General Details
- Calving started on 14th February with 97/98 (99%) cows calved by Thursday 12th May and 93 live calves on the ground
- Grass growth rate has increased this week
- All weanlings and 87 cows and calves currently grazing
- 25 replacement heifers moved to contract rearer on Wednesday 20th April
Grassland Details
- Average farm cover 859kg DM/day on 5th May
- Average growth rate 79kg/DM/Ha over past 7 days
- Average Demand 45kg/DM/Ha
- Currently 15 days ahead
- Current stocking rate: 3.73 L.U/Ha
- Soil temperatures in Athenry currently 10.1 degrees
- Decision taken to take out 20 acres of paddocks on Thursday 12th to be baled on Saturday
- This will take 10 days off our days ahead figure and will bring pre grazing yields back in line to 1500-1600
Breeding details
- Teaser bulls turned out on Thursday 28th April
- Breeding started in cows on Friday 29th April
- Cows being inseminated at mid-day each day by commercial AI technician
- Cows in 2 main groups
- 1 group of first and 2nd calvers
- 1 group of mature cows
- Breeding started in heifers on Monday 25th April and 15/25 served by Wednesday 11th May
- Currently very good submission rates with 57 cows served by Thursday 12th May
Key recommendations for this week
- Heat check each group 5 times daily (20 mins each group)
- Spread fertiliser on paddocks that were taken out for bales
- Power washing to continue in all sheds
- Open Day preparations continuing
- Faecal sampling of all groups of stock to take place this week
- Breeding scan booked for 40 days after AI started
- Bring back group steers to home block to increase demand for 10 days
