Newford Farm had another good draft of animals this week, with 16 head slaughtered on Thursday.
This included nine heifers, six cull cows and one bullock. Looking at the heifers first, the average grade was R=3=, the average liveweight was 544kg and the average carcase weight was 293kg. The kill-out for the heifers, which averaged 20 months of age, was 54%. The base price was €3.70/kg and, with all animals receiving the 20c/kg quality payment scheme (QPS) bonus and a few qualifying for an additional 6c/kg by means of their R+ grade, the average sale price was €1,172.
There should be another draft of five to six heifers this week with the remainder likely to be housed thereafter.
These heifers were 213 days at grass, with some receiving concentrates for about five weeks while the remainder are only receiving meal feeding for a couple of weeks. This week’s kill brings the number of heifers killed off grass to 37 or 63% of the total number. There are 16 heifers born in 2020 remaining on the farm.
These heifers remain outdoors and are coming into the yard on a daily basis for concentrate supplementation of 5kg per head. Ground conditions have become trickier in the last week and if grass utilisation suffers next week following forecast heavy rain they will be housed for finishing. Farm manager Iarlaith Collins there will be another five or six heifers drafted towards the end of next week.
Cull cows
The six cull cows were finished indoors on ad-lib silage and 6kg concentrate supplementation. The cows graded O- for conformation and were well covered, with an average fat score of 4=. The cows weighed 672kg liveweight on average and, with an average carcase weight of 308kg, recorded a kill-out of 46%. The average sale price was €981. There are a few more cull cows being finished indoors and these will be drafted as they come fit in the coming weeks.
The single bullock drafted this week was 18 months old, graded R=2+ and killed out at 344kg carcase weight. With a liveweight of 625kg, this equates to a kill-out of 55%. The remaining bullocks are performing well having transitioned quickly from grass to an indoor finishing diet of ad-lib silage and 6kg concentrates.
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In pictures: 26 heifers drafted this week averaged 288kg carcase weight
Newford Farm update: 2020 has been a good year for calf performance
Newford Farm had another good draft of animals this week, with 16 head slaughtered on Thursday.
This included nine heifers, six cull cows and one bullock. Looking at the heifers first, the average grade was R=3=, the average liveweight was 544kg and the average carcase weight was 293kg. The kill-out for the heifers, which averaged 20 months of age, was 54%. The base price was €3.70/kg and, with all animals receiving the 20c/kg quality payment scheme (QPS) bonus and a few qualifying for an additional 6c/kg by means of their R+ grade, the average sale price was €1,172.
There should be another draft of five to six heifers this week with the remainder likely to be housed thereafter.
These heifers were 213 days at grass, with some receiving concentrates for about five weeks while the remainder are only receiving meal feeding for a couple of weeks. This week’s kill brings the number of heifers killed off grass to 37 or 63% of the total number. There are 16 heifers born in 2020 remaining on the farm.
These heifers remain outdoors and are coming into the yard on a daily basis for concentrate supplementation of 5kg per head. Ground conditions have become trickier in the last week and if grass utilisation suffers next week following forecast heavy rain they will be housed for finishing. Farm manager Iarlaith Collins there will be another five or six heifers drafted towards the end of next week.
Cull cows
The six cull cows were finished indoors on ad-lib silage and 6kg concentrate supplementation. The cows graded O- for conformation and were well covered, with an average fat score of 4=. The cows weighed 672kg liveweight on average and, with an average carcase weight of 308kg, recorded a kill-out of 46%. The average sale price was €981. There are a few more cull cows being finished indoors and these will be drafted as they come fit in the coming weeks.
The single bullock drafted this week was 18 months old, graded R=2+ and killed out at 344kg carcase weight. With a liveweight of 625kg, this equates to a kill-out of 55%. The remaining bullocks are performing well having transitioned quickly from grass to an indoor finishing diet of ad-lib silage and 6kg concentrates.
Read more
In pictures: 26 heifers drafted this week averaged 288kg carcase weight
Newford Farm update: 2020 has been a good year for calf performance
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