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HERD UPDATE 12.08.19

General Detail

  • Newford Suckler herd was scanned last Tuesday the 13th of August and out of the 102 cows which were bred at the start of the breeding season
    • 88 cows scanned in-calf
    • 69 cows held to 1st services
    • 16 cows held to 2nd services
    • 3 cows held to 3rd services
    • One set of twins
    • 10 weeks breeding
  • The replacement Heifers on the contract rearing farm were also scanned
    • 11 heifers out of  21 scanned in-calf
    • These heifers were AI over a 6 ½ weeks period
    • The heifers not in-calf will return home to be finish off as beef animals
  • The 2 teaser bulls who were running with the suckler cows is now on  8 Kg of concentrates and will be sold off at a later stage
  • All the calves were weighted on the 31st of July. Summary as follow
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  • All the male calves were castrated on the 31st of July by the vet, with no set back to their health.
  • Calves are been creep fed at the moment, a trough has been place in the next field and the calves are going under a raised wire to get at the creep.
  • All the beef animals are on Cones farm and are thriving well on this block of ground. Most of the suckler cows and calves have been move to Tuohy’s and GortnaHabhainn farms for the moment, but will be move back home to the Newford farm for weaning. The first calvers and some of the lighter cows and calves are on the home farm in Newford
  • Grass measurement taken on the 12th  of  August
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  • Most of Newford home farm has been closed for pit silage , weather depending next week , Newford is aiming to cut this silage and spread one bag per of protect Urea 46% after the cut .
    • A grass sample will be taken to check for sugars and nitrogen levels before cutting
    • The below diagram is the grass growth on the home farm
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Key recommendations for this week

  1. Watch calves closely for pneumonia.
  2. Watch cows for summer mastitis
  3. Order worm  drench for calves
  4. Monitor grass growth closely
  5. Keep mineral buckets out in paddocks with the cows
  6. Prepare the   silage pit , for cutting next week