The 2017-born batch of steers in Newford Farm, the 100-cow suckler-to-beef herd located in Athenry, Co Galway, have all been drafted for slaughter with performance lifting on previous years. The 61 steers delivered an average carcase weight of 367kg, an increase of 26kg on 2016-born progeny processed in 2017 and 35kg ahead of 2015-born progeny.
The higher carcase weight stemmed from a combination of greater liveweight gain and a 2% lift in kill-out. The farm is benefiting from greater use of AI with the majority of the 2016 calf crop bred from AI sires.
Charolais genetics
Farm manager Matthew Murphy explains that greater use of Charolais genetics and using Limousin sires with better growth characteristics as the herd matures delivered a better response than previous years when animals were transferred on to an intensive finishing diet. Progeny were slaughtered on average 15 days earlier than in 2017 and an average age of 21 months, close to one month younger than those slaughtered in 2017.
While weather and a reduction in the area farmed presented challenges in getting stock out early in spring, the fact that autumn conditions were streets ahead of previous years boosted performance and helped overcome the late start and tight grass supplies during the summer drought.
The carcase conformation score was marginally ahead of 2017 at an average score of R=. There were 50 R grades recorded, eight U grades and three O grades while carcase weight ranged on average from 350kg to 380kg with a selection of the top-performing animals rising to 410kg to 420kg carcase weight. A selection of lesser performing animals, many of which were born to first calvers, averaged between 330kg and 350kg carcase weight.
Heifers before housing. Performance was aided by an extended grazing season with heifers quickly settling once housed.
Price limits weight boost
Unfortunately, a significant degree of the benefit of achieving a higher carcase weight was cancelled out by a lower beef price. The average price per kilo received was €3.90/kg, a reduction of 20c/kg on 2017. This resulted in the average sale price rising by €34 per head whereas if the beef price equalled 2017, the average sale price would have increased by €104 per head.
A challenge of the system continues to be the finishing blueprint set out at the commencement of the project. The steers have achieved the carcase weight targets but with 100% finished indoors as opposed to the blueprint target of finishing 70% to 80% of cattle off grass. Total concentrate intake during the finishing phase averaged 973kg per head with the first batch of steers slaughtered on 15 November consuming 753kg, while the last batch drafted on 17 December consumed 1,083kg. When concentrate of input of 250kg is added, total lifetime concentrate intake is averaging 1.22t across the group. The finishing blueprint will be reviewed as part of the project’s overall review of the production system in place.
Cull cow slaughter performance
There were also seven cull cows drafted on 11 December with three remaining on the farm for further feeding until the new year. Like steers, the cows achieved a higher carcase weight to the tune of 20kg with performance influenced by the herd maturing and a higher percentage reaching mature weight.
There was also a 5% increase in kill-out, which enhanced performance. There was no change in carcase conformation at an average of O=. With a few years' data now recorded, it is pretty clear that this is typically the average carcase conformation that will be delivered from this first cross from the dairy herd. The sale value of €1,008 was hit harder than steers with the average price 41c/kg lower than in 2017.
Weanlings continue to receive 2kg of a high-energy 16% crude protein ration.
Weanlings progressing well
The 2018-born crop of weanlings were weighed on 11 and 12 December with their performance analysed by Michael Fagan, Teagasc. Steers averaged 367kg liveweight, having gained an impressive 1.1kg daily liveweight since birth. Looking back at the 2017 crop of weanlings, weight analysis recorded on 4 January showed steers averaging 374kg at an average age of 10.5 months so this year’s batch of steers are progressing well.
Heifers were weighed on 12 December and averaged 351kg with an average daily gain from birth of 1.04kg per day. Heifers are at a similar weight to last year’s crop but three weeks earlier, which again bodes well for next year. All weanlings had their backs clipped and received treatment for fluke and lice.
They are on a diet of baled silage and 2kg concentrates. The quality of baled silage differs significantly with the best being the first-cut silage saved on Tuohy’s farm on 6 June, which was analysed at 74DMD with a dry matter (DM) of 43% and protein content of 12.4%. The second cut saved on Tuohy’s farm analysed at 63 DMD with a DM of 32.7% and protein content of 14%.
