The growth rate on Tullamore Farm for the last seven days is 59kgDM/ha/day – up from 34kgDM/ha/day recorded in the week previous. While growth has picked up again, the farm cover is struggling to do the same.
After this week's grass walk, the average farm cover has come back at only 541kgDM//ha – this is below target, but not unexpected due to the drought and an extremely slow return to meaningful grass growth rates.
The farm also has a high number of stock-groups at present leaving it difficult to keep grass in-front of all.
To try and build-up the cover over the coming weeks, a number of steps will be introduced:
CAN was spread on 40ac of grazing ground at a rate of one bag per acre to boost growth.Concentrates will be increased from 3kg/head to 5kg/head with the 40 dairy heifers for finishing this winter.Cull cows will be weaned in the next two weeks and housed on a high-concentrate diet to build condition for slaughter. Their calves will be let with their respective groups of bulls and heifers.Ewes which were previously split to build BCS will now be joined together again to reduce the number of grazing groups.Elsewhere, Redstart and Interval sown on 8 August is performing extremely well. Last week, bales were also placed across the field to provide the necessary fibre in the diet at grazing.
Redstart and Interval on Tullamore Farm.
Cattle
This week the farm is getting ready for its annual herd test and a clear test will be important if the farm is to continue selling replacement heifers on the live market. Last week, stock was tested for Johne’s and IBR.
Blood testing was carried out for Johne’s screening while 30 animals were also blood tested as part of an IBR eradication pilot programme which is also being implemented on the 27 Teagasc/Irish Farmers Journal BETTER Farm Beef Challenge participants’ farms.
These screening programmes will allow for better health planning and disease prevention going forward.
A worm white drench which was administered to calves almost two weeks ago appears to have worked very well, with little to no coughing present in both groups of spring calves.
These two groups continue to graze ahead of cows under raised wires and concentrates are still being fed and will continue to be fed throughout weaning and housing.
Sheep
No lambs have been drafted for slaughter this week. Last week, 33 lambs were drafted for slaughter. The group killed out at an average of 20.37kg.
At an average price of €4.98/kg, the average price received per head for the group came in at €101.19. Grading was very satisfactory too, with 31 R3s, one R4 and one R5.
At an average price of €4.98/kg, the average price received per head for the group came in at €101.19.
Post-mortem results on a lamb found dead in the field last week came back as inconclusive.
One thing that was picked up was a slight cobalt deficiency and this will be addressed over the coming weeks with a cobalt dose being administered to all ewes and remaining lambs.
From last year, there is 176 breeding ewes on the farm.
Recently 40 hoggets were purchased and before breeding, another 25 ewe lambs will be purchased, bringing the total number of breeding ewes for this autumn to approximately 225.
The recently purchased hoggets were put through a strict quarantine programme.
Each ewe received a treatment for fluke and worms on arrival and they were housed for 24 hours following these treatments.
Now, two weeks later, they will receive Endovax, Toxovax and Footvax to conclude their quarantine period.
The growth rate on Tullamore Farm for the last seven days is 59kgDM/ha/day – up from 34kgDM/ha/day recorded in the week previous. While growth has picked up again, the farm cover is struggling to do the same.
After this week's grass walk, the average farm cover has come back at only 541kgDM//ha – this is below target, but not unexpected due to the drought and an extremely slow return to meaningful grass growth rates.
The farm also has a high number of stock-groups at present leaving it difficult to keep grass in-front of all.
To try and build-up the cover over the coming weeks, a number of steps will be introduced:
CAN was spread on 40ac of grazing ground at a rate of one bag per acre to boost growth.Concentrates will be increased from 3kg/head to 5kg/head with the 40 dairy heifers for finishing this winter.Cull cows will be weaned in the next two weeks and housed on a high-concentrate diet to build condition for slaughter. Their calves will be let with their respective groups of bulls and heifers.Ewes which were previously split to build BCS will now be joined together again to reduce the number of grazing groups.Elsewhere, Redstart and Interval sown on 8 August is performing extremely well. Last week, bales were also placed across the field to provide the necessary fibre in the diet at grazing.
Redstart and Interval on Tullamore Farm.
Cattle
This week the farm is getting ready for its annual herd test and a clear test will be important if the farm is to continue selling replacement heifers on the live market. Last week, stock was tested for Johne’s and IBR.
Blood testing was carried out for Johne’s screening while 30 animals were also blood tested as part of an IBR eradication pilot programme which is also being implemented on the 27 Teagasc/Irish Farmers Journal BETTER Farm Beef Challenge participants’ farms.
These screening programmes will allow for better health planning and disease prevention going forward.
A worm white drench which was administered to calves almost two weeks ago appears to have worked very well, with little to no coughing present in both groups of spring calves.
These two groups continue to graze ahead of cows under raised wires and concentrates are still being fed and will continue to be fed throughout weaning and housing.
Sheep
No lambs have been drafted for slaughter this week. Last week, 33 lambs were drafted for slaughter. The group killed out at an average of 20.37kg.
At an average price of €4.98/kg, the average price received per head for the group came in at €101.19. Grading was very satisfactory too, with 31 R3s, one R4 and one R5.
At an average price of €4.98/kg, the average price received per head for the group came in at €101.19.
Post-mortem results on a lamb found dead in the field last week came back as inconclusive.
One thing that was picked up was a slight cobalt deficiency and this will be addressed over the coming weeks with a cobalt dose being administered to all ewes and remaining lambs.
From last year, there is 176 breeding ewes on the farm.
Recently 40 hoggets were purchased and before breeding, another 25 ewe lambs will be purchased, bringing the total number of breeding ewes for this autumn to approximately 225.
The recently purchased hoggets were put through a strict quarantine programme.
Each ewe received a treatment for fluke and worms on arrival and they were housed for 24 hours following these treatments.
Now, two weeks later, they will receive Endovax, Toxovax and Footvax to conclude their quarantine period.
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