The breeding period got under way on 13 May. The college’s vet checked all heifers for suitability to breed and these animals were then started on a synchronisation programme.

This involved fixed-time AI (FTAI) on 23 May. Heifers exceeded the weight targets set for breeding, with the group averaging 486kg at the beginning June.

Repeats were inseminated for four weeks after the first FTAI and a sweeper bull is currently with the group for three weeks.

This will result in all heifers being mated over a seven-week period to achieve a tight calving period in spring 2020.

From 24 heifers served to FTAI, nine have repeated, giving a potential 62.5% conception rate to the first FTAI.

Sires

The AI sires used on heifers are two Stabiliser bulls, Givendale Black Premier and Givendale Black Resolution.

Givendale Black Resolution’s profit index places him in the top 1% of the Stabiliser breed. By retaining and breeding the resultant female offspring from these sires, the rate of genetic gain within the herd will be significantly increased.

Cows

There are three batches of mature cows each containing 25 to 30 animals. Two of the batches are being bred with Givendale Black Resolution by AI.

Insemination is being carried out based on observed heats, with the third group of cows being covered by a stock bull.

The third group of cows calved later in the season, are less fertile and for this reason are not being used to breed replacements.

Breeding for cows also commenced on 23 May and 32 animals have been inseminated by 17 June. AI will be used until all straws in stock are used up, at which point stock bulls will be introduced to sweep up.

Stock bulls

Stock bulls had a final fertility examination which included a physical assessment and semen test at the end April, with all three animals deemed suitable for breeding.

In total, between cows and heifers, there are 111 animals to breed this spring. The target is to cull less than 5% for being barren. If this is to be achieved, 105 animals must be scanned in-calf in September.

Calves

The 2019 calf crop are performing well. At calving, conditions were favourable for quick turnouts after birth and therefore reducing the disease buildup in calving houses.

Calves are due to receive their booster vaccine for clostridial diseases by the end of June.

These animals have been treated for coccidiosis as and when required.

Calves are not grouped according to sex at present, but this will be carried out later in the season to allow creep feed to be targeted to male calves.

However, calves are currently allowed to forward graze under electric fences when possible to avail of clean grazing.

Grass

There were 120 acres of first-cut grass silage harvested during the week commencing 13 May. Grass yielded well and due to the early cutting date and good harvesting conditions, silage quality is excellent. The silage was scanned using an NIR4 scanner and the results show a D- value of 76%, dry matter of 31.2%, ME of 12.2 MJ/kg and crude protein of 14.9%.

Surplus grass

With good growth rates across the grazing platform, approximately 40 acres of surplus grass has also been conserved. Failure to manage the heavy covers on grazing land would have led to a reduction in grazing quality and subsequent re-growth.

Grazing demand

The current stocking rate (including all beef cows, growing cattle and sheep) requires a daily growth rate of 82kg DM/ha.

With grass growth currently falling below this level, it is important that fertiliser applications are kept up to date and that second cut is harvested early in July.

This will allow silage ground to come into the grazing platform and ease the demand for grass in late summer.

Fertiliser

Phosphorous (P) and Potash (K) indices are at optimal levels across the grazing area, meaning that straight nitrogen fertiliser is being used.

For second-cut silage, fertiliser applications included 2,000 gallons of cattle slurry per acre plus 300kg/ha (2.5 bags per acre) of 22-0-11 plus sulphur. Slurry was applied by a trailing shoe.

Bull beef finishing performance

All male progeny from the Abbey suckler herd are finished as young bulls. The target is to achieve an average carcase weight of 380kg by less than 14 months of age at fat score 3 and 4.

There have been 27 bulls slaughtered to date. Bulls averaged 399.81kg at 14.8 months with conformation averaging U-4-.

Carcase gain

The bulls slaughtered to date have averaged 0.84kg carcase gain per day. The last group slaughtered were weighed before they left the yard to calculate a kill-out percentage.

This group of 12 bulls had an average kill-out of 55%, with a range of 54% to 56%. The bulls had access to ad-lib silage up to the point of weighing, and therefore, the true carcase kill-out is likely to be higher than that outlined to allow for gut fill.

Last group

There are still 11 bulls on farm and the group averaged 630kg liveweight. These animals are generally the youngest of the 2018 calf crop.

These bulls will remain on high-quality silage (D-Value 73) along with a high-energy beef blend. The blend is being fed at a rate of 8kg/day split over two feeds.

The bulls will be weighed fortnightly in the runup to slaughter to monitor weight gain and feed efficiency.

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