Newford Farm drafted 26 2019-born heifers for slaughter on Tuesday.

The heifers, which were an average of 19 months old, achieved an average carcase weight of 288kg and kill-out of 52%. The average grade was R=3=, while the base price was €3.65/kg. Six heifers graded R+, meaning they secured an extra 6c/kg on the QPS grid, while all animals were eligible for the 20c/kg QPS payment. This left the average sale price at €3.86/kg, with the heifers grossing a sale value of €1,113.

This 514kg Limousin-cross heifer achieved an average carcase weight of 267.7kg (KO 52.1%), graded R=3= and sold for €1,030.80.

This small-framed 502kg Limousin-cross heifer achieved an average carcase weight of 253.8kg (KO 50.6%), graded R-2+ and grossed €977.21.

This 554kg Limousin-cross heifer killed out at 51.1% with a carcase weight of 283kg, graded R-3- and had a sale value of €1,089.63.

This 520kg Limousin-cross heifer graded R+3= and at 50.8% kill-out delivered a carcase weight of 264kg, selling for €1,032.28.

This 588kg Charolais-cross heifer graded R-3+, killed out at 52% with a carcase weight of 306kg and grossed a sale value of €1,177.95.

This 610kg Charolais-cross heifer graded R=3+, killed out at 315.6kg carcase weight (KO 51.7%) and sold for €1,214.91.

This better-quality 566kg Charolais-cross heifer grading R+3+ killed out at 53% (300.1kg carcase weight) and sold for €1,173.31.

This 580kg Charolais cross heifer graded R-4-, killed out at 49.9% to deliver a carcase weight of 289.7kg and sold for €1,113.51.

This 618kg Charolais cross heifer which killed out at 52.4% achieved a carcase weight of 324kg and sold for €1,247.36.

This solid 574kg Limousin-cross heifer killed out at 292kg carcase weight (50.8% KO) and sold for €1,124.35.

The highest price heifer was this Charolais-cross heifer with a carcase weight of 327.1kg (R-2+) and sale value of €1,259.41.

This 614kg Charolais-cross heifer killed out at 50.1% (307.1kg carcase), graded R=3+ and grossed €1,184.72.

The heifers were slaughtered off grass without any concentrate supplementation. There are a number of heifers which possibly could have been killed in recent weeks but the slaughter date was delayed due to a withdrawal period for an outbreak of coccidiosis in August.

The remaining heifers are receiving concentrate supplementation of 5kg per head daily. These heifers have also been grazing in recent weeks on the Newford block and have been running into a yard for feeding. It is hoped to have another draft from this batch in the near future while it is likely that some heifers will need to be fed on into November before being fit for slaughter.

Bullocks

Bullocks have recently been housed on a finishing diet of ad-lib high-quality silage and 6kg concentrates. These bullocks were receiving concentrate supplementation at grass but with ground conditions deteriorating and the feeding value of grass reducing a decision was taken to house them and save the remaining grass for weanlings.

Table 1 details the average sales performance of cattle slaughtered to-date in Newford Farm. It is hoped to have another draft of bullocks, heifers and possibly cull cows over the next 10 days to two weeks.

Read more

Newford update: first bullocks slaughtered and final breeding results

Newford Farm update: unusual coccidiosis outbreak hits finishing heifers