With breeding season around the corner Derrypatrick farm manager Michael McManus gives an insight on this week’s Beef Edge podcast into how calving went, the breeding season ahead and what sires are being selected.

Michael describes how calving took place from 2nd February- 22nd April. There were 102 cows calved, 100 live calves, 1 set of twins and 3 moralities. The average birthweight was 45.5 kg and the average birth date was 2nd March.

89 cows and heifers calved in 6 weeks. The first 30 cows and calves went to grass on the 2nd March similar to last year. They were turned out in small groups of 7-8 cows as they were easily managed and avoided damaging ground They were mostly first time calves and it reduced the risk of scour outbreaks in the sheds.

By mid- March the rest of the cows and calves turned out after being vaccinated and dehorned.

Breeding season will start on the 3rd May. Cows will be body condition scored, weighed, scanned and tail painted this week. A new trial is starting with five Aberdeen angus sires and five Charolais sires being selected, 4 and 5 stars on the terminal index, easy calving with good reliability. The sires have also good fleshing ability to see if it determines which animals will be slaughtered at an earlier age.

Michael also highlights the grassland plan for the farm in the coming weeks and he outlines the plan to over-sow white clover and to reseed red clover silage.

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https://www.teagasc.ie/thebeefedge

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