Grazing conditions are becoming increasingly difficult on Tullamore Farm this week. Grass utilisation has dropped, with cows and calves looking for a move before paddocks are grazed out.

We started closing up paddocks on 2 October and we have a target of closing up 66% of the farm by 2 November with 100% grazed by 22 November.

The 170 ewes are currently grazing 47ac that were reseeded in August and this should help to thicken up the sward. These ewes were dosed for fluke and worms and vaccinated upon arrival on the farm and were also dipped on Monday.

30 days’ grazing

A grass cover was completed yesterday and there are currently 30 days’ grazing ahead of stock. The farm grew 36kg/dm/ha over the past seven days and current demand is running at 31kg/dm/ha. Average farm cover is 946kg/dm/ha and our current stocking rate is 2.2LU/ha.

Cows and calves were all weighed on Friday 6 October. Bull calves weighed 302kg and have gained 1.22kg/day since birth. Heifer calves weighed 274kg and gained 1.11kg/day since birth. Cow weight is at 590kg.

Vaccination and weaning

Calves have been vaccinated for pneumonia and have also received an avermectin-based worm dose prior to weaning. Weaning will continue this Thursday when another batch of cows will be removed from both groups and housed.

Weather will dictate whether these cows will return outdoors. Ideally weanlings would be allowed graze as long as possible and keep cows housed. Weanlings will start on a low level of creep feeding (1-1.5kg) once weaned.

Several licks are out with cows to prevent tetany and housing cows around weaning should help prevent tetany incidences.

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