Weaning continued on Tullamore Farm this week. Twenty cows and calves have been weaned each week recently.

As of today, all bull calves are weaned and there are only 10 heifer calves left to wean.

During weaning, calves are being in their batches and cows are removed from the group and taken to a paddock near the yard to dry off. They are supplemented with a bale of hay.

By now, bull calves are receiving 2.5kg/head/day of concentrates and heifer calves are still on 1kg/head/day.

Grass

For the last seven days, growth is 40kg DM/ha/day. Demand has dropped to 14kg DM/ha/day as cows are weaned and taken off the main grazing block.

Average farm cover is coming in at 760kg DM/ha. If the farm cover drops to 600kg DM/ha, stock will be housed.

The first animals to be housed will be fitter cows with a higher body condition score (BCS). Poorer condition cows and young cows will be left out as long as possible, grazing after the ewes.

The last of the slurry spreading will be happening before rain falls at the weekend. There is one tank of watery slurry left in the yard and this will be spread on paddocks low in P and K on the out-farm that has already been closed up.

Poorer condition cows and young cows will be left out as long as possible, grazing after the ewes

Redstart is progressing well. Last week, the estimated cover on the crop was 4,200kg DM/ha. This is high growth since being planted on 8 August. Weanling heifers will begin grazing this around 1 November.

Dairy heifers

There are 57 dairy heifers being finished in the shed for slaughter over the coming weeks. As housing begins, they will be gradually sold to free up space.

Last week, four of these heifers were sold. They are lighter than expected in weight but have a high fat cover.

The average carcase slaughter weight was 250kg but all had a fat score of 4.

The rest of the heifers are being finished on 7kg/head/day on a high-maize finishing ration. They are also receiving high-quality bale silage.

Sheep

Ewes are still being flushed on grass ahead of breeding on 24 October. Ewe lambs purchased as replacements early this autumn are on 0.2kg/head/day of concentrates to boost BCS and performance prior to mating.

The final breeding ram, a grass-fed Texel, has also been purchased. There are now five rams on the farm; three Texels for mating with mature ewes and two Charolais for mating with hoggets and ewe lambs.

All ewes will be dipped on Friday in a plunge dipper using a mobile contractor.

There are 39 lambs left for slaughter before the end of the year. Weighing took place on Wednesday and 12 lambs were drafted for slaughter after weighing on Tuesday.