Analysis of weaning and housing weights for 2018-born weanling steers and heifers shows average performance holding steady to 2017 levels and edging slightly ahead to continue on an upward trend.

Weanling steers which were castrated prior to reaching six months of age averaged 323kg at weaning on 4 October and 353kg at housing on 12 November.

As detailed in Table 1, performance has remained on par with 2017 levels and is running slightly ahead.

There was a similar trend for weanling heifers where the lift in performance was more evident than with steers, with heifers weighing 333kg at housing on 8 November, 11kg ahead of 2017 weanling heifers which were housed on 10 November 2017.

Weanlings

Weanlings have settled quickly indoors with no health issues to report. All weanling steers are housed on slats on the Tuohy’s outfarm, while the strongest heifers are housed in Newford on slats with a small number on straw bedding.

These will be moved to slatted housing after the next draft of 2017-born steers which take place in early December. Weanlings have access to ad-lib silage and 2kg concentrates which will continue until at least the new year.