Herd Update 18.06.18

General Detail

• Newford Farm has 100 cows for breeding this year.
• To date:
  • 90 % of the herd was AI within 3 weeks of the breeding season commencing (23rd April).
  • All 100 cows have now been inseminated.
  • Newford Farm is on week 8^th of the breeding season (2 weeks of breeding left)
  • 15 cows have repeated twice to date, Thursday the 21st June
  • 6 cows are on their 3^rd repeat
• Once a day AI used, cows are being inseminated at midday each day.
• The store bullocks and heifers were weighted on the 19^th June.
  • The steers turnout date to grass was the 19^th of April.
  • The heifer’s turnout date to grass was the 24^th of April. 
  • These late turnout dates was due to the very poor wet and cold spring. Which has meant both the steers and heifers are on catch up as they were 5 weeks later going to grass this year as compared to last year stores, going to grass on the 14^th of March 2017. Summary as follows:

Grassland Details

• Grass cover taken last Monday the 18^th June.
• Utilisation of grass has been excellent in recent days.
• Grass growth is beginning to slow up , due to the dry weather and poor grass growth
• Newford Farm started its 4^th rotation at the start of this week
• First cut silage (40 acres) was pitted on the 12^th June and those fields have now received 2,500 gals of cattle slurry per acre.
• I bag of 18-6-12 per acre is been spread after grazing.

Key Recommendations for this Week

1. Monitor all cows regularly for heat detection
2. Tighten plastic on silage pit
3. Keep the teaser bull’s   chin ball harness topped up with paint
4. Watch calves closely for pneumonia / sun stroke