Trevor Boland July/August Update 2026

Grassland

Growth rates have increased to 55 kg DM/ha/day
Good covers with 33 days ahead
Increasing demand with cows calving

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Animal Nutrition

Finishing diets for Saler bulls
Yearling bulls on 3.5 kg ration/head/day at grass
First 5 bulls sold

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Performance

Analysis of Beef benchmarking report
Comparison of beef heifers
Dairy beef heifers analysis

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Grassland

Grass-cover bar chart dated 02/08/2026 showing individual paddock covers in kg dry matter per hectare (kg DM/ha). Bars are green and arranged highest to lowest from left to right; the left-most paddocks have covers above 1,800–2,200 kg DM/ha and the right-most paddocks fall below 400 kg DM/ha. A descending red line (the wedge/target) runs across the chart. One paddock is visually highlighted in brown. A summary panel beneath the chart lists farm-level metrics including total farm cover, cover per livestock unit, growth per hectare, demand per hectare and the farm LUI (livestock units); buttons for planner/wedge decisions and print/export are visible at the top-right. The graphic provides a snapshot of available grazing and where paddocks are above or below the target wedge on the specified date.

Figure 1 Grass wedge on 2nd August 2026

The grass wedge on 2^nd August shows a strong supply of grass on the farm, with an average farm cover of 879 kg DM/ha and growth running at 55 kg DM/ha/day, compared with a demand of just 27 kg DM/ha/day.

There is currently 33 days of grass ahead, indicating that grass supply is well ahead of livestock demand. The wedge has a good number of paddocks available at covers around 900–1,300 kg DM/ha, while a number of heavier covers are present at the start of the rotation.

With growth running at twice demand, grass is accumulating faster than it is being grazed. The farm is therefore carrying more grass than required for the current rotation. Demand will be increasing as cows have started calving and Trevor also has the option of removing surplus grass. As we are now into August he is well ahead for building covers coming into the autumn. At a growth rate of 55 kg DM/ha/day, continued strong growth could quickly add further grass to the wedge if demand does not increase.

Three water troughs are to be added to the new land being farmed this year which will allow the fields to be closed off into smaller paddocks.

Nutrition

One of the pedigree Saler bulls was sold for breeding on 20th June. The remaining pair are on 12kg of ration/head/day and will be finished around 700 and 800kg live weight respectively.

Figure 2 Two Saler that are being finished

The weanling bulls are eating 3.5kg of ration/head/day at grass and were gradually built up by 0.5kg/week since June. Five of these were sold privately on 4^th August with the remainder to be sold by the end of the month.

Figure 3 Some of the yearling bulls

Performance

Trevor’s Beef Benchmarking Report came available on ICBF on 28^th June. It runs from April 2025 to March 2026 and summarised the finishing performance of 17 beef heifers and 20 dairy beef heifers that were sold during that time.

For the beef heifers it showed the following data:

Carcass weight: 263kg (national average 336kg)
Carcass conformation: R- (national average R=)
Carcass fat: 3+ (national average 3+)
Age: 584 days (national average 819 days)
Lifetime ADG:84 kg/day (national average 0.69 kg/day)
GHG output per kg carcass weight:87 (national average 14.79)

It also compared the finishing performance across the commercial beef value (CBV). The top third of the CBV animals had a lower lifetime ADG at 0.85 kg/day vs. 0.88 kg/day as they were 68 days older than the bottom third when finished. However they had a heavier carcass weight of 282kg vs. 243kg and graded better at R= instead of O+.

A table titled 'Commercial Beef Value (CBV) - within herd ranking' showing four columns (Top Third, Average, Bottom Third, No Index). Key rows read:No. of animals: 4 / 4 / 4 / 5;
Commercial Beef Value: €383 / €254 / €187 / N/A;
Lifetime ADG: 0.85 / 0.80 / 0.88 / 0.83;
Age at slaughter: 596 / 586 / 528 / 619;
Weight: 282 kg / 245 kg / 243 kg / 279 kg;
Grade: R= / O+ / O+ / R-.
The table summarizes performance and value differences between herd thirds.

Figure 4 CBV vales of beef x beef heifers finished April 2025- March 2026 (Source: ICBF)

The dairy beef heifer data was as follows:

Carcass weight: 242kg (national average 288kg)
Carcass conformation: O= (national average O+)
Carcass fat: 3+ (national average 3+)
Age: 630 days (national average 772 days)
Lifetime ADG:85 kg/day (national average 0.77 kg/day)
GHG output per kg carcass weight:86 (national average 14.62)

The CBV differences were more obvious in this group of heifers, which the top third CBV ones achieving a higher ADG of 0.77kg/day vs. 0.73kg/day in the bottom, 20 days older at age at finish at 639 days vs 619 days, a higher carcass weight of 256kg vs. 225kg and a higher grade at O+ vs. O=.

A second 'Commercial Beef Value (CBV) - within herd ranking' table showing columns Top Third, Average, Bottom Third and No Index (zero). Key rows:No. of animals: 8 / 6 / 6 / 0;
Commercial Beef Value: €205 / €134 / €75 / N/A;
Lifetime ADG: 0.77 / 0.75 / 0.73 / N/A;
Age at slaughter: 639 / 631 / 619 / N/A;
Weight: 256 kg / 241 kg / 225 kg / N/A;
Grade: O+ / O= / O= / N/A.
This compares performance metrics and CBV by herd ranking.

Figure 5 CBV vales of dairy x beef heifers finished April 2025- March 2026 (Source: ICBF)

Figure 6 Some of this year’s dairy beef heifers