As we head for mid-November, the end of the grazing season is finally in sight on John Hally’s farm outside Cashel, Co Tipperary.

Calves are currently getting 1kg/day concentrate at grass. This is being fed on the farm roadway wherever possible to minimise the amount of damage caused to the paddocks.

All calves will be weighed at housing and adapted to an ad-lib silage diet alongside a 16% protein ration.

Silage analysis results will be back later this week and from that we will determine the level of concentrates required over the winter period.

Finishing cattle

The finishing cattle are all housed at this stage. Housing has delayed drafting for slaughter by about 10 days to two weeks. This is due to animals getting used to their new environment and change of diet.

Nine bullocks and four heifers have been drafted for slaughter later this week. These were some of the first cattle housed almost three weeks ago.

There will be a full update on the Thrive programme in next week’s Irish Farmers Journal.