Aonghusa Fahy - September 2024

How I plan to achieve an average daily gain of 0.6kg for my weanlings this winter

The Ploughing is always a highlight in my farming calendar and this year’s event was particularly exciting as two of my cattle travelled up for a display on the Teagasc stand. They were on the demonstration ‘What is your target turnout weight?’

My Charolais bullock was bred from CH4491 and was picked for his high commercial beef value index of €283. He was born on February 26 and weighed 365kg on September 8, having gained 1.55kg/day since birth.

I am expecting him to weigh 429kg at housing on October 31, and 493kg at turnout on February 14.

My Limousin heifer was bred by LM2014 and is 5 stars on the replacement index with a value of €147. However, when you look into her indexes, she is low on milk at +2.7kg, but strong on carcass weight at 24.5kg.

She was born on February 9 and weighed 290kg on September 8, after gaining 1.13kg/day since birth. Her target is to weigh 343kg at housing and to be 407kg at turnout next spring.

I plan to achieve an average daily gain of 0.6kg/day on the weanlings over the winter by:

■ Having enough feed space (225-300mm/hd);

■ Having 1.5-2 square metres lying space per animal;

■ Feeding 75pc DMD silage and balancing it with 1.5kg of ration;

■ Housing them in a well ventilated shed;

■ Dosing them pre-housing;

■ Having vaccinations up to date.

In keeping with the winter weight gains theme, I am hosting a farm walk this Friday (September 27) where these topics were discussed, along with the new water quality EIP and managing the farmyard over the winter.

Most of the calves are now weaned and have remained out at grass full-time. They are continuing to creep-graze ahead of the cows.

Some of the lighter calves are still with the cows and I’ll leave them a few extra weeks before weaning them.

I joined the National Beef Welfare Scheme this year and as recommended, the calves are eating 1kg ration/head/day for four weeks before weaning and then getting 2kg/hd/day for two weeks after weaning.

The finishing heifers and bullocks are being fed 5kg/hd/day at grass and will be sold in the coming month.

They are sold to a factory in the North where the fat score must be a 2 (not specifically 2+), they have to be continental and they must be under 30 months. Cows are not accepted.

I am happy with the price they are paying and have sent cattle there already this year. It’ll be great to cash them in before the winter and take pressure off feed and sheds.

Everyone is welcome to visit the farm on Friday at 3pm (eircode: H91TPD2). Hope to see you there!