The grazing season is coming to a conclusion in Newford Farm. There is only a couple of paddocks left to graze on the Newford block and on Tuohy’s outfarm. An upturn in weather in the last week improved grass utilisation and prolonged the grazing season.

Farm manager Iarlaith Collins said if weather conditions remained good, weanlings could possibly be kept out until the end of the week but with heavy rainfall on Friday and Saturday ground conditions have deteriorated significantly.

The aim now is to move weanlings over the remaining paddocks quicker to balance utilisation and prevent poaching.

There are drier conditions forecast for Monday and Tuesday and this will be capitalised upon to house weanlings dry. Weanlings will be allowed to settle for a week to 10 days before receiving treatment for worms and fluke. As explained last week, they will receive high-quality silage which tested from 75DMD to 78DMD along with 2kg of an 18% crude protein concentrate.

Drafting update

There were 11 heifers and five bullocks slaughtered on Tuesday and 15 more on Friday. The animals were selected on fat cover with the five steers averaging 348kg carcase weight and a sale value of €1,252. A full breakdown of all the animals including the conformation grade, fat score and killout percentage will be included in an online update next Tuesday.

This leaves 41 steers and 10 heifers left to kill. Iarlaith reports cattle are thriving well on a diet of ad-lib silage and 6kg concentrates for steers and 5kg concentrates for heifers. He predicts there should be another draft ready in two weeks’ time.

Newford update: silage testing and planning winter diets

BEEP weighing deadline extended

Newford update: grazing season for weanlings coming to an end

Weanlings are close to finishing the autumn grazing rotation and with utilisation dipping, it is likely that weanlings will be housed on Monday or Tuesday.