Gerard and Michael Burke farm just over 100 acres near Aghamore, Co Mayo. Previously, they ran a suckler herd on the farm, After reviewing their farming system, they opted for change and sold all the suckler cows in autumn 2010.

Gerard works full-time in sales, covering the western region for Kiernan Milling.

His father, Michael, is now retired, but previously worked in sales for Bulmers for about 30 years, while at the same time managing the day-to-day running of the farm.

They now buy in around 65 to 70 predominantly Hereford calves and rear them.

In the last few years, they have focused on buying good-quality Hereford heifers with the aim of putting the best of them in-calf and selling them as springers. This year, they are varying the system slightly, as they have purchased a mixture of Hereford and continental bull calves to run on as steers, and also a small number of Angus, Hereford and Friesian bull calves to try a bull-beef system under 16 months.

In the next few weeks, they will be moving to buying in strong Hereford heifer calves.

They said that when buying, they are looking for a good-quality calf with good shape.

“The day you buy is the day you sell, so paying extra for quality when buying is essential,” said Michael.

However, the main focus is on purchasing high-quality heifer calves, the best of which are put in-calf and the remainder fattened.

In the coming years, Gerard said that he is thinking of increasing the number of calves reared to close to 90, but he does not want to do this quickly.

“The key to success is knowing your own capabilities. We are increasing numbers slowly – it’s not about doing one thing well, it’s about paying attention to everything, especially in the rearing phase.”

Calf rearing

Almost all the calves are bought in the south of the country, as Gerard finds there is more choice and the ability to find better-quality calves out of British Friesian-type cows.

Early-born calves are optimum for the system. Gerard said that December- and January-born calves are ideal for the system – the cut-off point for buying in calves is the end of February.

“Any calf born in March or April just won’t make the weight for age to bull them for calving down at 24 months, so, in fact, they end up a year behind.”

The whole aim of the system is built around weight for age. Calves are bought in at about four to six weeks of age and fed on milk replacer until they are eight to 10 weeks of age.

The Burkes do not vaccinate any calves on arrival to the farm and no major issues with scour or pneumonia have arisen as of yet.

For five days after arriving on the farm, they are held away from water to ensure that they are sucking the teat feeders correctly.

In terms of group sizes, there is a simple rule; no more than eight calves per pen and a 10-teat feeder is used to feed each pen, which the Burkes find helps to reduce bullying.

Meal is fed ad-lib from when they arrive on the farm. To encourage intake, a little meal is fed fresh at every milk feed and this increases gradually as intake rises.

Because Gerard is away working during the day, the calf-rearing responsibilities fall on Michael.

The milk powder used is one which is carried by Kiernan Milling and consists of 22% crude protein, with 2.5 litres fed per calf in the morning and at night.

They have a well-kitted-out milk replacer mixing area in the shed where they can mix the milk quickly (this includes hot water boiler, hot and cold taps, thermometer and mixing equipment).

When in full flight, Michael is able to feed about 60 calves in 10 minutes.

Grassland management

The Burkes target a long season at grass for the one-year-old heifers. Because the calves are light, generally only weighing about 330kg to 370kg, they have a target turnout date of 1 February and will graze them in a paddock system right through until November.

The calves are not turned out until June and they are run at grass until late October. The calves are heavily supplemented at grass in order to ensure they are reaching their weight targets.

In addition, the Burkes also feel that giving the calf the best start in the first year is crucial and most efficient.

During the main summer months and into the autumn, the calves are fed about 3kg concentrates per day at grass. This is something they plan to reduce this year to about 1kg to 2kg/head/day. No supplementation during the main summer months is carried out for the one- to two-year-olds.

Along with the cattle enterprise, the Burkes run a sheep flock of about 70 ewes. The ewes aid grassland management immensely.

The yearlings are rotated around pasture after the sheep, which helps to reduce worm burdens.

