Autumn calving is approaching fast, maybe too fast, given that the weather has become much wetter in recent weeks.
This year, I have 40 animals to calve down, of which 32 are cows and the other eight replacement heifers.
There were 44 animals scanned in-calf, but unfortunately I lost some cows to TB at the last herd test early this year.
As the heifers were being housed last autumn, they went on to high-quality silage (74% D-Value) and were very quick to come into heat.
The original plan was to artificially inseminate heifers from the middle of October onwards. But with the heifers showing such strong heats, I felt it would be a shame to miss the chance to serve them.
Heifers held to first service at the start of October and along with the scanning date, should be calving around the middle of July. They are definitely coming close, with udders filling out nicely at the start of July.
Spring cows mainly calve down in January and will be weaned to free up better grass for autumn calving cows.
Herd sires
All breeding stock was served to AI. The heifers are calving to the Limousin bull Moondharrig Knell and an Angus bull, Thrunton Rocket.
The cows are all in-calf to Charolais sires. I used Fiston, who has left some great calves for me in the past, Clogher Finn and Firoda Jason.
Calving management
The autumn herd calves at the home yard where they can be watched closely. I brought four of the replacement heifers back home and they are grazing as a group in small paddocks where they can be easily seen.
The autumn cows are still running on the hill ground. They should be starting to calve at the end of July.
I have a herd test in the middle of the month, after which the autumn cows will stay close to the yard for calving.
I started to offer cows a pre-calving mineral, but they were slow to take it, even when offered with a small quantity of meal. I have since changed to a different mineral and it seems to getting better intakes.
Building grass covers
I have started to save grass for the autumn cows once they calve. This will drive milk production and help cows keep body condition before housing and breeding starts.
Over the past couple of years, this has worked well and has cut down on the amount of concentrate fed to freshly calved cows.
Second-cut silage is almost ready for cutting and once harvested, this ground will be dressed with fertiliser and kept for autumn-calving cows also.
Second cut
There is 46 acres to harvest for second cut and it should be ready around 12 July. Fields were closed off during the last week of May after the first cut was finished.
Slurry and compound fertiliser was applied and grass growth has been excellent with a good crop to be harvested.
Although the weather has become more changeable, I have my own equipment to mow and bale grass, so I can work away even if there are only small windows of opportunity to save grass.
Autumn 2019-born stores are grazing on rotation. Ground conditions have become harder to manage with more rainfall in recent weeks.
Surplus grass
As I am carrying more stock on the farm, there has been a big increase in the demand for silage over the past three years.
To boost fodder reserves, I have been taking out surplus grass from the grazing block. I made 30 bales on four acres of grazing last week and have another 20 bales saved in recent weeks.
While it is more work, it is worth doing, as the feed quality of bales is good and it takes the pressure off fodder stocks, especially during a wet summer or autumn when animals have to be housed early.
Weaning spring-born calves
My spring herd calves down from late December to the end of January. These calves have done well this year and will be weaned in early August.
The cows will be housed for a week to dry off before going back to hill ground. The calves will be weighed and wormed, then put back to good-quality grass on a rotation until autumn.
At this point they will be housed and fed high-quality silage along with concentrates. Spring-born calves will be sold as yearlings through the live ring in January around 400kg to 450kg, as in previous years.
Autumn stores
There are 42 store cattle, which were born last autumn, still on farm. These animals have also performed well at grass thanks to good grazing conditions throughout the spring.
I have 25 of these animals grazing paddocks on rotation. Ground conditions are just about manageable at the moment.
The cattle are being moved every few days to keep them from becoming unsettled and damaging swards.
Housed
There are seven of the heaviest animals housed, with the rest spread out in smaller groups.
The housed cattle are around 500kg and getting good silage and a small quantity of concentrate to maintain condition.
Hopefully, we get a clear test in July, at which point the autumn-born stores will be sold live. Selling these animals will also free up more ground that can be targeted to the autumn-calving cows and the spring calves after weaning.
Read more
Beef labelling blocking trade
BETTER Farm NI: driving farm output in Co Antrim
Autumn calving is approaching fast, maybe too fast, given that the weather has become much wetter in recent weeks.
