Grass growth has ground to a halt on Tullamore Farm with a growth rate of 14kg being recorded over the last seven days. A large proportion of paddocks grew nothing. The only fields that are growing are the wettest paddocks on the farm, with some of these fields recording a growth rate of 35kg/DM/ha.

Average farm cover has dropped to 281kg/DM/ha and there are currently 15 days grass ahead of stock when silage feeding is counted in. The majority of this is after-grass and is earmarked for weaned lambs.

All ewes have been weaned and are currently being curtailed on a paddock beside the yard to aid the drying-off process. Ewes were treated for flies last week to try and prevent any cases of mastitis.

Cows continue to be fed silage in two paddocks. There are currently five bales of silage being used daily on the farm feeding cows and store heifers. Store heifers are also getting 4kg of a barley/maize/soya hulls mix. Calves are being offered creep ration in adjacent paddocks. This is a 16% protein nut costing €255/t delivered.The likelihood is that these calves will stay on creep feed for the remainder of the grazing season.

Silage stocks

There is currently 800t of silage in the pits, with a further 30 acres to be cut as second-cut. One hundred and thirty-five bales have been made to date, but 35 of these are being used now weekly. It is hoped that a further 150 bales will be made as surplus grass once normal growing conditions resume.

All this means Tullamore Farm will be in the region of 100t short of silage this winter as 1,400t is needed for winter feeding. A lot depends on how much silage we use in the next three weeks and how many bales are made between now and October.

The fact that there is 800t already in means the farm can make up the deficit with soya hulls or similar feed stuff if needed. It's all down to what the farm can grow in August, September and October.

A selection of Limousin X bulls were slaughtered last week

Bulls

There have been 29 bulls slaughtered so far. Bulls have graded well, with two of the last batch dropping to a 2- on fat score and missing out on the QA bonus. Table 1 outlines the details of bulls killed so far. Another load of bulls is due to be slaughtered this week.