The baled silage saved on Newford Farm was saved on 4 September and analysed 67 DMD with a higher protein content of 17.8% but with a low DM of 17.4%. Concentrate supplementation will be monitored and altered if necessary depending on silage quality offered.
Cows penned according to body condition
All cows were condition scored and received treatment for liver fluke and lice. Cows have been penned according to condition score with the challenging year resulting in a higher number currently lying below target condition. There are 36 cows in this group along with cows carrying twins and these are being supplemented with 3kg soya hulls along with first-cut silage, which was saved outside the farm in 2018 due to land availability constraints.
The silage was saved from old permanent pasture and tested poorly with a DMD of 61%, DM of 29.4% and protein content of 10%. This will suffice for cows in strong body condition but will not generate weight gain on cows in a lower body condition score and is the reason for the daily soya hulls allocation being increased by 1kg to 1.5kg on last year. This approach of addressing condition score in mid-pregnancy when change can be best brought about has delivered major benefits in previous years.
The second cut of silage tested better with a DMD of 69, although DM is much lower at 15.4% and will be fed to cows later in the season and post-calving.
Newford Farm seeking a new manager
Newford Farm is seeking applicants for the position of manager with current manager Matthew Murphy taking up a new position with Dawn Meats. The successful candidate will be responsible for the day-to-day running of the farm and their responsibilities will include calving of the 100-cow herd, grassland management, animal health and breeding. Experience in a similar type of role is required. The manager will be supported by the project management and stakeholder teams.
The farm manager will be employed by Dawn Meats and interested applicants can apply online through www.dawnmeats.com/careers or in writing to the HR Department, Dawn Meats, Grannagh, Co Waterford. The closing date for applications is 14 January.
Read more
BSE 20 years on: a journey through the archives of the crisis
Live shipping of cattle - keeping the dead trade alive
The 2017-born batch of steers in Newford Farm, the 100-cow suckler-to-beef herd located in Athenry, Co Galway, have all been drafted for slaughter with performance lifting on previous years. The 61 steers delivered an average carcase weight of 367kg, an increase of 26kg on 2016-born progeny processed in 2017 and 35kg ahead of 2015-born progeny.
The higher carcase weight stemmed from a combination of greater liveweight gain and a 2% lift in kill-out. The farm is benefiting from greater use of AI with the majority of the 2016 calf crop bred from AI sires.
Charolais genetics
Farm manager Matthew Murphy explains that greater use of Charolais genetics and using Limousin sires with better growth characteristics as the herd matures delivered a better response than previous years when animals were transferred on to an intensive finishing diet. Progeny were slaughtered on average 15 days earlier than in 2017 and an average age of 21 months, close to one month younger than those slaughtered in 2017.
While weather and a reduction in the area farmed presented challenges in getting stock out early in spring, the fact that autumn conditions were streets ahead of previous years boosted performance and helped overcome the late start and tight grass supplies during the summer drought.
The carcase conformation score was marginally ahead of 2017 at an average score of R=. There were 50 R grades recorded, eight U grades and three O grades while carcase weight ranged on average from 350kg to 380kg with a selection of the top-performing animals rising to 410kg to 420kg carcase weight. A selection of lesser performing animals, many of which were born to first calvers, averaged between 330kg and 350kg carcase weight.
Heifers before housing. Performance was aided by an extended grazing season with heifers quickly settling once housed.
Price limits weight boost
Unfortunately, a significant degree of the benefit of achieving a higher carcase weight was cancelled out by a lower beef price. The average price per kilo received was €3.90/kg, a reduction of 20c/kg on 2017. This resulted in the average sale price rising by €34 per head whereas if the beef price equalled 2017, the average sale price would have increased by €104 per head.
