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Newford Farm Notes 28th November 2022

Newford Farm Notes 28th November 2022

All of the 2021-born beef heifers (40) have now been sold off Newford Farm at an average age of just under 18 months, or 544 days of age. A total of 32 of the 40 heifers were drafted off grass with no concentrate supplementation provided since turnout on the 20th January.

  • The average grade for the 40 heifers slaughtered was R - 3 =
  • Their average liveweight going up the ramp of the lorry was 564 kg
  • Their average date of birth was the 20th of February 2021 and their average kill date was the 18th of August 2022 (544 days old on average)
  • Their average carcase weight was 296 kg and their average kill-out percentage was 52 %
  • The average sale price per kilo carcase weight received was €5.06 /kg
  • The average sale value was €1,507 per head
  • Just two heifers out of the 40 sold did not receive the quality payment system in-spec bonus of 20c/kg. The issue was inadequate fat cover with these grading R = 2 = and U + 2=
  • Lifetime concentrate intake averaged approximately 306kg per head costing €111 per heifer.

The last four heifers were drafted on the 11th of November

  • Their average grade was R + 3 –
  • Their liveweight going up the ramp of the lorry was 632 Kgs
  • They had an average  carcass weight of 351 Kg, with a 56% kill out
  • These heifers were introduced to concentrates at grass on the 1st of September and were getting 3 Kgs per day during the month of September and early October.
  • They were housed on average on the 14th of October and along with ad lib 72% DMD silage they were supplemented with up to 6kg of a high energy, 12% crude protein ration costing €410/t

Heifers Comparison Form

 20152016201720182019202020212022
Heifers       (Farm Sale)       To date 36 heifers
Conformation Score R = R + R = - R = R =  R =  R -
Fat Score 3 + 4 - 4 - - 3 = 3 = 3 - 3 =
Carcase Weight (kg) 280 296 291 - 299 299 311 296
Live Weight 521 574 560 460 569 570 583 564
Kill Out % 54 % 52 % 52 % - 53 % 52 % 53 % 52 %
Age (months) 21 20 19 16

20

599 Days

20

609 Days

20

605 Days

Under 18

544 days

Value € 1,172 € 1,176 € 1,167 € 1,035 € 1,117 € 1,188 € 1,396 € 1,507
Price / kg € 4.20 € 3.95 € 4.01 € 2.25 € 3.74 € 3.95 € 4.49 € 5.06

Slaughter performance of bullocks

  • To-date 19 beef bullocks have being drafted off the farm with 16 of them meeting the QPS spec, and the other 3 bullocks had inadequate fat cover.
    • The average grade for the 19 bullocks was R = 3 -
    • The average liveweight going up the ramp of the lorry was 624 kg
    • Their average carcase weight was 340 kg and their kill-out percentage was 54 %
    • There was two “O +” grades, two “R -” grades , nine “R =” grades , five  “R +”  and one  “ U -“ grading  animals
    • The average sale price per kilo of carcase weight was €88 per Kg
    • The average sale price per head was € 1,657
    • The 19 bullocks were on average 19 months of age at slaughter ( 596 days)
    • The finishing diet was ad lib silage and 6 kg concentrates
  • There are 24 bullocks left to be drafted on the farm. These are currently receiving 6 kg of a high energy, 12% protein ration along with ad lib 72 DMD silage.
  • The next draft will be in early December

Two bullocks that will be drafted in December

Weanlings at grass after weaning

  • The Newford weanlings are two months weaned now and there has being no set back to report.
    • Given the heavy rainfall and fluctuation in temperatures weanlings are being monitored closely for signs of pneumonia.
  • They are receiving 1 kg of ration (18% Protein) per day at grass.
  • Feed troughs are positioned in a shed / on roadway and the weanlings walk up each morning to the shed or roadway. This is helping to prevent poaching around feed troughs and is also a good way to monitor weanlings for any health issues.
  • There is 59 male weanlings and 26 female weanlings this year.
    • The male weanlings have been split in to two groups for ease of management and to facilitate better grass utilisation in the paddocks which has become challenging due to recent heavy rainfall.
    • The male weanlings are still at grass and will be housed in the coming days.
    • The male weanlings were weighed on the 20th of October and the heifers were weighed on the 7th of November. The summary of weight performance is detailed below;

Calf weights 2022

Weaning Date 12th September

Weighing Date 20th October

Weaning Date 20th September

Weighing Date 07th November

Male Calves Heifer Calves
Number of Males 59 Number of Heifers 26
Av Birth Wgt 44 Kgs Av Birth Wgt 39 Kgs
Weight 361 Kgs Weight 364 Kgs
Average Age 8 Mts Average Age 9 Mts
A.D.G from Birth to 20th October 1.29 Kg /Day A.D.G from Birth to 27th July 1.22 Kg/ GDay
A.D.G from Weaning to 20th October (38 days) 0.89 Kg /Day A.D.G from Weaning to 7th November (48 days) 0.76 Kg /Day

A bunch of the male weanlings enjoying the last days of grass and sunshine before housing

Female weanling heifers

  • There is 26 yearling heifers at grass receiving 1kg concentrate supplementation daily.
  • The farm is aiming to sell these heifers at 17 -18 months of age similar to the 2021 crop of calves.
    • The aim is to retain these heifers at grass until early to mid-December
    • The heifers have achieved an average daily gain of 0.76 kg per day since weaning (12th Sept – 7th November)

Newford female weanling heifers
Sire: Kilmore Gle - KZG
Date of Birth (Tag 1334) - 22 Feb 2022
Birth weight - 43 Kg
Weaning weight 20th Sept 2022 - 340 Kg
Weighet 7th Nov (48 days later) - 379 Kg
ADG from weaning to 7th Nov (48 days) - 0.81 Kg
Consuming 1 Kg of 18% Pr ration at grass per day

Newford Farm TB

  • Newford Farm passed its’ latest TB herd test and the farm’s second test will take place on the 5th of December.
  • The Department of Agricultural badger app has been download onto the farm’s phone to report any badger activities within the farm.

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