Beef Newsletter - August 2021

Download Publication (PDF)

In this month's edition:

• Early-maturing animal finishing options
  Slaughtering cattle off grass at the end of the second grazing season is an efficient system that can be implemented on farm with early-maturing calf-to-beef heifers, and similarly with their steer comrades who are advanced enough at this stage of the year.
• Research Update - Dairy calf-to-beef performance
  Nicky Byrne, Donall Fahy and Anthony Mulligan of AGRIC, Teagasc, Grange, Dunsany, Co. Meath report on the evaluation of the Grange dairy calf-to-beef system. From 2018 to 2020, Teagasc Grange compared the physical and financial performance of three dairy-beef genetic groups. They consisted of male Holstein Friesian (HF) and two Angus (AAX) groups, representing the main calf breeds coming from the dairy herd.
• Climate actions for August
  • August is a good month to sort out deficits in grazing infrastructure to optimise days at grass, if your capital expenditure budgets allow
  • Consider collecting and returning faecal samples to a DAFM approved lab if you have selected this task in BEEP-S
  • Extra grazing days in the autumn are achieved by building grass cover during August
  • If feeding ration at greass - feed maximum 12-14% crude protein
  • Build autumn grass by spreading 20-25 kn N/ha using protected urea in August, when you get the best response in grass growth
  • Empty your slurry tanks
• Health & Safety - Beware of moving machinery
  August is harvest month and a lot of machinery is moving on farms and public roads, including trailers, balers and silage gear. Movement brings danger, particularly to bystanders, including children and older farmers.