A challenge of the system continues to be the finishing blueprint set out at the commencement of the project. The steers have achieved the carcase weight targets but with 100% finished indoors as opposed to the blueprint target of finishing 70% to 80% of cattle off grass. Total concentrate intake during the finishing phase averaged 973kg per head with the first batch of steers slaughtered on 15 November consuming 753kg, while the last batch drafted on 17 December consumed 1,083kg. When concentrate of input of 250kg is added, total lifetime concentrate intake is averaging 1.22t across the group. The finishing blueprint will be reviewed as part of the project’s overall review of the production system in place.
Cull cow slaughter performance
There were also seven cull cows drafted on 11 December with three remaining on the farm for further feeding until the new year. Like steers, the cows achieved a higher carcase weight to the tune of 20kg with performance influenced by the herd maturing and a higher percentage reaching mature weight.
There was also a 5% increase in kill-out, which enhanced performance. There was no change in carcase conformation at an average of O=. With a few years' data now recorded, it is pretty clear that this is typically the average carcase conformation that will be delivered from this first cross from the dairy herd. The sale value of €1,008 was hit harder than steers with the average price 41c/kg lower than in 2017.
Weanlings continue to receive 2kg of a high-energy 16% crude protein ration.
Weanlings progressing well
The 2018-born crop of weanlings were weighed on 11 and 12 December with their performance analysed by Michael Fagan, Teagasc. Steers averaged 367kg liveweight, having gained an impressive 1.1kg daily liveweight since birth. Looking back at the 2017 crop of weanlings, weight analysis recorded on 4 January showed steers averaging 374kg at an average age of 10.5 months so this year’s batch of steers are progressing well.
Heifers were weighed on 12 December and averaged 351kg with an average daily gain from birth of 1.04kg per day. Heifers are at a similar weight to last year’s crop but three weeks earlier, which again bodes well for next year. All weanlings had their backs clipped and received treatment for fluke and lice.
They are on a diet of baled silage and 2kg concentrates. The quality of baled silage differs significantly with the best being the first-cut silage saved on Tuohy’s farm on 6 June, which was analysed at 74DMD with a dry matter (DM) of 43% and protein content of 12.4%. The second cut saved on Tuohy’s farm analysed at 63 DMD with a DM of 32.7% and protein content of 14%.
The baled silage saved on Newford Farm was saved on 4 September and analysed 67 DMD with a higher protein content of 17.8% but with a low DM of 17.4%. Concentrate supplementation will be monitored and altered if necessary depending on silage quality offered.
Cows penned according to body condition
All cows were condition scored and received treatment for liver fluke and lice. Cows have been penned according to condition score with the challenging year resulting in a higher number currently lying below target condition. There are 36 cows in this group along with cows carrying twins and these are being supplemented with 3kg soya hulls along with first-cut silage, which was saved outside the farm in 2018 due to land availability constraints.
The silage was saved from old permanent pasture and tested poorly with a DMD of 61%, DM of 29.4% and protein content of 10%. This will suffice for cows in strong body condition but will not generate weight gain on cows in a lower body condition score and is the reason for the daily soya hulls allocation being increased by 1kg to 1.5kg on last year. This approach of addressing condition score in mid-pregnancy when change can be best brought about has delivered major benefits in previous years.
The second cut of silage tested better with a DMD of 69, although DM is much lower at 15.4% and will be fed to cows later in the season and post-calving.
Newford Farm seeking a new manager
Newford Farm is seeking applicants for the position of manager with current manager Matthew Murphy taking up a new position with Dawn Meats. The successful candidate will be responsible for the day-to-day running of the farm and their responsibilities will include calving of the 100-cow herd, grassland management, animal health and breeding. Experience in a similar type of role is required. The manager will be supported by the project management and stakeholder teams.
The farm manager will be employed by Dawn Meats and interested applicants can apply online through www.dawnmeats.com/careers or in writing to the HR Department, Dawn Meats, Grannagh, Co Waterford. The closing date for applications is 14 January.
Read more
BSE 20 years on: a journey through the archives of the crisis
Live shipping of cattle - keeping the dead trade alive
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