BEEP weighing: Make sure to register your scales before weighing is completed as part of the BEEP scheme. It’s a relatively straightforward process and can be completed on www.icbf.com. You need to log in to your Herdplus account and follow the on-screen instructions. You need three pieces of information – the make or manufacturer of the scales, the serial number of the scales and the year in which the scales were purchased. If you are renting a scales through a co-op, the scales will already be registered and this will be recorded through the booking system.
If you are using a borrowed scales, you need to use the original registration number, so the registration number moves with the scales. To record weights, enter the date of weighing and fill in the weights with corresponding tag numbers. Scales are available to rent from participating co-ops and stores. Calves can be weighed at any age but to get maximum benefit from analysis, weighing should be carried out when they are around 200 days old before creep feeding starts to get a good handle on the maternal aspects of the cow.
Your weighing report will be available once weights are inputted. Sit down and take a look at what cows are rearing heavy calves v lighter calves and make a few informed decisions about culling and choosing replacements. Also, if you are planning to wean early spring calves, make sure you are feeding meal four weeks before and two weeks after weaning. If inspected, you will need to have the receipts for the meal purchased at the correct time.
Autumn reseeding: This week’s focus looks at autumn reseeding. Many drystock farmers choose autumn to reseed as grass demand is lower so it suits to take it out of the grazing rotation. It is important not to leave it too late. It’s too costly not to get right. If spraying off with glyphosate, the advice is to leave it for three weeks to get a good kill. Reseeding needs to be completed by the first week in September to give it every chance of success so that means spraying off in the next two weeks.
A 60% tetraploid, 40% diploid mix seems to be the best choice depending on land type. The Teagasc Pasture Profit Index should be used when selecting varieties. On more difficult land, more diploids will provide better ground cover. Soil fertility is key and having land at the correct pH along with index 3 status for P and K is key. Appropriate application of nitrogen in the following years is important also. Low fertiliser applications on reseeds will lead to the new grass dying off and allow old grass and grassweeds dominate the sward again. This is especially important on lower-stocked farms which have low fertiliser requirements. On some very low-stocked farms, correcting soil fertility issues may be a better move rather than reseeding and will be less costly.
Farm safety: Just because farm safety week ended last week doesn’t mean it should go to the bottom of the list again. Children at home from school continue to be a massive risk around farmyards. Make sure tanks are closed after slurry and any gates not hanging are left lying down rather than standing up.
Read more
Beef management: time to introduce the creep feeder for weanlings
Factories losing battle to keep lid on prices
Beef management: rehousing cows during the breeding season
BEEP weighing: Make sure to register your scales before weighing is completed as part of the BEEP scheme. It’s a relatively straightforward process and can be completed on www.icbf.com. You need to log in to your Herdplus account and follow the on-screen instructions. You need three pieces of information – the make or manufacturer of the scales, the serial number of the scales and the year in which the scales were purchased. If you are renting a scales through a co-op, the scales will already be registered and this will be recorded through the booking system.
If you are using a borrowed scales, you need to use the original registration number, so the registration number moves with the scales. To record weights, enter the date of weighing and fill in the weights with corresponding tag numbers. Scales are available to rent from participating co-ops and stores. Calves can be weighed at any age but to get maximum benefit from analysis, weighing should be carried out when they are around 200 days old before creep feeding starts to get a good handle on the maternal aspects of the cow.
Your weighing report will be available once weights are inputted. Sit down and take a look at what cows are rearing heavy calves v lighter calves and make a few informed decisions about culling and choosing replacements. Also, if you are planning to wean early spring calves, make sure you are feeding meal four weeks before and two weeks after weaning. If inspected, you will need to have the receipts for the meal purchased at the correct time.
Autumn reseeding: This week’s focus looks at autumn reseeding. Many drystock farmers choose autumn to reseed as grass demand is lower so it suits to take it out of the grazing rotation. It is important not to leave it too late. It’s too costly not to get right. If spraying off with glyphosate, the advice is to leave it for three weeks to get a good kill. Reseeding needs to be completed by the first week in September to give it every chance of success so that means spraying off in the next two weeks.
A 60% tetraploid, 40% diploid mix seems to be the best choice depending on land type. The Teagasc Pasture Profit Index should be used when selecting varieties. On more difficult land, more diploids will provide better ground cover. Soil fertility is key and having land at the correct pH along with index 3 status for P and K is key. Appropriate application of nitrogen in the following years is important also. Low fertiliser applications on reseeds will lead to the new grass dying off and allow old grass and grassweeds dominate the sward again. This is especially important on lower-stocked farms which have low fertiliser requirements. On some very low-stocked farms, correcting soil fertility issues may be a better move rather than reseeding and will be less costly.
Farm safety: Just because farm safety week ended last week doesn’t mean it should go to the bottom of the list again. Children at home from school continue to be a massive risk around farmyards. Make sure tanks are closed after slurry and any gates not hanging are left lying down rather than standing up.
Read more
Beef management: time to introduce the creep feeder for weanlings
Factories losing battle to keep lid on prices
Beef management: rehousing cows during the breeding season
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