Return to site

Herd Update 27.02.17

General Details

  • 61 % of the Newford Suckler Herd has now calved within 3 ½ weeks - first calf born was on 2nd February. No major problems to report so far.
  • 65 cows have calved with 68 live calves (Four sets of twins and one mortality).
  • The average weight of the calves born is 42kgs
  • The average Calving Score is 1.94
  • Cows and heifers are being drafted to the holding area as required before calving
  • The converted sheep handling unit is now housing 20 cows and calves
  • Lime is being applied to the slats to reduce infection levels for cows that are waiting to calve.
  • Training was completed on the new grasshopper GPS system (TrueNorth Grasshopper) and this will be used for measuring grass this year.
  • 16% (8.9ha) of the land had been grazed before the yearlings returned to slatted shed
  • Ground conditions have not improved due to very wet weather recently
broken image

Grassland Details

  • Farm Cover  964kg/DM/ha
  • Growth /Ha  6kg/DM/ha
  • Estimated DM @  16 %

Suckler Herd

  • One cow has received a Metric cure for holding on to her afterbirth
  • Cows and older calves will go to grass as soon as weather improves.

Key recommendations for this week

  1. Disbud calves and give intranasal IBR vaccination (2 weeks+)
  2. Monitor cows and heifers close to calving
  3. Check all paddocks and fences and carried out repairs where needed.
  4. Weighed the yearling males and heifers and the replacement heifers on the contract rearing farm.
  5. Keep all calving pens and area disinfected as calving continues
  6. Carried out a strict inspection each morning on every calf in the yard for health