Newford Farm, the 100-cow suckler-to-beef demonstration herd located in Athenry, Co Galway, is enjoying one of its best autumn grazing periods since the programme began.

Grass growth rates are holding steady in recent weeks around the 40kg DM/ha mark, while ground conditions and grass utilisation remains excellent.

The weather is also providing farm manager Matthew Murphy with ideal conditions for weaning.

Back to grass

The first batch of cows and calves housed for weaning on Thursday 27 September were turned back out to grass on Thursday, with calves transferred to a paddock with good-quality grass while weaned cows were moved out of sight of calves to the Gort naHabhainn block of land where they are currently grazing off some poor-quality grass off paddocks before closing. Matthew says that calves have generally settled well.

The second batch of cows comprising 20 first-calvers and 10 cows with a poorer body condition score were housed on Thursday 4 October for weaning.

Weaned 2nd group today the "TLC" group made up of mostly first calvers will let them back together Saturday to suck the mother then separate for good calves on 2kg+sillage cows on straw only for 4 days. All going well should get both lots back out next week?? pic.twitter.com/uuTYpqXDRy
— Matthew Murphy (@matty6320) October 4, 2018

Calves

The same process was repeated with cows penned adjacent to calves. Cows were offered straw ad-lib while calves were offered access to good-quality silage and 2kg concentrates.

Calves were allowed back to suckle cows once on Saturday morning and were then moved to a straw-bedded shed out of sight of cows. The plan is to turn calves back to grazing at the middle of next week with this batch of cows also prioritised for returning to grass.

Cow condition in first-calvers is about a quarter to half a condition score behind previous years.

Body condition

This is due to the drought being particularly hard on first-calvers, whose body condition is a quarter to half a condition score lower than previous years.

These animals will also be prioritised for access to better-quality silage when housed and will also receive concentrate supplementation in mid-pregnancy to lift condition.

The last batch of 35 cows and calves will then be housed for weaning at the end of next week. Matthew explains he is now also considering housing a batch of steers and prioritising remaining grass reserves for weanlings.

First group to be weaned and back out to grass ?? hopeing to get their mothers out tomorrow and wean another group ?? #Newforddemo #sucklers #grasstobeef pic.twitter.com/3tS7rcGCyx
— Matthew Murphy (@matty6320) October 3, 2018

The 61 steers are currently receiving 5kg concentrate at grass and once housed are likely to stepped up to 8kg concentrate supplementation split into a morning and evening feed.

Last year’s video on weaning management in Newford farm shows the weaning process and can be viewed here.

Thankfully, ground conditions are much better this year with weaning taking place three weeks later and the farm already achieving a four-to-five week longer grazing season.