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Calf to Beef System
The calves from the Dairy Herd are incorporated into this
system. The breed is mainly Friesian with some dairy beef crosses.
Overall Objective:
1. The economically viable production of top quality beef.
2. Produce beef at a cost of €1.50/kg. liveweight gain.
3. Have a lamb output of 1.6 per ewe put to ram.
4. Breed all suckler cows to A.I.
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 |
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Calf to beef performance
| |
2003
actual |
2004
actual |
2005
actual |
2006
actual |
2007
actual |
2008
target |
| No.
Calves Reared |
70 |
62 |
72 |
56 |
83 |
50 |
| Days
at grass |
210 |
210 |
180 |
205 |
208 |
210 |
Wt.
Nov. 1st
kg |
242 |
245 |
295 |
296 |
310 |
280 |
Wt.
Apr. 1st
kg |
333 |
333 |
382 |
349 |
349 |
350 |
Wt.
Nov. 1st
kg |
513 |
490 |
545 |
515 |
551 |
520 |
| Wt.
Finishing |
614 |
614 |
645 |
700 |
649 |
650 |
Suckler Unit
The suckler herd has 25 adult female breeding stock. The majority of cows are continental cross breeds. All progeny are finished as Beef. A mixed grazing system is practised with this suckler herd and a 150-ewe flock.
Suckler/Sheep
performance
| |
2003
actual |
2004
actual |
2005
actual |
2006
actual |
2007
actual |
2008
target |
| %
U grade steers |
37 |
11 |
44 |
13 |
20 |
20 |
| Mean
calving date |
19/3 |
|
1/3 |
12/3 |
30/3 |
12/3 |
| Conception
rate |
89 |
|
97 |
95 |
97 |
90 |
| Calf
mortality % |
3 |
5 |
11 |
6 |
8 |
4 |
| Wt.
steers at weaning kg |
312 |
312 |
325 |
350 |
327 |
350 |
| Wt.
steers at April 1st |
347 |
390 |
409 |
430 |
401 |
430 |
| Wt.
steers at Nov. 1st |
600 |
590 |
595 |
620 |
614 |
620 |
| Wt.
at finishing |
675 |
673 |
702 |
692 |
710 |
700 |
| No.
lambs reared/ewe to ramb |
1.46 |
1.4 |
1.45 |
1.3 |
1.4 |
1.6 |
| Carcass
output/ewe to ram kg |
|
|
27 |
23 |
29 |
30 |
| Lamb
growth to weaning grms. |
280 |
280 |
300 |
300 |
260 |
300 |
| Stocking
rate LU/ha. |
2 |
|
2 |
|
|
|
| %
lamb mortality |
8 |
7 |
11 |
15 |
8 |
10 |
| %
sales by Sept. 1st |
75 |
75 |
65 |
78 |
84 |
80 |
| %
ewe lambed in 3 weeks |
78 |
84 |
82 |
79 |
83 |
80 |
Ewe Unit
The ewe flock is divided in to 40-ewe flock for early lamb production and 80-ewe flock for mid season production. Texel, Charolais and Suffock cross ewes are the predominant ewe breeds. The rams used are
Suffock, Texel, Belclare, Rouge and Charolais. A leader follower system of grazing is
practised. The suckler finishing cattle and the finishing lamb graze ahead of suckler cows/calves and dry sheep.
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