We currently have 109 cows calved with 107 live calves. We had one still birth and we lost one calf at six weeks with a liver abscess. We had three C-sections, all in-heifers, and five veterinary assists. We assisted 22 cows at calving and 79 cows calved unassisted. We currently have three cows left to calve.

Grass growth

Grass growth is a little slower than expected at 30 kg/DM/day but demand is running at 34kg/dm/day. Average farm cover is 643kg/dm/ha.

The grazing area is stocked at 2.69 LU/Ha. Grazing ground has received 72 units of nitrogen/acre. We spread one bag/acre of 18:6:12 this week on the grazing block to boost some low P and K levels on paddocks.

We currently have 19 days ahead of stock. We have nine acres out for reseeding, which was reseeded last week using a stitching machine, and 48 acres closed for first-cut silage.

Breeding

Breeding started with the in-heifers last Monday and is starting in cows next Tuesday 2 May. We are using AI for five weeks and then stock bulls for six weeks.

Listen

Listen to Irish Farmers Journal editor Justin McCarthy and beef editor Adam Woods explain the Tullamore farm concept here:

Listen to "Mixed grazing on Irish Farmers Journal demonstration farm" on Spreaker.

Tullamore farm update: grass growth slower than expected

Ger O’Dwyer, farm manager on the Irish Farmers Journal new demo farm in Tullamore, outlines what’s been happening over the past few weeks and what his plans are.