DairyBeef 500 advisor, Tommy Cox, is on this week’s Beef Edge podcast to discuss transitioning calves to grass.

When calves underperform during their first season at pasture, it makes it difficult to achieve key performance targets, irrespective of systems further down the line. 

Failing to hit an average daily gain targets of 0.7-0.8 kg/day results in delayed slaughter, the production of lighter carcasses and/or the introduction of additional concentrates to try and recover the loss in performance recorded over the first grazing season. Therefore, ensuring calves perform to their optimum over the first 12 weeks of life is important.

Tommy highlights the fact that the majority of calf-to-beef producers opt to wean their calves prior to moving them from the calf shed to the field. During this period, calves may suffer a post-weaning growth check and subsequently disease outbreak as a result of: the low intake of dry feed up until weaning; the high intake of low-energy, bulky forages; or stress when feeds are changed. 

He advises to feed concentrates before, during and after weaning to limit the level of growth check experienced. 

Calves should be offered concentrates (1-2 kg/day) for 2-3 weeks post-turnout.  Concentrate supplementation provides the calf with adequate time to become accustomed to grazing before an all-grass diet is offered.

For further information: 

https://teagasc.ie/animals/beef/dairy-calf-to-beef/dairybeef-500/dairybeef-500-factsheets/the-first-12-weeks-at-grass-for-dairy-beef-calves/

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