Our Organisation Search
Quick Links
Toggle: Topics

James Skehan November/December Update 2024

Breeding

Breeding

  • Spring calving herd
  • Selecting bulls with high replacement index for breeding replacements
  • Selecting suitable replacement heifers from within the herd
View
Performance

Performance

  • Under 24 month steer and heifer finishing system
  • Drafting animals for finish
  • Feeding regime for finishing animals
View
Animal Health

Animal Health

  • Faecal egg testing
  • Vaccination programme for spring calving herd
  • Pre calving mineral supplementation
View

Breeding


A compact calving system is operated with approx. 60 % of the herd served to ai, the remaining 40% are served to a high terminal index Limousin stock bull. AI sires (CH5980 and SA4604) used to produce replacements have a replacement index of €186 with a large emphasis placed on milk kg, fertility and age of finish. High replacement index heifers are being selected from within the herd going forward. It is important that these weanling heifers hit their target pre breeding liveweight which is 60% of their mature weight. Looking at a  live weight of 600 to 650kg for the cows(based on mart weight of cull cows) the heifers need to weight between 360 and 390kg live weight at breeding in order to achieve satisfactory breeding results. It is important that the heifers selected for breeding are fed accordingly to reach this target.

Figure 1: High replacement AI Bulls used on the herd to breed replacements

Figure 2: High replacement index weanling heifers suitable for breeding in the spring of 2025

Performance


Weanlings are housed and are receiving 70 DMD silage ad lib plus 2kg of concentrates per day. Cattle are drafted for finishing (550kg lwt for steers and 520kg for heifers) and are finished over a 90 to 100 day period. The pen area is 26m2 which allows for 7 to 8 animals to be penned together for finishing. Cattle can be fed on both the front and back of each pen.

Cattle are fed ad lib red clover silage during the finishing period and 8kg of a high energy 12% CP ration. The ration is split over 2 feeds per day. Cattle are started on 2 kg and the feed is increased by 2 kg per week up to a max of 8kg. Cattle are slaughtered after approx. 100 days on the finishing diet. Steers and heifers achieved carcass weights of 360kg and 340kg respectively. At a kill out of 54% this would equate to steers and heifers being drafted for finish at 670kg and 630kg lwt respectively. There is a group of cattle almost fit for slaughter which will be handled and assessed for fat cover (target of 3) before sale. James along with his factory agent assess the animals for drafting for slaughter.

Figure 3: Average performance of heifers drafted for slaughter

Figure 4: Average performance of steers drafted for slaughter 

 

Health


Currently all cattle are housed on the farm. Historically the farm has had issues with rumen fluke. Following this years faecal sampling results, all animals housed were treated for lungworm, stomach worm, rumen and liver fluke. Animals were also treated for lice at housing. Weanlings were vaccinated for viral pneumonia prior to housing with Bovipast RSP.

Cows are housed and following weaning are grouped according to body condition. Cows in poorer body condition are grouped and penned together. These cows receive the better quality silage and ration if necessary. All cows receive a high quality pre-calver mineral. This mineral is fed for at least 6 to 8 weeks pre calving at a rate of 120g per cow per day. The cows also receive a mineral injection while vaccinating cows pre calving. The cows are also vaccinated for rotavirus calf scour, leptospirosis and this year James is considering using a vaccine for cryptosporidium calf scour. Up to now James has being using Halocur successfully however, from a health and safety and labour point of view he is considering switching to the which will mean less handling of young calves penned with their mothers. James also supplements cows with 1-2kg of soyabean meal in the last 2 weeks pre calving, this is done to improve colostrum quality and achieve best results from any vaccines used.

Its important to carry out a Stock bull NCT at this time of year and make sure that the bull is fit for breeding and has no ill effect from the previous season. The stock bull purchased in 2024 for breeding seemed to be behind target weight and condition although was eating alright. His coat colour seemed duller than all the other cattle. There was no other sign of ill thrift such as coughing etc. James contacted his veterinary surgeon and a Bronchoalveolar Lavage was performed to check for lungworm. The results of the lung wash showed there was lungworm larvae present. The bull was treated immediately for lung worm.

Figure 5: Bronchoalveolar Lavage showing lungworm present