Liam McWeeney and Noel Prunty from Teagasc Ballyhaise Agricultural College join Catherine Egan on this week’s Beef Edge to discuss the beef system, review of the performance to date and preparing for winter ahead.
Liam first outlined the 32 cow suckler herd that is operated in a suckling to finishing system. Bulls are finished under 16 months and heifers are kept as replacements or finished under 20 months of age. The beef unit is 24ha of heavy soil type with some of the farm low lying.
AI is used on the farm to breed replacements and a Charolais stock bull is also used. Breeding went well this year and it done over 9 weeks with 92% of the cows proving in calf.
Bull weanlings were housed last week and are being fed 3kg/head/day of concentrates. Liam outlined the management up to finishing. Last year’s bulls averaged 390kg when finished at 14months of age.
Noel outlined the management indoors in the coming months and performance of heifers born in 2023.
Heifers calve at 24 months and Liam explained the management of the heifers to reach a target weight of 420kg by breeding, while Noel highlighted the importance of the herd health plan on the farm and over the housing period.
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