General Detail
- 97 % of the Newford Suckler Herd has now calved.
- 90 % of the Newford Herd calved within 6 weeks
- 104 cows with 102 live calves
- 4 sets of twins
- Six mortality
- 3 cows left to calved
- The average weight of all the calves born so far is 43 Kgs
- Bull calves 45 Kgs
- Heifer calves 41 Kgs
- The average Calving score is 1.27
- Summary as below
- Newford Farm loss 2 calves due to cryptosporidium. The farm has increase its disinfecting routine hence there was been no more incidents on the farm.
- Another calf who had health issues has been sent to Athlone Regional Veterinary Laboratory for testing to sources the cause of death
- One bunch of cows and calves who were at grass have been brought back into the sheds to allow grass to build back up on the home farm
- Two teaser bulls have been purchased and will arrived on the farm in the coming days
- The breeding season will begin on the 23rd of April in Newford this year and Matthew (farm manager ) will be carrying out the AI for 2018
- A number of cows have already begun to show signs of heat cycle
- 23 replacement (16 Herefords & 7 Angus) calves have been purchased and they are being care for on the contract calf rearing farm in Carlow until weaning.
- Due to the poor weather the yearling animals will remain indoors until conditions allow them to go to grass.
- The below table shows the amount of rainfall from January to March this year
Grassland Details
- Like most farms in the country this year, Newford Farm is also struggling with the weather. Grass regrowth is very poor and slow. Hence the farm had to put a bunch of cows and calves back into the slatted shed.
- With the breeding season approaching fast, the farm needs to build up grass on the home farm. To be able to maintain the 107 cows during AI.
- Grass growth rate on the home farm was 13 Kg DM/Ha this week.
- The below diagram shows how difficult spring grass growth this year is as compared to 2017.
2018 grass growth is the green line.
- Note : Grass Growth on the 4th April 2017 last year was 48 Kg /ha on the home farm
Grass Growth this year on the 3rd April 2018 was 13 Kg/ha on the home farm
Key recommendations for this week
- Monitor all cows constantly inside and outside.
- Record all tag numbers of cows bulling
- Monitor cows for Grass Tetany
- Watch out for any pneumonia in the calves outside
- Monitor grass growth closely
- Cows to received their Lepto vac and mineral bolus