03 June 2025

Gareth Peoples’ approach to calf turnout

Gareth Peoples, a participant in the Teagasc Signpost and DairyBeef 500 programmes, fills us in on the latest happenings from his farm in Co. Donegal, including an update on calf rearing and how calves are managed at grass when first turned out.

All my spring-born calves are out at this stage. A well-sheltered paddock beside the yard is generally the first place I go with calves. I know it’s probably not ideal turning calves out to the same field every year, given the potential build-up of pathogens and diseases, but it’s well fenced and sheltered from the cold and the sun this year, which is important to acclimatise calves to an outdoor setting.

Grassland management

I generally avoid applying nitrogen on the paddock where calves are first turned out. These covers are allowed to go slightly stronger and stemmy, providing both fibre and protection from sudden dietary shifts. We don’t want calves going straight onto lush, leafy swards. It’s too rich and can cause digestive issues like summer scour. To support the transition further, straw is offered ad-lib during the first few weeks at grass, especially when pasture is high in moisture or nitrogen.

Concentrate feeding

Concentrate feeding will continue for five to six weeks post turnout, with calves receiving 1.5–2kg per day, depending on weather and grass quality. This buffer helps them maintain growth during the adaptation period. Concentrate supplementation post-turnout might seem like an extra cost, but it pays for itself when you see calves driving on.

Once calves become acclimatised to the outdoors, pre-grazing covers of <1,000kg DM/ha are targeted to encourage intakes. Generally, calves are kept in the small paddocks and are moved every two days. I feel keeping fresh grass in front of calves is important. However, it is just as important to get calves to graze out tight to ensure quality regrowths.

Calves are batched regular on weight, and I feel it is important to keep calves of similar size together to prevent any of the smaller calves from being bullied at the feed trough and falling back in terms of performance.

The weather and grass availability dictates whether or not concentrates are removed but generally I keep some level of meal with calves for the summer.

Plans for second-cut silage

I have all my first-cut silage in at this stage and it should be top quality stuff. The yield was reasonably good especially given the fact growth was slow for April and silage was cut a week earlier than normal. With the target of cutting in early July, ground destined for second cut will receive 2,500 gallons of slurry per acre, followed by 60 units of protected urea with sulphur and one bag of 18-6-12 per acre.

Gareth Peoples is a participant in the Teagasc Signpost Programme and also a demonstration farmer in the Teagasc DairyBeef 500 Campaign.

The above article was adapted for use on Teagasc Daily from an article first published in the Farming Independent.