Olivia Hynes September/October 2023

Performance
- 200 day weights highlight average daily gain of 1.21kgs/day
- Weaning Performance Report 2023
- Using the ICBF reports


Animal Performance
The weaning performance report is designed to identify the most efficient performers in the herd but also and maybe more importantly, the most inefficient cow/calf pairing . The report predicts the 200 day weight of the weanling. The 200 day weight is an international Key Performance Indicator (KPI) for suckler herds.
In simple terms, the 200-day weight report or weaning performance report measures the cow’s ability to rear her calf. So how would a farmer interpret such a report ?
The report begins with a run-down of the herd with total number of animals weighed, the ADG and the average 200 day weight of the herd. The report below shows that 39 calves were weighed and the overall average daily gain since birth (ADG) was 1.21 kgs. As a suckler farmer this is the benchmark and it is where you want to be.
The report then highlights the performance of the males and females separately. The males weigh 287kgs at 200 days and the females 285kgs so that is an ADG of 1.21kgs for both catergories. The target for the weanlings is 300kgs for males and 250kgs for females. While the heifers have exceeded the target the males are 13 kgs behind. An explanation for this , is that the majority of the males could be out of first calvers.
As Olivia is selling weanling she would like them to be averaging 300kgs.
No matter what system of farming you are in it is vital that your weanlings are hitting these weight targets . The cow should have the genetic make-up to produce plenty of milk for its calf to hit these 200 days weights.
This report will also present the efficiency of each cow as a percentage of their bodyweight which they weaned. The aim is to produce lighter mature cows that can wean a calf equal to or greater than their heavier counterparts. The target here for suckler farms is that the cow rears a calf that is at least 42% of her own weight. The ICBF report for Olivia highlights an average efficiency of 44% (average calf weight (286kg) divided by the average cow weight (665kgs) x 100 = 44%. Olivia’s herd is right on target here.
The first calvers are low at 31% - this could be normal with first calvers
The weaning performance also identifies the best cows in the herd ie those that are weaning a heavy weanling. The report can help Olivia make the correct breeding decisions for the herd. The cows identified might need to be culled or heifers off these cows should not be kept for breeding. A good management decision would be to keep replacement heifers off the top performing cows identified in the report.
Cows 1184 and 1179 are heavy mature cows and should be rearing a heavier calf ie 42 % of their own weight but they are only weaning calves at 237kgs at 200 days . These could be cows that Olivia identifies for culling.
Animal Health
Picture 1: No issues with worms or coccidia
Grassland
Growth varied throughout the September October period. Demand exceeded growth and with the 260 ewes with the ram in September – Olivia needed grass. 20 units of protected urea /acre was applied in Kilcash . With some cull cows been sold this reduced demand also.
Picture 1: Grass covers October 11th
Picture 2: 260 ewes to the ram in the first week of September
Picture 3: Grass for priority stock - mating ewes
Picture 4: New fencing has improved grass utilisation