Our spring-calving cows were scanned at the end of August. From 121 cows put to the bull, or bred to AI, there are 109 animals confirmed in-calf.
This gives an in-calf percentage of 90% and is in line with previous years. With bigger numbers and multiple breeding groups, it has been difficult to exceed the 90% in-calf rate.
On closer analysis, at least four cows that scanned empty had issues such as ovarian cysts or experienced difficulties at calving or afterwards. Taking account of these animals as being unlikely to conceive would increase in-calf rate to 93%.
One of the positives of scanning is that cows are calving in a fairly tight period during late February and March, which will make for a busy spring.
Weaning
Cows are still grazing with their calves at foot. However, I am planning to start weaning calves this week.
Calves will be weaned in phases by pulling the cows inside and feeding straw over the course of a few days. The calves will remain outside during the weaning period. Once the cows are dried off, they will go back out to grass again. Once grass covers run out, cows will move on to forage rape for the winter.
There are 87 cows with calves to wean this month. Bringing cows inside in groups has worked well in the past as leaving the calf outside helps keep them settled and healthy.
All spring-born calves have now had their second shot of pneumonia vaccine in preparation for weaning and have also been wormed.
Forward stores have now been housed for intensive finishing with the heaviest animals on 4kg/day of rolled barley.
Another step we take to help break the cow and calf bond is to allow calves creep-graze ahead of their mothers by raising the electric wire.
It has been a slow burner so far. Calves are being offered some concentrate in troughs ahead of the cows, but with plenty of good grass available, they are slow to come forward and feed.
Cull cows
There were five more cows with calves that did not run with the bull as they were marked for culling.
Their calves were weaned in late August. The cows were killed on 1 September and averaged 336kg carcase weight. After weaning, the calves have been running with our dairy-bred calves.
The cows that scanned empty will also be weaned early and fattened as soon as possible. Early weaning will stop cows from losing too much condition before going on to a finishing diet.
Outwintering cows
on forage crops
This year, cows will be out-wintered on 19 acres of Stego. It was sown out at 4kg/acre on 24 July and got three bags per acre of 18:14:14.
Growing conditions have been favourable and there is a good standing crop coming in to the winter period.
Silage bales have been lined out in the field ready for winter grazing. This cuts out driving in and out of the fields during winter, which can cause heavy ruts from machinery when ground is wet.
There are 110 bales placed in 10 acres. Once cows start grazing, it is just a matter of moving the electric wire forward and rolling the ring feeder to the next bale. The other nine acres are adjacent to a lane. As bales are limited, I will use a feed trailer to provide these cows with silage.
The trailer can be backed in off the laneway to a hard core area, again preventing any major damage to the field.
Minerals
Forage crops are low in trace minerals, so cows have been given a mineral bolus and will be topped up with lick buckets over winter. I have tried offering powdered minerals in the past with varying success. With the bolus, cows are covered and the lick buckets are less labour-intensive.
Grazing
Cows will start to graze the Stego once grass runs out and they will stay on this crop until a few weeks prior to calving.
At that point, they will be pulled inside in batches depending on expected calving date for easier management.
Back in July, 12 heifers were identified as being suitable for killing off grass. Concentrates were introduced to these animals to get enough fat cover on them prior to slaughter.
Five heifers have now been killed, with a mix of Angus, Blue and Charolais breeding. Carcase weight averaged 322.5kg across the group, with animals being 18 to 25 months of age. Four heifers hit R grade conformation, with one U-grading animal. Three heifers were at fat class 3, with one at fat class four and one at fat class 2.
Housing
We housed the remaining store animals last week for intensive finishing. There are 84 cattle in the shed which are the 2019 spring-born calves.
Normally, they would be weighed at housing but the weighbridge is presently out of action. But the animals are fairly even, making it easier to group them for feeding.
The heaviest animals are on 4kg/day of rolled barley and first-cut silage. The lightest animals are on rolled barley and 2kg/day of maize gluten along with first-cut silage.
Silage has been tested and feed value is excellent.
D-Value is 73.1% with 28.3% dry matter. Energy is 11.7 Mj ME and protein at 15.5%.
Yields were light when cut, so I reckon first cut will last to Christmas, although the majority of heavy stores should be killed by then.
We have plenty of second-cut silage and bales to use once the first cut is finished.
Read more
Beef management: five tips for managing purchased weanlings
Thrive weekly update: first heifers slaughtered and housing Belgian Blue cattle.
