The first draft of the 61 steers in Newford Farm, the 100-cow suckler-to-beef demonstration herd in Athenry, Co Galway, were drafted for slaughter on Thursday.

The 14 2017-born steers achieved an average carcase weight of 376.62kg, with individual performance detailed in Table 1.

With a base price of €3.75/kg the average quality payment scheme (QPS) grid price was €3.94/kg, with the total value averaging €1,485.36.

The steers graded better and achieved a superior kill-out percentage to 2017 steers.

Meal

Total meal consumed since concentrates were introduced in July 2018 was 753kg. This can be broken down into 3kg concentrates introduced on 12 July in response to drought and tight grass supplies, rising to 5kg on 20 July.

This level of supplementation was continued until 1 September and was then stepped up to 6kg until steers were housed on 12 October.

At housing, the meal allocation was increased to 8kg while there was a further increase to 10kg concentrates on 3 November with the aim of reducing the period to finishing. Performance in the remaining steers is described by farm manager Matthew Murphy as good with another draft likely in the first week to 10 days of December.

All cattle housed

All cattle are now housed, with weanling bullocks the last group housed at the start of this week. These are being offered good-quality baled silage and 2kg concentrates, similar to weanling heifers.

Cows are being fed first-cut silage ad lib which tested 61DMD. Cows have been penned according to body condition score with cows falling behind target condition supplemented with 2kg concentrates.