Aonghusa Fahy May/June 2023
Breeding
- AI used for 6 weeks
- Synchronisation of 7 heifers – 5 held to date
- Heat detection Aids
- LM Bull mopping up for 3 weeks /Plan to finish breeding season
- Selection of replacement heifers for 2024- 18 to choose from
Grassland
- 20 units of Protected Urea applied mid-June
- Getting excellent graze-outs
- Benefits of forward creep grazing
Breeding
As can be seen from the AI chart, breeding started on April 22nd. Using AI gives Aonghusa a better choice of bulls to match the cows and he can also pick bulls for suitable replacements.
Aonghusa uses AI for the first 6 weeks and will then use his LM stock bull to mop up for 3 weeks. The bull will be pulled in the 24th of June ie a 9 week breeding season. Aonghusa has used MooCall Heat for the last 3 seasons to aid heat detection. A vasectomised bull is fitted with a Moocall Heat collar and the cows and heifers are fitted with a special tag. Moocall HEAT sends a message to Aonghusa once the vasectomised bull detects a cow in standing heat giving an optimum time to serve the cow. He also tails paints the cows.
As a part-time farmer , AI would not be option without the use of heat detections aids. In 2023, all of the herd have got 1 AI straw . 6 have repeated in the 6 weeks period and they received a second straw. During the 6 weeks of Ai, Aonghusa keeps the cows on fields adjacent to the yard. Aonghusa will scan towards the end of July.
This year , Aonghusa synchronised 7 heifers and 5 have held to date which is 70%. Scanning will confirm the result but Aonghusa would be very happy with that result.
This year Aonghusa used bulls like LM4184 (LOYAL) which is a very good dual purpose bull and SI4950 – a simmental bull with a replacement figure of €199 . He was used on mature cows only. Aonghusa also picked terminal type bulls e.g CH 2247 and CH4491.
18 heifer calves were born this year with 14 born in the first 6 weeks of the calving period. Aonghusa will need 7 to 8 heifers so he is spoilt for choice . Already he is starting to pick the top 10 – those from milky mothers , that consistently calved every year.
Picture 1: Potential replacements?
Grassland
May was a good month to grow grass on the farm . Growth averaged 52kgs/D/ha per day and this just met the herd demand. The dry weather in June affected growth especially at the start of the month and dipped to the 20kg/DM/h/day. But the days ahead remained at 15-16 days. The rainfall at the end of June boosted growth and Aonghusa removed surplus grass as bales silage.
With the average farm cover dropping to 640kgs/DM/ha – Aonghusa decided to apply 20 units of protected N to the non-clover swards.
Picture 2: Excellent clover swards
Picture 3: Forward grazing of the calves
Aonghusa finds forward grazing the calves has many advantages
- The calves get priority to the most palatable grass with cow competition!
- This ensures cheap weight gain
- The cows are kept back and used to graze the paddock out tightly
- To helps break the bond- calves weaned in a stress free way later on
- Controlled meal feeding – no creep feeders
Picture 4: Excelllent graze out by the cows
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Picture 5: Horse stake used to lift wire, calve go under