17 February 2024

Newford herd settled into new home in Roscommon

The Newford suckler demonstration farm, established by Teagasc and Dawn Meats with support by McDonalds, took up its new residence on a 118 acre farmable farm at Scrine Co, Roscommon at the end of 2023, Michael Fagan tells us more on the latest happenings from the farm.

The farm is mainly limestone with its highest point at 156 meters above sea level. Included on the farm is 15 acres of biodiversity ground. The farm itself was an ex drystock/tillage farm with extensive cattle facilities. The farm was more or less ready to farm, it does require paddock fencing and water troughs to be put in place, and this work has commenced. Newford farm will continue using key technologies to achieve its optimum goals on forage production, cattle selection for slaughter, health and welfare of housed animals while contributing to improve the farm’s carbon footprint.

newford roscommon farm map

The new farm at Scrine Co, Roscommon

Calving

Calving activity is in full swing now on Newford Farm, 8 cows out of 91 in-calf animals have calved up to the 7^th February. With 8 live calves on the ground, there has been no calving difficulty to report thus far.

newford new calf

Sire: Derryolam Matt, CH 4436. Born: 1st Feb 24. Sex: Female. Calvig score:1.

All of the calving sheds and holding pens have been washed, limed and disinfected. The expecting mothers have been moved into holding pens. All calving material and equipment has been set up alongside the calving pens. The cows are on 100 g of pre-calving minerals, this is being spread on top of silage each morning.

newford expecting mothers in holding pens

Expecting mothers have moved into holding pens.

General farm work

All paddocks are being laid out with an underground water pipe system (4000 meters), 32 mm pipe costing €2.65 per meter to lay, 32 mm fusion tee + elbows costing €35 per water trough.

laying out underground water pipe system

Laying out of underground water pipe system.

Grassland

Soil temperature on Newford Roscommon on 6^th February was 9 degrees. The farm is running with an average farm cover of 728 kg of DM /ha. In the coming days slurry will be spread on the stubble ground 2,000 – 2,500 gals per acre. After this cold spell Protected urea 46 N will be spread, at a rate of ½ bag per acre (25kg) or 23 units per acre.

All of the farm has been soil tested and based on those results the nutrition management plan will be drawn for the coming year.