22 November 2024
Drafting underway at Newford
Providing an update from the Newford Farm, Michael Fagan examines the performance of the 26 heifers and eight steers drafted off the farm since November 1.
Heifer performance
From a live weight of 595kg, the heifers achieved a kill-out percentage of 51% and produced an average carcass weight of 301kg at R-3= grading. Aged 20.6 months, the average sale price for these heifers was €1,683.
Their finishing diet consisted of ad-lib silage and 5kg/head/day of concentrates. On average, each heifer drafted consumed roughly 310kg of a high energy, 12% crude protein ration before slaughter. This cost on average €98 per heifer. Some of the heifers were housed on the 26th of August and meal feeding started on the 29th of August.
Steer performance
Eight steers have also been drafted; one graded R-, six graded R= and a further steer graded R+, resulting in an average grade of R=3- across the eight steers. At the point of sale, these steers had a live weight of 687kg and, as a result of a kill out percentage of 52%, they produced an average carcass weight of 355kg, resulting in a sale price of €1,975.
Like the heifers, these steers were 20.6 months of age at slaughter and were offered a finishing diet of ad-lib silage and 5kg of concentrates.
On a general note, Newford Farm found it much harder to finish cattle this year compared to other years due to the poor weather in autumn 2023 and most of 2024, which had an effect on kill out percentages and weight gains.
2024-born progeny performance
All the 2024-born weanlings are thriving well these days with no health issues to report. All the weanlings received their IBR vaccinations last week.
These animals were weighed in early November and, on average, they are back are back about 35-40kg compared to previous years for this time of the year. This weight set back is also being reported on a lot of farms this year so it will be a priority that they get good quality silage during the winter months. At the moment, all weanling are receiving 2kg of meal at grass.
Table 1: Weighing performance of Newford weanlings on November 6
| Males | |
|---|---|
| Number weighed | 45 |
| Average birth weight | 44kg |
| Weight on November 6 | 324kg |
| Average age | 8.4 months |
| ADG from birth to November 6 | 1.09kg/day |
| ADG from weaning on September 13 to November 6 | 0.63kg/day |
| Heifers | |
| Number weighed | 39 |
| Average birth weight | 43kg |
| Weight on November 6 | 316kg |
| Average age | 8.2 months |
| ADG from birth to November 6 | 1.09kg/day |
| ADG from weaning on September 13 to November 6 | 0.66kg/day |
Newford Farm Ag College Students open day
On the 23rd of October, Newford Farm hosted an Open Day for all the agricultural colleges. 200 students and teachers from all the colleges attended this very successful event.
The above article was adapted for use on Teagasc Daily from Michael Fagan’s Newford Farm Notes. For more information on the Newford Farm, click here.