02 October 2022

Newford Farm Notes – 83% of 2021-born beef heifers have now been sold at an average age of 17 ½ months

In this update from the Newford farm Michael Fagan gives some information on beef heifers sold to date, weaning of progeny and weaning efficiency.

To-date 83%, or 33 out of the 40, 2021-born beef heifers have now been sold at an average age of 17 ½ months, or 527 days of age. Heifers were drafted off grass with no concentrate supplementation provided since turnout on the 20^th

• The average grade for the 33 heifers slaughtered to date was R – 3 =
• Their average liveweight going up the ramp of the lorry was 552 kg
• Their average date of birth  was the 22^nd  of February 2021 and their average kill date was the 3^rd of August 2022 (527 days old on average)
• The average carcase weight was 287 kg and their average kill-out percentage was 52 %
• The average sale price per kg received was €5.07/kg
• The average sale price was €1,468 per head
• Only one heifer out of the 33 sold did not receive the quality payment system in-spec bonus as she graded R = 2 =
• he only concentrate feeding the heifers received was at weaning time for BEEP-S and during the short winter housing period of 2021/2022
• The heifers consumed roughly 251 kg of concentrates costing approximately €90
• These heifers remained at grass after weaning and were housed on the 7^th of December at 379 kg liveweight. They remained housed for just 44 days before being turned back out to grass on the 20^th of January 2022 weighing 411 kg on average
• There are seven remaining 2021-born beef heifers and their average weight is 560 k
• The majority of these seven heifers will be drafted at the end of September and they have been receiving 3kg of meal since the 1^st of September. They are being supplemented with a high energy, 12% crude protein ration costing €410/t

Heifers Comparison Form Image

All 2022-born progeny have now been weaned.The male weanlings (60), which well outnumber the heifer weanlings (26) were weaned on the 12^th of September while heifer weanlings were weaned on the 20^th of September.

• The average weaning date for all weanlings for 2022 is the 16^th of September
• The male weanlings were weaned at 327 kg equating to an average daily gain (ADG) of 1.37 kg from birth to weaning.
• The heifer weanlings were weaned at 328 kg and recorded an ADG of 1.32 kg from birth to weaning
• The weanlings are receiving 1.5 kg of concentrates at grass since weaning
• A summary table of weights is detailed below;

The weaning procedure included housing weanlings in adjacent penning to their dams. Additional gates are tied in place so weanlings cannot access cows to suckle. The fact weanlings had visual and sensory access to cows has helped in reducing stress.

While housed weanlings have access to concentrates and silage, while cows are offered straw only at the outset to aid in reducing milk yield and speed up the drying off process.

After a separation period of 36 hours, the weanlings were joined back with cows for a last suck.

Male calves waiting for their last suck 36 hours after being housed in adjacent penning.

The last feeding took place in the handling yard to facilitate more straight forward separation.

The weanlings are then moved to a straw-bedded shed which is out of sight of cows. They continue to have access to concentrates and silage.

The next priority for the weanlings is to get them back to grass as soon as possible with this practice also helping to lower the risk of any health issues.

Cows on straw before and after weaning along with mineral buckets

The cows were offer some silage on day six along with the straw

While the cows are being dried off they will be fed silage and straw. Slats are scraped daily and a light layer of lime is spread on top of the slats. This practice has proven to be very successful over the last number of years in helping to reduce the incidence of mastitis.

Weaning efficiency

• All the suckler cows were weighed at weaning and the average weight of the Newford suckler cow is 622 kg.
• The average weaning percentage relative to cow weight for the herd was 53%
• The average calving date was the 15^th February 2022
• The average weaning date was 16^th September 2022
• So on average the weanlings were 213 days suckling (birth to weaning)

Calf Sire: Scardaune Mark (CH 4491)                   Dam: AA x Friesian-cross cow born (9^th   Calver)

Born 21^st February 2022                                         

Birth weight 49 Kg

Weaned on the 12^th September at 361 Kgs

ADG from birth to weaning 1.54 Kg

Suckling 203 days

More information on the Newford Herd can be found here