
Breeding season 2022
- Autumn calving is underway
- Select AI bulls and match to cows before breeding season starts
- Set breeding dates helps to plan workload and tighten the calving spread
There are 17 cows calved, with 7 more due between now and the end of October/early November. Most calved cows have required assistance at calving, but no mortality has occurred.
Ed plans to start breeding from around 20th October to 20th January (13 week breeding season). The cows will be pre-scanned before breeding to identify any issues with them. So far he is considering using the following bulls:
Ed measured grass on 1st October on the farm. He had a farm cover of 1027 kg DM/ha, with a growth rate of 25kg DM/ha and a demand of 25 kg DM/ha, with 41 days of grass ahead. He is on target for 1st October, with a recommended farm cover of 1000 kg DM/ha. However as grass is still growing and older cattle are being housed, it will be a challenge for Ed to graze these paddocks out well this autumn, particularly if ground conditions deteriorate. He regularly using temporary wires to strip graze paddocks so this will be a big help.
One bag per acre of 27-2.5-5 was spread in Boherbue on 3rd September, and the final 5 paddocks were spread on 14th September.
The reseed is growing well. One paddock was reseeded in June with a high density grass mix and has been grazed twice since then. One paddock was damaged in heavy rain and was reseeded in mid-September with grass seeds striking well (below).
Ed is also setting up his autumn grazing plan. Grassland management really starts in the autumn by having a planned grazing system that sets your paddocks up for the spring. Advantages of having an autumn closing plan are:
The principles of this for Eds’s farm are:
It will be important to graze paddocks to 3.5-4 cm to encourage winter tillering of the grass plant and not to re-graze fields that have been closed. If ground conditions deteriorate for Ed, he can house heavier cattle first and will be able to house some of these groups if he is ahead of the weekly target which can be monitored on PastureBase.
Further information on this is available at https://www.teagasc.ie/crops/grassland/grass10/grazing-management/autumn-grazing-management/
The 2022 born calves (36) were weighed on 1st October. They averaged 192kg, having gained 0.73 kg/day since their last weighing on 6th June.
Some of the 2021 born bullocks (16) were weighed on 1st October and averaged 530kg, having gained 0.95 kg/day since 9th April.
Stock Group | No. Cattle | Weighing Date | Average Weight (Kg) | ADG Since Last Weighing |
---|---|---|---|---|
2022 DairyX Calves | 36 | 01/10/2022 | 192 |
0.73 kg/day (Since 06/06/2022) |
2021 DairyX Bullocks | 16 | 01/10/2022 | 530 |
0.95 kg/day (Since 09/04/2022) |