings will be offered bales made from surplus silage with a DMD in the mid-70s while 2kg meal supplementation will continue and be reviewed as the winter progresses.

The favourable weather in recent weeks has reduced stress of weaning and helped avoid any health issues.

Heifers are proving challenging to manage since weaning with a few heifers grazing under the temporary electric wire used to split paddocks and breaking fences.

The first paddocks closed have a nice cover of grass present and in a good position to exploit early spring grazing if weather conditons allow.

Paddocks recently grazed that received farm yard manure have responded well.

The favourable weather and good ground conditions has allowed for excellent levels of grass utilisation.

A second strand of electric fencing has been erected to prevent heifers leaving the paddock and kncking fences.

Steers are being built up to 10kg concentrate supplementation, split into a morning and evening feed of 5kg.

The extended grazing season has afforded cows an opportunity to regain condition while also bringing the winter fodder budget well into the green.