Calving is progressing well in Newford Farm, with close to 60% of the herd calved since calving commenced on 30 January. Performance has been good to date, with the majority of cows calving unassisted and only a handful of cows requiring significant assistance to date.
Calving is progressing well in Newford Farm, with close to 60% of the herd calved since calving commenced on 30 January.
Performance has been good to date, with the majority of cows calving unassisted and only a handful of cows requiring significant assistance to date.
The average birth weight for the first 42 calves born is running at 40kg. There has only been one loss, with a calf born weak at birth dying shortly after.
Pretty good weather has allowed cows and calves to be turned outdoors and while conditions were tricky in recent days a good forecast should allow cows and calves to remain outdoors.
Treatment
The only slight issue cropping up is four cows retaining the after birth. These cows have received treatment and remaining cows to calve are now receiving access to higher mineral supplementation through mineral buckets.
The relatively positive weather for the time of year is also reducing labour, with the first batch of 18 cows and their 19 calves out grazing.
Heavy rainfall over the last week has made ground conditions stickier but with a good forecast on the horizon there should be no need to re-house.
Re-housed
Yearling heifers and steers were re-housed after a period of grazing and all going well with return to grass at the start of next week.
Grass growth is running well above last year’s levels, with the most recent cover completed by Michael Fagan, Teagasc, on 18 February detailed in Table 1.
Post-calving, cows and calves are moved from individual calving pens to group pens for a couple of days.
The good growth rates are being driven by soil temperatures recorded at 9.7°C and will hopefully be improved next week following the planned application of urea.
Utilisation
This increase in growth will be required as more cows are released outdoors with about 22% of the Newford block grazed so far. Utilisation started very positively and while it has suffered slightly in recent days it is still good for the time of year.
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