Newford Farm Update July/August 2025
- To date, weather conditions have been very favourable in the west, particularly during the breeding season and for grass growth.
- All cattle are thriving well at grass, with no health issues to report.
- The annual herd TB test will be conducted on the farm this week.
Maiden Heifer Scanning Results
Calving Down at 24 Months
Newford’s 31 maiden replacement heifers were scanned on 9th July.
- All heifers were synchronised and artificially inseminated (AI) on 18th April 2025.
- Breeding lasted for six weeks.
- 100% AI was carried out on the heifers with the assistance of a teaser bull and Moocall heat collars.
- 24 heifers scanned in-calf, with 19 holding to first service, 4 to second service, and 1 to third service.
Newford Farm Scanning 2025
Newford Scanning 9th July 2025 Maiden Heifers
AI commenced on the 18th April to 30th May (heifers)
- 6 weeks breeding
- 100% AI
- 1 Teaser Bulls
- MooCall
31 Heifers Synchronise 18th April
- 77% Scan in-calf
- 24 heifers scan in-calf
- 31 Heifers put forward for AI
Replacement Heifers
- 19 heifers held to 1st services (61%)
- 4 heifers held to 2nd services
- 1 heifers held to 3rd services
Newford Beef Animals
- All beef animals were faecal sampled and treated for worms and lungworms based on the results.
- Summer 2025 has been an exceptionally good year for cattle thriving at grass, especially the bullocks.
Left
Sire: LM 4851
Born: 22nd Mar ’24 (Birth wgt 47Kg)
Weight: 518 Kg (2nd July)
ADG from birth: 1.01 Kg
Right
Sire: CH 8262
Born: 19th Feb ’24 (Birth wgt 50Kg)
Weight: 608 Kg (2nd July)
ADG from birth: 1.12 Kg
Left
Sire: LM 4185
Born: 4th Feb ’24 (Birth wgt 42 Kg)
Weight: 572 Kg (2nd July)
ADG from birth: 1.03 Kg
Right
Sire: BB 4492
Born: 13th Feb ’24 (Birth wgt 50 Kg)
Weight: 546 Kg (2nd July)
ADG from birth: 0.98 Kg
Left
Sire: ZGM
Born: 16th Feb ’24 (Birth wgt 48Kg)
Weight: 576 Kg (2nd July)
ADG from birth: 1.05 Kg
Right
Sire: CH 6271
Born: 12th Feb ’24 (Birth wgt 48Kg)
Weight: 560 Kg (2nd July)
ADG from birth: 1.01 Kg
Newford 2025 Calves
- After a minor setback from coccidiosis, all calves are now back on track and performing very well at grass, especially compared to the wet summer of 2024.
- In the coming days, concentrates will be introduced at grass as part of the SCEP programme to prepare them for weaning.
- Calves are currently averaging 1.32 kg ADG (Average Daily Gain) per day at grass (as of 30th July).
- Newford intends to carry out castration with veterinary assistance in the first week of August. All calves have received their pneumonia vaccination and will receive their booster shot in mid-August.
Left Calf
Sire: LM 2014
Born 23rd Feb ’25 (Birth wgt 41 Kg)
Weight 219 Kg (30th July)
ADG from birth 1.13 Kg (Female)
Middle Calf
Sire: CH 6271
Born 24th Mar ’25 (Birth wgt 44 Kg)
Weight 247 Kg (30th July)
ADG from birth 1.59 Kg (Male)
Right Calf
Sire: LM 8619
Born 14th Mar ’25 (Birth wgt 41 Kg)
Weight 259 Kg (30th July)
ADG from birth 1.58 Kg (Male)
Left Calf
Sire: CH 6271
Born 1st Feb ’25 (Birth wgt 46 Kg)
Weight 346 Kg (30th July)
ADG from birth 1.68 Kg (Male)
Right Calf
Sire: AU 1170
Born 9th Feb ’25 (Birth wgt 40 Kg)
Weight 256 Kg (30th July)
ADG from birth 1.26 Kg (Male)
Grassland
- Over the past three weeks, Newford skipped a round of fertiliser. However, in the coming days, the farm will spread 23–27 units of protected urea per acre.
- The farm will begin to build grass cover in the coming weeks as we move into August.
- Eight acres of the farm will be reseeded in the coming days:
- 14 kg per acre of “Top 5 Extend High Clover” will be used.
- This will be followed by the application of 3 bags of 10-10-20 per acre.
Newford Farm cover for the 28th of July
| Farm Cover (Kg/DM/Ha) | 806 |
| Growth/Ha ( Kg/DM/Ha | 24 |
| Estimated DM | 19% |
| Farm Demand /Ha (Kg/DM /Ha/day) | 33 |
| Days ahead | 24 |
| Current stocking Rate LU/Ha | 2.1 |
| Grazing Area (Ha) | 36.11 |
Newford Farm Update
Newford Farm Manager, Stephen Frend, has taken up a new role within Dawn Meats as a Procurement Officer. The farm’s new manager is Shane McGuinness from Roscommon, a past student of Ballyhaise College. Newford would like to wish both individuals all the best in their new careers.
