Ken Gills July/August Update 2024
Autumn calving has started
- Calving is well underway
- Managing cows pre-calving
- Managing calves after birth
Finishing update
- Cull cow & heifer performance
- First batch of cattle finished
- Age at finish, carcass weights & grades
Breeding
Calving is progressing well on Ken’s farm with half the herd calved in the first 3 weeks of the calving season. One calf was dead at birth but one set of twins were born so until the time of writing Ken had one calf for every cow on the farm. He has already picked 2 cows for culling based on temperament; one heifer was a danger to Ken after calving and another cow was very rough with some of the new born calves.
The remaining heifers and cows are due to calve by 19th September. Ken has them in a grass paddock that they will graze tight to try and keep body condition down. They have mineral licks with them in the field pre-calving.
Figure 1: Cows that are due to calve this month
All calves are tagged at birth and two samples are posted away for them – a genomic and BVD sample. Male calves are being castrated under 8 days of age using rubber bands and Ken also gives them an anaesthetic which is in compliance with the organic regulations. Non-polled calves are disbudded under 15 days of age with the use of an anaesthetic.
Figure 2: The group of calved cows
Ken plans to join the national beef welfare scheme and keep some of the organic oats to feed to the calves 4 weeks pre-weaning and 2 weeks post weaning.
Animal Nutrition
The winter fodder budget was updated for the farm. Ken expects to have 68 cows, 68 calves and 60 store cattle for the winter. The housing period will range from 90 to 180 days for the groups as calves have access to grass all winter, the stores will graze the turnips, rape and kale until Christmas and the cows will be the last group to remain indoors in the spring until grass growth picks up.
According to the PBI fodder budget, Ken needs 209 t of dry matter for the winter. When the pit silage (24.9m x 13.9m x 1.68m), 24 grass silage, 369 red clover silage and 125 pea/wheat bales are accounted for he has 213 t dry matter in the yard for feeding which he is delighted with.
The organic oats will be harvested over the coming fortnight and Ken expects it to yield 1.7 t/acre. He has already bought 350 bales of oaten and wheaten straw for bedding.
The turnips, rape and kale have also been sown.
Figure 3: Oscar the dog checking on the turnips, rape and kale
Performance
One cow was finished on 25th July at 35.4 months of age. She was 240kg carcass weight, graded O+2+ and made €1008. A heifer was also finished on the same day at 34.6 months of age. She was 295 kg carcass weight, graded O+3= and made €1448.
The first main batch of cattle were finished on 23rd August. 14 bullocks averaged 359kg carcass weight, graded R-3- and made €2000/head. The 10 heifers were 301kg carcass weight at 24.2 months of age. They graded R-3+ and averaged €1527/head.
The remaining finishing cattle will be sold in early October.
Figure 4: Some of the remaining cattle that will be finished off grass