The last of the 2018-born progeny on Newford Farm were slaughtered on 30 December 2019. The batch of 18 steers included some of the best-quality animals drafted in 2019, with one U+ grading steer, four U- grades, six R+ grades and seven R= grading animals. The batch averaged 365.21kg carcase weight and, with a base price of €3.60/kg, returned a sale value of €1,410.32.

The higher carcase weight helped lift the average carcase weight of the 51 steers born in 2018 to 350kg. As detailed in Table 1, the steers achieved an average kill-out of 55%, with the average conformation of R+ marginally ahead of previous years.

The average sale price achieved was €3.76/kg, which, as detailed in Table 2, was 14c/kg below 2018 returns and 18c/kg lower than the five-year average price.

As also detailed in Table 2, the average carcase weight reduced 17kg to 350kg. These two factors combined resulted in the average sale price falling €119 on 2018 levels.

However, this fails to take into account a significant difference in the finishing diet between the two years.

Steers were finished in 2018 on an ad-lib diet and consumed an average of 971kg concentrates during the finishing phase, while lifetime concentrate input was in the region of 1,175kg.

In contrast, steers were finished in 2019 on a diet of ad-lib high-quality silage and 6kg concentrates, with the total volume consumed in the finishing phase averaging a little over 500kg.

Heifer performance

Looking back to Table 1, the 52 heifers slaughtered in 2019 averaged 299kg carcase weight. It is clear now that heifers are likely to find it challenging to exceed a carcase weight of 300kg when finished off grass at an average age of 20 months.

Similar to steers, there is little variation in average conformation across the project, with the grade averaging R=.

As shown in Table 3, there is no comparable data to benchmark performance to for 2018, as heifers were sold live during the summer due to reduced land availability. Returns are also running in the region of 15c/kg behind 2018 levels.

There is a second heifer category in Table 1 and this relates to 10 Angus and Hereford-cross heifers, which either did not hit target bulling weights or failed to conceive in 2019.

These heifers were brought back from the contract-rearing farm post-scanning and finished alongside heifers born in the Newford herd. The heifers achieved an average carcase weight of 250kg, with a 5% lower kill-out than the Newford heifers and one conformation class lower.

The sale price was also hit by the fact all heifers missed out on the 20c/kg QPS bonus due to too many farm residencies, with the final sale value averaging €840.

Cow carcase weight

An accurate picture is also developing as to the potential slaughter performance of the dairy-cross cows in Newford herd.

The 19 cows slaughtered in November and December achieved an average carcase weight of 30kg at 49% carcase weight, while the grade is static at O=.

The carcase weight was mainly within the range of 270kg to 330kg, with some outliers 20kg to 30kg outside of this range.

Current management

The majority of the 88 cows and 11 heifers calving in 2010 received their Rotavec Corona vaccine recently, while the small number of animals calving towards the end of the calving period will be vaccinated in the coming weeks.

The batch of cows falling below target body condition continue to receive 2kg concentrate supplementation. Their condition is being monitored closely, with feeding ceasing as cow condition improves.

It is hoped cows will have regained sufficient condition by the end of the month when feeding will end.

Calving preparations have commenced, with the first animals due to calve at the start of February. Calving pens will be disinfected again in the coming weeks, while the farm is now closed to visitors until the calving season has finished.