Terminal v replacement
If you are selling all your weanlings or finishing everything on farm, the terminal index should be focused on when selecting AI bulls or stock bulls for breeding in your herd. The terminal index has a heavier weighting on carcase traits and conformation. If you are going to keep replacements, use the replacement index as a guide. Remember figures are only a tool to aid you in the decision-making process. Having a good visual appearance and good bloodlines are also important.
Breeding Initiative
Clare Marts has come together with three AI companies – Dovea AI, Munster AI and Eurogene AI – and launched a programme worth €35,000 to support and promote beef breeding in the area. The main components of the initiative are detailed on page 8 but there are a few other elements interested farmers should be aware of. Eligible herds cannot have more than 20% of the herd made up of pedigree animals. The purchaser must retain the bull for a minimum period of 12 months unless where unavoidable slaughter is necessary. Farmers can apply for both a bull premium and an allocation of AI straws but can only receive one or the other. The scheme applies to purchases from 1 January to 30 June 2018.
This week on Tullamore Farm
All cows are housed and preparations are starting for calving which is due to start on 4 February. Anthony Mulligan, a third year UCD agricultural science student, started his three-month placement on the farm a few weeks ago. To ease up on straw usage, we decided to house some of the cows on peat two weeks ago. It cost €250 for a 25m3 load and we are happy with it. It seems to be lasting well and cows are cleaning up well on it after coming off slats. The plan is that cows nearest calving will be housed on peat. Tanks are filling fast and we have had to move some slurry around to different tanks on the farm until ground conditions improve and we get out to spread. Cull cows were slaughtered last week and average grade was O+ 3+ at 321kg carcase weight. Average kill-out percentage was 51%. Average price received was €1,134. This has freed up space in sheds for pre-calving cows.
Four in-calf heifers were purchased this week for €1,340 each, calving in the next two weeks.Ordered 2018 tag requirement.Washed stomach tubes, jugs, etc.Checked calving jack, ropes, lube, gloves, etc.Colostrum stocks checked – frozen and artificial.Scour vaccine given to remaining cows to calve.Raise concentrates fed to bull calves to 8kg.0.5kg soya being fed to cows six weeks out from calving.Slurry
With heavy rain falling in the last few days, make sure that no excess water is making its way into tanks. Check concrete channels and down pipes to make sure clean water is diverted away from slurry tanks. With ground conditions extremely wet, it’s going to be another week at least before slurry goes out so all tank space could be needed.
Terminal v replacement
If you are selling all your weanlings or finishing everything on farm, the terminal index should be focused on when selecting AI bulls or stock bulls for breeding in your herd. The terminal index has a heavier weighting on carcase traits and conformation. If you are going to keep replacements, use the replacement index as a guide. Remember figures are only a tool to aid you in the decision-making process. Having a good visual appearance and good bloodlines are also important.
Breeding Initiative
Clare Marts has come together with three AI companies – Dovea AI, Munster AI and Eurogene AI – and launched a programme worth €35,000 to support and promote beef breeding in the area. The main components of the initiative are detailed on page 8 but there are a few other elements interested farmers should be aware of. Eligible herds cannot have more than 20% of the herd made up of pedigree animals. The purchaser must retain the bull for a minimum period of 12 months unless where unavoidable slaughter is necessary. Farmers can apply for both a bull premium and an allocation of AI straws but can only receive one or the other. The scheme applies to purchases from 1 January to 30 June 2018.
This week on Tullamore Farm
All cows are housed and preparations are starting for calving which is due to start on 4 February. Anthony Mulligan, a third year UCD agricultural science student, started his three-month placement on the farm a few weeks ago. To ease up on straw usage, we decided to house some of the cows on peat two weeks ago. It cost €250 for a 25m3 load and we are happy with it. It seems to be lasting well and cows are cleaning up well on it after coming off slats. The plan is that cows nearest calving will be housed on peat. Tanks are filling fast and we have had to move some slurry around to different tanks on the farm until ground conditions improve and we get out to spread. Cull cows were slaughtered last week and average grade was O+ 3+ at 321kg carcase weight. Average kill-out percentage was 51%. Average price received was €1,134. This has freed up space in sheds for pre-calving cows.
Four in-calf heifers were purchased this week for €1,340 each, calving in the next two weeks.Ordered 2018 tag requirement.Washed stomach tubes, jugs, etc.Checked calving jack, ropes, lube, gloves, etc.Colostrum stocks checked – frozen and artificial.Scour vaccine given to remaining cows to calve.Raise concentrates fed to bull calves to 8kg.0.5kg soya being fed to cows six weeks out from calving.Slurry
With heavy rain falling in the last few days, make sure that no excess water is making its way into tanks. Check concrete channels and down pipes to make sure clean water is diverted away from slurry tanks. With ground conditions extremely wet, it’s going to be another week at least before slurry goes out so all tank space could be needed.
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