Our spring-calving cows were scanned at the end of August. From 121 cows put to the bull, or bred to AI, there are 109 animals confirmed in-calf.
This gives an in-calf percentage of 90% and is in line with previous years. With bigger numbers and multiple breeding groups, it has been difficult to exceed the 90% in-calf rate.
On closer analysis, at least four cows that scanned empty had issues such as ovarian cysts or experienced difficulties at calving or afterwards. Taking account of these animals as being unlikely to conceive would increase in-calf rate to 93%.
One of the positives of scanning is that cows are calving in a fairly tight period during late February and March, which will make for a busy spring.
Weaning
Cows are still grazing with their calves at foot. However, I am planning to start weaning calves this week.
Calves will be weaned in phases by pulling the cows inside and feeding straw over the course of a few days. The calves will remain outside during the weaning period. Once the cows are dried off, they will go back out to grass again. Once grass covers run out, cows will move on to forage rape for the winter.
There are 87 cows with calves to wean this month. Bringing cows inside in groups has worked well in the past as leaving the calf outside helps keep them settled and healthy.
All spring-born calves have now had their second shot of pneumonia vaccine in preparation for weaning and have also been wormed.
Forward stores have now been housed for intensive finishing with the heaviest animals on 4kg/day of rolled barley.
Another step we take to help break the cow and calf bond is to allow calves creep-graze ahead of their mothers by raising the electric wire.
It has been a slow burner so far. Calves are being offered some concentrate in troughs ahead of the cows, but with plenty of good grass available, they are slow to come forward and feed.
Cull cows
There were five more cows with calves that did not run with the bull as they were marked for culling.
Their calves were weaned in late August. The cows were killed on 1 September and averaged 336kg carcase weight. After weaning, the calves have been running with our dairy-bred calves.
The cows that scanned empty will also be weaned early and fattened as soon as possible. Early weaning will stop cows from losing too much condition before going on to a finishing diet.
Outwintering cows
on forage crops
This year, cows will be out-wintered on 19 acres of Stego. It was sown out at 4kg/acre on 24 July and got three bags per acre of 18:14:14.
Growing conditions have been favourable and there is a good standing crop coming in to the winter period.
Silage bales have been lined out in the field ready for winter grazing. This cuts out driving in and out of the fields during winter, which can cause heavy ruts from machinery when ground is wet.
There are 110 bales placed in 10 acres. Once cows start grazing, it is just a matter of moving the electric wire forward and rolling the ring feeder to the next bale. The other nine acres are adjacent to a lane. As bales are limited, I will use a feed trailer to provide these cows with silage.
The trailer can be backed in off the laneway to a hard core area, again preventing any major damage to the field.
Minerals
Forage crops are low in trace minerals, so cows have been given a mineral bolus and will be topped up with lick buckets over winter. I have tried offering powdered minerals in the past with varying success. With the bolus, cows are covered and the lick buckets are less labour-intensive.
Grazing
Cows will start to graze the Stego once grass runs out and they will stay on this crop until a few weeks prior to calving.
At that point, they will be pulled inside in batches depending on expected calving date for easier management.
Back in July, 12 heifers were identified as being suitable for killing off grass. Concentrates were introduced to these animals to get enough fat cover on them prior to slaughter.
Five heifers have now been killed, with a mix of Angus, Blue and Charolais breeding. Carcase weight averaged 322.5kg across the group, with animals being 18 to 25 months of age. Four heifers hit R grade conformation, with one U-grading animal. Three heifers were at fat class 3, with one at fat class four and one at fat class 2.
Housing
We housed the remaining store animals last week for intensive finishing. There are 84 cattle in the shed which are the 2019 spring-born calves.
Normally, they would be weighed at housing but the weighbridge is presently out of action. But the animals are fairly even, making it easier to group them for feeding.
The heaviest animals are on 4kg/day of rolled barley and first-cut silage. The lightest animals are on rolled barley and 2kg/day of maize gluten along with first-cut silage.
Silage has been tested and feed value is excellent.
D-Value is 73.1% with 28.3% dry matter. Energy is 11.7 Mj ME and protein at 15.5%.
Yields were light when cut, so I reckon first cut will last to Christmas, although the majority of heavy stores should be killed by then.
We have plenty of second-cut silage and bales to use once the first cut is finished.
Read more
Beef management: five tips for managing purchased weanlings
Thrive weekly update: first heifers slaughtered and housing Belgian Blue cattle.
This is a subscriber-only article
SHARING OPTIONS: