Newford Farm in Athenry, Co Galway, is slowly getting back on track with grass growth rates last week increasing to in excess of 20kg DM/ha on the Newford block of land.

While this level of growth is still behind what is needed to build covers and sustain the 100-cow herd during the breeding season, it is a step in the right direction with ground conditions also drying out somewhat over the last week.

This allowed over 50% of the 26ha block to receive slurry which was applied on Thursday with an umbilical trailing shoe system. This will boost grass growth while also reducing the period of time from spreading to grazing. The batch of 25 cows and their calves which were removed last week from the Newford block remain housed but it is hoped that weather will allow this batch and also the batch of 25 cows and calves that have remained housed since calving to be turned back outdoors on Monday or Tuesday.

The spring has been harder on first and second calvers. The first calver on the left has lost more condition than the third calver on the right. After breeding, first calvers will be grouped together for preferential treatment.

The spring has been harder on first and second calvers. The first calver on the left has lost more condition than the third calver on the right. After breeding, first calvers will be grouped together for preferential treatment.

The group of 25 cows and calves grazing on the Gort naHabhainn land block are currently grazing the drier paddocks. Cows are entering paddocks with a cover of 1,600kg DM/ha and with ground conditions improving as the week progressed farm manager Matthew Murphy says swards are generally being cleaned out well with a post-grazing target of 3.5cm to 4cm. A similar situation is evident in the batch of 25 cows and calves grazing on the Tuohy’s land block.

If growth rates continue to lift then the next port of call will be to get yearling steers and heifers turned out to grass next week. These animals remain housed on ad-lib silage.

Breeding preparations are under way, with cows receiving their annual booster for leptospirosis and a mineral bolus on Friday. Cows also have access to minerals in the form of high mag-lick buckets. The risk of tetany is likely to be particularly high if grass growth takes off, with cows under greater nutritional stress a significant stress factor.

Tail paint was also applied and a record of animals showing heat will be recorded and used as an aid once the breeding season commences on 23 April.

The benefits of having cows and calves can be clearly seen here. Matthew reports significant breeding activity in the two batches of cows and calves out grazing while the batch that was rehoused is showing very little activity.

Breeding preparations

Breeding is due to commence on 23 April and preparations for this are under way. Cows will receive their booster for leptospirosis and will also receive a mineral bolus. Cows have already started to show heat activity and tag numbers of those in heat are being recorded. Two vasectomised bulls have also arrived on the farm, with bulls working exceptionally well in previous years in identifying cows in heat. Matthew is also assessing bulls that will be used for AI.

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