Drafting of finished animals continues in Newford Farm, the 100-cow suckler-to-beef herd located in Athenry, Co Galway.

Nine steers and seven cows were slaughtered on Wednesday 27 November. The steers averaged 637kg liveweight and after achieving a kill-out of 54%, delivered a 346kg carcase. The average carcase grade was similar to those slaughtered previously at R+3=.

There are now 25 steers remaining, with another eight to nine animals likely to be drafted in the coming week, along with the remaining cull cows.

Good performance

Farm manager Iarlaith Collins reports steers performing well and gaining in excess of 1kg liveweight daily on a diet of ad-lib high-quality silage and 6kg concentrates.

The seven cull cows weighed 679kg and with a lower kill-out of 49%, delivered a carcase weight of 331kg. The average carcase grade was O=4-, with one animal in the batch grading R-, but this was cancelled out by one animal grading P+.

After four years slaughtering cows, it is evident that Angus- and Hereford-cross cows from the dairy herd will kill O grade on average, with weights averaging 300kg to 330kg, but ranging anywhere from 270kg to 370kg.

There are nine remaining cows being finished on a diet of good-quality silage and 5kg concentrates.