Newford Farm in Co Galway continues to enjoy positive autumn performance. Grass utilisation is excellent with paddocks being grazed down to 3cm to 4cm and closed as they are grazed. All cows and calves have been turned back outdoors and settled following weaning.

Heifer and bull weanlings continue to receive concentrate supplementation at a rate of 2kg per head daily.

The fact that weanlings have been returned outdoors quickly has limited any setback in performance. Male weanlings weighed 323kg at 7.5 months of age and an average weaning date of 4 October. This equates to an average daily gain since birth of 1.24kg, while heifer weanlings weighed 302kg and gained 1.18kg/day since birth.

Grass growth has slowed significantly in the last two weeks, with this week’s growth recorded at 22kg DM/ha to 27kg DM/ha.

Conditions this autumn are the best since the project commenced, with all cows back grazing post-weaning.

Demand

Grass demand has increased, with all cows turned back outdoors and demand is outstripping growth and starting to eat into grass reserves.

Housing of the batch of 41 steers has helped to slightly offset the lift in demand. The 61 steers are now on a diet of ad-lib silage and 8kg concentrates, split into morning and evening feed.

There is still 26 to 33 days grazing ahead of stock and weather permitting this will allow cows to remain outdoors until early November.

Heavier areas of the farm are being grazed while conditions are good and this will also prolong the grazing season for weanlings should cows need to be housed.