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Newford Farm steers have replicated the positive weighing performance recorded by heifers on 15 January. The batch of 47 steers were weighed on 22 January and recorded an average weight of 383kg liveweight at an average age of 11 months.
Analysis by Teagasc's Michael Fagan shows steers have gained an average of 0.65kg daily since housed on 9 November. Looking at lifetime performance, the steers have gained 1.03kg liveweight since birth.
The performance compares favourably to 2019, where steers weighed 371kg on 5 February after gaining just 0.22kg liveweight over the previous 85 days indoors.
Baled silage
Steers remain on a diet of ad-lib baled silage, which tested in the region of 70% to 74% DMD, and 2kg of a high-energy 18% concentrate.
This will be reviewed at the end of the month, with a view to cutting back supplementation to 1kg followed by total removal in advance of turnout.
Calving preparations
As reported in last week’s update, the first cow calved two weeks early and after receiving some preferential treatment, farm manager Iarlaith Collins reports the pair are now performing well.
Final preparations are in place for calving commencing, with the first cow due on 4 February. The first cows due to calve have been moved to the straw-bedded group pen adjacent to individual lambing pens.
It will be partly bedded, with the area where cows are eating scraped regularly to keep it clean. Cows remaining on slats will move to this area as calving approaches.
In the meantime, slats are scraped down daily, with lime applied in a bid to reduce the risk of mastitis hitting in cows with a high milk yield. All calving equipment has also been checked, washed, disinfected and replenished where required.
Supplementary concentrate feeding has ceased to the cows which were below target body condition. These cows are now on a diet of average-quality silage and minerals.
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