Future Beef Programme participants, Michael and Niall Biggins carry a 67-cow, spring-calving suckler herd in Ballynalty, Co. Mayo, where a firm focus is placed on the weaning process.
Farming 44ha across three blocks, they use a combination of maternal AI bulls and a Charolais stock bull, with the resulting progeny managed with a clear focus on health and performance.
Although preparations began months in advance, weaning has started on the farm.
Pre-weaning activities include:
- Calves were vaccinated against clostridial diseases in April, and a creep feeder was introduced in June.
- Using homemade creep gates (pictured below) between paddocks, calves graze ahead of cows on fresh grass. This forward creep grazing method reduces stress at weaning and supports better calf health.
- The first vaccinations against IBR and RSV/PI3/mannheimia are scheduled for August, followed by booster shots four to six weeks later.
- Weaning will occur at least two weeks post booster to ensure optimal immunity.
Weanling performance
Cows and calves were weighed on July 10 for the Suckler Carbon Efficiency Programme (SCEP). According to ICBF data, bull calves gained 1.15kg/day and heifers 1.1kg/day. Predicted 200-day weights are 277kg for bulls and 263kg for heifers. The cows averaged 634kg, which leaves the farm’s weaning efficiency at 44%, exceeding the 42% target.
Upcoming event
On Wednesday, September 3 at 6pm, Michael and Niall Biggins, Ballynalty, Headford, Co. Mayo. Eircode: H91 HTK6, will host a Future Beef farm walk. The focus of the event is ‘Running a profitable weanling system in Mayo’
Topics to be discussed include:
- How to make a weanling system profitable
- Learn about AI, synchronisation & sexed semen
- Maximising cheap weight gains with grass & red clover
- Bonus Insights: Water quality, soil health, demos for TAMS eligible equipment, biodiversity & more
In the video below, Michael and Niall Biggins outline what will be happening at the farm walk on their farm in September:
For more information on Michael and Niall Biggins’ farm, visit here.