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Herd Update 02.04.16

General Details

  • Calving started on 14th February with 79/98 (80%) cows calved by Tuesday 5th April and 77 live calves on the ground
  • Farm is now closed to all visitors until 1st May 2016, this is to ensure good disease control
  • 112 weanlings and 32 cows and calves currently grazing
  • Ground conditions have deteriorated a lot over the past few days and we will house some yearlings this week to allow grass growth pick up
  • Have kept 32 cows and calves on 1 paddock beside shed since last Friday 1st April, feeding ad-lib silage via round feeder
  • Handling unit completed last week
  • Water system in Gort na hAbhainn completed last week
  • Drainage job completed in Gort na hAbhainn last week

Grassland Details

  • Average farm cover 730kg DM/day on 31st March
  • Average growth rate 21kg/DM/Ha
  • Average Demand 20kg/DM/Ha
  • Soil temperatures in Athenry currently 9.9 degrees
  • Silage fields closed on Monday 4th April plan to spread slurry at rate of 2000 gallons/acre this week
  • 23 units/Acre UREA spread across 40% of the farm on 25th February
  • 35 units UREA/acre spread across 70% of the farm on the 23rd March

Housing/Nutrition details

  • All cows receiving pre-calving minerals at rate of 100 grams/head/day
  • Pre calving cows on restricted diet with straw included

Key recommendations for this week

1. Ensure calving pens are bedded regularly

2. Check calves regularly for scour and pneumonia that are outdoors

3. Currently cows penned according to BCS and feed is being restricted to cows over 4 BCS

4. Pre calving cows being fed straw 3 days each week

5. Split grazing cows in 2 groups (20 in each group) (first/second calvers and mature cows)

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