Winter feeding has begun in earnest in Newford farm, the 100-cow suckler-to-beef demonstration herd in Athenry, Co Galway.

The last cows were housed on Friday, while weanling heifers were also housed.

The strongest pen of heifers were housed on slats while the remainder were housed on straw.

They will remain on straw for a week to 10 days until the first draft of steers are slaughtered.

Performance

Heifers have performed well since weaning, averaging 335kg when housed. This is a weight gain of approximately 30kg liveweight across the group since weaning on 4 October.

Heifers have been housed on good-quality silage with DMD in the mid-70s. They are also being supplemented with 2kg of a high-energy 16% crude protein ration.

Weanling bullocks remain outdoors and will be housed on Monday or Tuesday. They are on their final grazing rotation with heavy rainfall coinciding with housing in all groups.

Weanlings are being fed concentrates on a concrete apron while access to farm roadways is also saving paddocks.

Steers have now been built up to 10kg concentrate supplementation, split into a morning and evening feed.

Silage intake has reduced significantly since steers were stepped up to the high supplementation rate. Performance appears to be good and the first draft of steers should be taken in the next week to 10 days.