Peter Byrne, DairyBeef 500 participant from Castledermot, Co. Kildare, was named the Grass10 Drystock Sustainable Grassland Farmer of the Year for 2024. His goal is clear: maximise the conversion of high-quality grass into low cost liveweight gain, reducing the need for expensive finishing concentrates.
Between autumn and spring this year, Peter reared over 180 calves. These were a mix of Holstein Friesian, early maturing, and continental male and female calves. Weighed in early August, the group averaged 190kg.
Calves typically arrive at around three weeks of age and are fed on an automatic milk feeder until they reach a target weaning weight of 85-90 kg at 70 days old. From arrival, they are offered a blend of home-grown grain, maize meal, soya bean, and molasses. By weaning, calves are consuming over 2kg of concentrates daily, a level maintained until turnout.
Peter stresses the importance of keeping troughs clean and feed fresh to encourage early concentrate intake. Straw is provided as a fibre source, along with constant access to clean water. After turnout, calves continue to receive straw and concentrate supplementation for 5-6 weeks. They are grazed on paddocks with covers of around 1,100kg DM/ha, moving daily to ensure adequate fibre intake.
Summer grazing and animal performance from grass
This summer, tighter grass supplies meant Peter continued to feed 1kg of concentrates to all calves at grass, whereas stronger calves would normally be off meal by early July. Between turnout and early August, calves achieved an average daily gain of 0.65kg.
In 2024, Peter’s beef bred steers finished at an average age of 22 months at 311kg carcass weight, while heifers averaged 274kg at under 21 months. This performance is built on a strong grazing system. Yearlings are turned out early in spring, with a two/three-day residency in each paddock. These cattle graze covers of 1,400-1,600kg DM/ha as much as possible, with surplus paddocks removed for silage when growth is good.
Peter says grass measuring has been a game changer, giving him the confidence to remove surplus paddocks without fear of running short. His target is for second season cattle to gain 1 kg/day at grass, a key driver in finishing cattle at a young age.
Peter Byrne will host a Grass10/DairyBeef 500 Farm Walk on Wednesday 21st August at 6.30 pm in Castledermot. The event will focus on grassland management, incorporating red and white clover silage, the economics of a well-run calf-to-beef system, and finishing heifers off grass.
Peter Byrne and DairyBeef 500 Advisor, Fergal Maguire are on this week’s Beef Edge podcast to discuss Peter’s dairy beef system, grassland management on the farm and the upcoming walk taking place there. Listen in below: