Breeding performance continues to be one of the highlights of the first cross Angus and Hereford cows in Newford Farm, Co Galway. The breeding season finished on Monday 6 July, having started just shy of 11 weeks previous on 22 April. In total, 73 cows that were inseminated prior to 1 June were pregnancy scanned and recorded excellent performance, with just one cow showing up empty.

This equates to a conception rate of almost 80% for the first six weeks of breeding. All cows scanned were carrying one calf, which is in contrast to recent years where it was common place to have a few cows carrying twins. The remaining 20 cows that were inseminated in the last five weeks of breeding will be scanned in early August. Farm manager Iarlaith Collins is hopeful the positive performance achieved will carry through, with one cow showing up in heat since breeding concluded.

All cows scanned were carrying one calf, which is in contrast to recent years where it was common place to have a few cows carrying twins

The farm has had a busy few weeks with weighing of cows and calves, detailed in last week’s notes, while male calves were also castrated this week. The conclusion of breeding has also provided an opportunity to change stock and balance up grazing across the four blocks. A group of 45 cows and heifer calves were moved to Cones out-farm this week, with grass growth recovering fast after recent rainfall following first-cut silage.

The conclusion of breeding has also provided an opportunity to change stock and balance up grazing across the four blocks

The batch of 60 2019-born heifers were brought from the Gort na Habhainn land block back to the Newford grazing block to facilitate possible introduction of concentrates in the coming weeks. They will graze the Newford block, along with a batch of 30 cows and male calves, while a batch of 14 to 15 cows will graze the area not closed for silage on the Gort na Habhainn block.

The 2019-born steers remain in Tuohy’s out-farm block. These animals were also weighed on 2 July. They weighed 535kg on average, with analysis carried out by Michael Fagan, Teagasc, showing the top 12 bullocks weighing from 560kg to 690kg and averaging 600kg liveweight. The 46 steers achieved an average daily gain since turnout of 0.96kg per day.