In addition, they find that the sheep leave a very dense sward, which they think is ideal for cattle. Calves are grazed on silage after-grass from June onwards.

The calves are dosed every six weeks at grass to ensure that worms are kept at bay. The active ingredient used is varied regularly to help avoid resistance.

This year, housing dates will vary slightly. This autumn, the first cattle to be housed will be the bulls destined for bull beef. They will be housed in late September or early October and will remain indoors until they are finished in April.

Because there will be a group of bulls on the farm, they will be grazed separately on an out-farm to keep them away from the heifers.

Replacement heifers

As said earlier, weight for age is critical. They aim to have the heifers weighing around 600kg prior to sale at the point of calfing. This equates to 90% of mature weight.

The target is to have the heifers calving down in February and March to suit the demands of buyers. Only the best heifers that meet the liveweight requirements are bulled.

Because of this, heifers need to be weighing 60% of their mature weight at breeding in May and June – approximately 400kg. To do this, the early turnout in February is essential.

After turnout, the heifers are fed about 3kg concentrates and this is reduced until feeding ceases after six weeks at grass.

Without this early turnout, the Burkes feel that it would be almost impossible to get this type of heifer to the target weight at bulling and calving.

All breeding heifers are vaccinated against Lepto and BVD six weeks in advance of the breeding season in order to ensure that they have maximum protection.

Gerard carries out some AI on the heifers. However, as he is away working during the day, he also uses a stock bull to clean up after AI.

The stock bull used is an easy-calving Limousin and when selecting AI bulls to use, calving ease is a major factor.

Angus AI is also used on some heifers, but only occasionally. During the first winter and prior to sale, the heifers are fed a pre-calving ration for at least six weeks prior to their calving date.

Housing

There are two yards on the farm, one of which is let for the winter months since the suckler herd was disbanded.

The main yard has a four-bay slatted shed with calf creep, which is used for housing the in-calf heifers. Another three-bay slatted shed with creep is used for two purposes. Before the heifers are sold in late winter, it is used to house the yearling cattle.

As the heifers are sold, the weanlings are moved to the four-bay shed and the 70 ewes are housed and bedded on slats.

The bottom timber is removed and a metal bar placed on the feed rail to ensure they don’t get out of the pens. The calf creep area is then divided into lambing pens.

The calf-rearing area is in the same air space as the two sheds, as the sheds are joined. But the shed is large and airy, and there is good ventilation. One clear focus is to ensure that enough straw is used.

“One thing I find is you can never use enough straw in a calf pen. Because they spend so much time lying down, they need a clean and dry bed. It also has benefits from a health point of view,” said Gerard.

Supplementation

There are two meal types used on the farm. The first is Kiernan’s Pedigree No 3, a high-protein meal which is fed to the calves on the farm up to housing in the autumn.

The ration is an 18% protein ration consisting of flaked maize, rolled barley, soya, wheat, cane molasses, rapeseed meal, maize distillers and citrus pulp.

The second mix is fed to all older animals during the winter months and is called Purebred Grower Mix.

It is a 16% protein ration and consists mainly of rolled barley, flaked maize, dried beet pulp unmolassed, rapeseed meal and soya meal. Although both meal types are high in protein, Gerard feels that the quality of meal fed is a large help in hitting the respective targets.

Sheep flock

The sheep flock is a mixture of crossbred Texels and Suffolks. The ideal ewe for the Burkes is the Suffolk cross.

There are three rams in use on the farm – two terminal Texels and one terminal Suffolk. No replacements are kept from the flock and all hoggets are bought-in, usually sourced at Ballinrobe Mart.

This year, the ewes scanned at 1.75 lambs per ewe. This was down from last year’s two lambs per ewe, but they are still happy with the performance.

Lambing is due to start in March and the target is to have all lambs killed at 14 to 15 weeks of age. Meal is fed quite heavily to the lambs, which rises up to an ad-lib basis prior to slaughter.