This year, I have 40 animals to calve down, of which 32 are cows and the other eight replacement heifers.
There were 44 animals scanned in-calf, but unfortunately I lost some cows to TB at the last herd test early this year.
As the heifers were being housed last autumn, they went on to high-quality silage (74% D-Value) and were very quick to come into heat.
The original plan was to artificially inseminate heifers from the middle of October onwards. But with the heifers showing such strong heats, I felt it would be a shame to miss the chance to serve them.
Heifers held to first service at the start of October and along with the scanning date, should be calving around the middle of July. They are definitely coming close, with udders filling out nicely at the start of July.
Spring cows mainly calve down in January and will be weaned to free up better grass for autumn calving cows.
Herd sires
All breeding stock was served to AI. The heifers are calving to the Limousin bull Moondharrig Knell and an Angus bull, Thrunton Rocket.
The cows are all in-calf to Charolais sires. I used Fiston, who has left some great calves for me in the past, Clogher Finn and Firoda Jason.
Calving management
The autumn herd calves at the home yard where they can be watched closely. I brought four of the replacement heifers back home and they are grazing as a group in small paddocks where they can be easily seen.
The autumn cows are still running on the hill ground. They should be starting to calve at the end of July.
I have a herd test in the middle of the month, after which the autumn cows will stay close to the yard for calving.
I started to offer cows a pre-calving mineral, but they were slow to take it, even when offered with a small quantity of meal. I have since changed to a different mineral and it seems to getting better intakes.
Building grass covers
I have started to save grass for the autumn cows once they calve. This will drive milk production and help cows keep body condition before housing and breeding starts.
Over the past couple of years, this has worked well and has cut down on the amount of concentrate fed to freshly calved cows.
Second-cut silage is almost ready for cutting and once harvested, this ground will be dressed with fertiliser and kept for autumn-calving cows also.
Second cut
There is 46 acres to harvest for second cut and it should be ready around 12 July. Fields were closed off during the last week of May after the first cut was finished.
Slurry and compound fertiliser was applied and grass growth has been excellent with a good crop to be harvested.
Although the weather has become more changeable, I have my own equipment to mow and bale grass, so I can work away even if there are only small windows of opportunity to save grass.
Autumn 2019-born stores are grazing on rotation. Ground conditions have become harder to manage with more rainfall in recent weeks.
Surplus grass
As I am carrying more stock on the farm, there has been a big increase in the demand for silage over the past three years.
To boost fodder reserves, I have been taking out surplus grass from the grazing block. I made 30 bales on four acres of grazing last week and have another 20 bales saved in recent weeks.
While it is more work, it is worth doing, as the feed quality of bales is good and it takes the pressure off fodder stocks, especially during a wet summer or autumn when animals have to be housed early.
Weaning spring-born calves
My spring herd calves down from late December to the end of January. These calves have done well this year and will be weaned in early August.
The cows will be housed for a week to dry off before going back to hill ground. The calves will be weighed and wormed, then put back to good-quality grass on a rotation until autumn.
At this point they will be housed and fed high-quality silage along with concentrates. Spring-born calves will be sold as yearlings through the live ring in January around 400kg to 450kg, as in previous years.
Autumn stores
There are 42 store cattle, which were born last autumn, still on farm. These animals have also performed well at grass thanks to good grazing conditions throughout the spring.
I have 25 of these animals grazing paddocks on rotation. Ground conditions are just about manageable at the moment.
The cattle are being moved every few days to keep them from becoming unsettled and damaging swards.
Housed
There are seven of the heaviest animals housed, with the rest spread out in smaller groups.
The housed cattle are around 500kg and getting good silage and a small quantity of concentrate to maintain condition.
Hopefully, we get a clear test in July, at which point the autumn-born stores will be sold live. Selling these animals will also free up more ground that can be targeted to the autumn-calving cows and the spring calves after weaning.
Read more
Beef labelling blocking trade
BETTER Farm NI: driving farm output in Co Antrim
This is a subscriber-only article
SHARING OPTIONS: