Michael McGuigan January/February Update 2025
Forage crop update
- Weanlings now grazing Interval forage crop
- Management at grazing
- Silage sample results
Blood sample results & body condition scoring
- Blood samples negative for neospora
- Cows body condition scored at housing
- 3 in calf heifers bought
Animal Nutrition
The weanlings started grazing the forage crop on 16th November. The variety sown is Interval and it is a kale/rape hybrid crop on 2.5ha. Michael manages stock on it as follows;
- Weanlings were given a mineral bolus pre-grazing containing copper, cobalt, iodine, and selenium
- They were gradually introduced to the crop over 1 week to help avoid any dietary upsets
- The crop is strip grazed and the wire is moved daily
- The wire is not moved until frost thaws (high nitrates can be toxic)
- Red clover and grass silage is provided ad lib to ensure that at least 30% of the diet is a fibre source
- Silage bales were lined after sowing in the field
- 5-2kg ration/head/day is being fed
- Water is available at all times
- It was sown in a sheltered field
At sowing Michael followed the cross compliance rules and left a 6 metre buffer from the water course and is grazing towards it, rather than away, to help avoid any nutrient loss. He also has a 0.8ha (>30% of forage area) grass lie back area to help prevent soil erosion.
Figure 1: Cattle grazing the forage crop
Michael sampled the 2nd cut silage that he had reserved for the dry cows. It tested at 72.9% DMD with 13.86% crude protein at 36.58% dry matter. The ideal DMD silage for dry cows is 66% DMD so he has switched over to poorer quality bales so that the cows aren’t too fat at calving.
Figure 2: Silage sample results
Breeding
Michael blood tested the breeding stock on the farm for neospora and while one result was inconclusive, the other results were negative thankfully. This helps to rule out any fertility issues as a result of that parasite.
Figure 3: The suckler cows are housed full time since 26th November
He also took blood samples from cows to assess their mineral status and it showed that they were low in copper, cobalt, magnesium and iodine. A mineral bolus containing copper, cobalt, iodine and selenium was given to them in March at breeding time and he is considering if a second bolus should be given in the autumn for year round cover. Magnesium is a macro mineral and has to be ingested in the diet daily so he can’t administer a bolus for it. The cows were housed on 26th November and Michael body condition scored them. The target score is 3-3.5 at housing and this reduces to 2.5 at calving. The average score for Michael’s cows was 3.07 and this ranged from 2.75 to 3.5 which he is happy with.
He assess the body condition score by handling 3 key areas on the cow and assessing the fat cover they have:
- Over the ribs
- Over the short Ribs – transverse processes
- On the tail head, above the pin bones
Further information on body condition scoring cows can be found here.
Figure 4: Some of the BCS scores for in calf cows and heifers
The cows will be fed a pre-calving mineral for at least 6 weeks before they are due to calve.
They have also been vaccinated against rotavirus, coronavirus and e.coli to prevent scours in the calves after birth.
Michael also bought in 3 in calf heifers that are due to calve to a Limousin bull in February/March. They are averaging €161 on the replacement index with 25kg carcass weight, 8.1kg daughter milk, -1.52 days on daughter calving interval and -6.4 days on age at finish.
Figure 5: Three recently purchased in calf heifers
Performance
The bullocks (15) were weighed on 30th November as they started eating the Interval crop. They averaged 431kg and had gained 0.74kg/day on average since 16th November.
Figure 6: Some of the bullock and heifer weanlings
The heifers (8) averaged 402kg on the same day and had gained 0.86kg/day on average since 16th November.