Derrypatrick herd update: Steers gaining 0.6 kg liveweight/day
The Derrypatrick herd is an initiative by Teagasc aimed at researching optimal sustainable suckler beef systems. Liam McWeeney of Teagasc gives a weekly update on the farm.
A further 15 calves were born in the past week which brings the total numbers calved to 58, and this translates to almost 60% of the herd calved in the first month. Gender of the calves is currently split 50/50 with 29 of each.
To date, bull calves have an average birth weight of 42.5 kg while heifer calves weighed 41 kg. Cows and calves are doing well and there are no health problems to report. Calves are vaccinated at ten days of age against RSV, PI3 and IBR. It is hoped to get some cows and calves to grass in the coming week, depending on weather.
The weanlings were weighed this week and are on target with the heifers gaining on average 0.5 kg liveweight/day for the winter period and the steers have gained 0.6 kg. The weanling/yearling bulls who are being built up to an ad libitum concentrate diet are currently eating 7kg concentrates/head/day and should achieve their ad libitum concentrates diet target by the end of next week.
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We had a further 25 mm of rain this week. Slurry will be spread in the coming week if the weather forecast is favourable. If ground conditions are not suitable to carry a tractor and tanker then slurry will be spread using an umbilical system.
There is urea fertiliser in the yard which we hope to spread this week as the average weekly soil temperatures are now above 5.5 degrees celsius.
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A further 15 calves were born in the past week which brings the total numbers calved to 58, and this translates to almost 60% of the herd calved in the first month. Gender of the calves is currently split 50/50 with 29 of each.
To date, bull calves have an average birth weight of 42.5 kg while heifer calves weighed 41 kg. Cows and calves are doing well and there are no health problems to report. Calves are vaccinated at ten days of age against RSV, PI3 and IBR. It is hoped to get some cows and calves to grass in the coming week, depending on weather.
The weanlings were weighed this week and are on target with the heifers gaining on average 0.5 kg liveweight/day for the winter period and the steers have gained 0.6 kg. The weanling/yearling bulls who are being built up to an ad libitum concentrate diet are currently eating 7kg concentrates/head/day and should achieve their ad libitum concentrates diet target by the end of next week.
We had a further 25 mm of rain this week. Slurry will be spread in the coming week if the weather forecast is favourable. If ground conditions are not suitable to carry a tractor and tanker then slurry will be spread using an umbilical system.
There is urea fertiliser in the yard which we hope to spread this week as the average weekly soil temperatures are now above 5.5 degrees celsius.
If you would like to speak to a member of our team, please call us on 01-4199525.
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