18 August 2024
Finishing underway at Tipperary Dairy Calf to Beef Demonstration Farm
With an ambition of producing in-spec steer and heifer beef originating from the dairy herd under a grass-based system, finishing of 2023-born animals has commenced on the Tipperary Dairy Calf to Beef Demonstration Farm.
In a recent farm update, Technician to the farm, Chloe Millar explained that on August 1, 104 cattle – comprising of 53 steers and 51 heifers – were drafted based on potential to finish in the next 70 days. At an average weight of 449kg for the steers and 415kg for the heifers, there are being supplemented with 2.5kg/head/day at grass of a 12% maize/barely based ration.
Table 1: Weighing performance of 2023-born steers and heifers on the Tipperary Dairy Calf to Beef Demonstration Farm on July 24
| Steers | Heifers | |
|---|---|---|
| Total | 200 | 109 |
| Average weight | 406kg | 373kg |
| ADG since turnout | 0.75kg/head/day | 0.71kg/head/day |
| Number over 350kg | 183 | 87 |
| Number over 400kg | 111 | 24 |
| Number over 450kg | 14 | 3 |
| Number over 500kg | 1 | 1 |
Table 2: Weight performance by breed and sex when weighed on July 24
| Breed | Steers (number) | Steer weights | Heifers (number) | Heifer weights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AA | 64 | 412kg | 64 | 380kg |
| AU | 21 | 407kg | 17 | 402kg |
| FR | 54 | 409kg | 0 | |
| FRX | 21 | 386kg | 1 | 352kg |
| HE | 12 | 410kg | 5 | 369kg |
| JEX | 3 | 391kg | 0 | |
| LM | 8 | 418kg | 5 | 368kg |
| SA | 17 | 408kg | 17 | 368kg |
Calf management and performance
This year’s calves, Chloe explained, are currently separated into four batches of approximately 80 in each group. These batches are based off weaning dates and therefore have different turnout dates.
On the management of these calves, Chloe explained: “Calves are on meal for four weeks once they are turned out to grass. Since the 11th of July, there is no meal being fed to calves.
“Male and female calves have now being split in to their respective groups. We now have two grazing groups of male calves and two groups of female calves. On 25th of July, one group of male calves were castrated and the other group will be done as soon as possible.”
Although another weighing is planned for early August, male calves on the farm had gained 0.71kg/head/day from arrival to July 4 at which point they weighed 126kg, while heifer calves achieved an average daily gain of 0.64kg/head/day to reach 116kg on July 4.
Grassland, spring barley harvest and fodder supplies
To date, Chloe highlighted, the demonstration farm has grown 8.4t DM/ha of grass from a chemical nitrogen input of 132kg N/ha.
Additionally, with 12ha of spring barley present on the farm which is expected to be harvested towards the end of the month, plans are in place to establish Westerwold grass on this ground as soon as possible after harvest in order to increase the farm’s grass availability over the autumn and winter months.
On winter feed stocks, Chloe said: “We have sufficient fodder reserved on the farm allowing calves to be housed for 120 days and cattle to be housed from mid-September until January using the best estimate of slaughter dates.”
Table 3: Silage requirements on the Tipperary Dairy Calf to Beef Demonstration Farm
| Forage made | 309 tonnes |
|---|---|
| Forage needed | 279 tonnes |
| Surplus | 30 tonnes |
More information
The Tipperary Dairy Calf to Beef Demonstration Farm held its first open day on July 10th, to which a huge crowd attended.
If you missed the event, you can view the information boards from the event here.
The booklet (PDF) from the open day is available to download here.
Additionally, you can now follow along with the day-to-day events on the farm and by following on Instagram and X (formerly Twitter) – @Tipp_DemoFarm and on Facebook – Tipperary Dairy Calf to Beef Demonstration Farm.
Also read: First open day at Tipperary Dairy Calf to Beef Demonstration Farm
Also read: More options and higher profits from high CBV animals
Also read: The grassland improvements at the Tipperary Dairy Calf to Beef Demonstration Farm