01 March 2022
Teagasc Green Acres Calf to Beef Newsletter
The current edition of the Green Acres Calf to Beef newsletter meets up with Kilkenny programme participant Peter O’Hanrahan for an update on his farm. There are key management tips and information on weight gain targets. Slaughter performance for 2021 is also reviewed.
Farm update – Peter O’Hanrahan, Thomastown, Co. Kilkenny
We’re about one month into the grazing season here at this stage and, despite the weather setbacks over the last week, ground conditions are still holding up rather favourable for the stock outdoors. The farm here is very dry so that allows us to get lighter stock out relatively early in the year, with approximately 50% of the 2021-born yearlings now at grass full-time since mid-January. Ideally, I would like to have the remainder of the weanlings out at this stage, but the weather just hasn’t played ball over the last three weeks to get these animals out and settled at grass.
Key Management Tips
- Complete a cashflow budget for the year ahead, including budgeted fertiliser and concentrate spend
- Walk the farm and begin the 2022 grazing season if conditions allow
- Create a spring rotation plan and prioritise grazing with lighter stock
- Record turnout weights to evaluate winter performance and to monitor weight gains over the season ahead
- Focus on calf rearing; mix and feed milk consistently and be vigilant for signs of calf ill health
- Make a plan for silage in 2022; evaluate feed supplies remaining in the yard and prepare a budget for next winter
Weight Gain Targets
Before the grazing season gets underway, there’s an opportunity to refocus the mind on the target weights required from animals between now and housing next winter.
2021 slaughter performance
2021 marked the third year of demonstration farmer involvement in phase 2 of the Teagasc Green Acres Programme. Noticeable changes have been witnessed in terms of slaughter performance.
The Beef Edge: Calf Rearing Tips
As dairy calves start to arrive on farms, Teagasc Green Acres Dairy Calf to Beef participant Shane Cranny from Co. Carlow, is on this week’s Beef Edge podcast to share some of his top tips when it comes to rearing calves.
The Teagasc Green Acres Calf to Beef e-Newsletter will issue monthly and you can read it here each month on on Teagasc Daily.
To find out more about the Teagasc Green Acres Calf to Beef Programme click here
