Latest news with #SeanMaher
Agriland
13-05-2025
- General
- Agriland
ABP Demo Farm: Silage, calf weaning and cattle weights
ABP Demo farm manager Sean Maher has outlined the latest progress on the Co. Carlow-based calf-to-beef demonstration farm, along with what has been happening recently on site. In the latest update from the farm on Friday (May 9, 2025), the farm manager said: 'Spring 2025 has been very kind. 'Grass growth has been steady whilst not setting the world alight. We've started our first-cut silage with 25ac of ground cut on Wednesday, May 7.' He said that it is an early cutting date for first-cut silage on the farm but noted that surplus grazing paddocks would have often been taken out for bale silage in previous years by now – but this is not the case this year. Commenting on grass-growth rates, Maher said: 'Growth has been good at 70kg DM/ha/day which is well exceeding the current demand on the farm and may give us the opportunity to harvest some surpluses in the future.' 'Night-time temperatures are still low, regardless of how warm it is during the day.' Maher noted that these temperatures are having an impact on grass-growth rates. Calf weaning on the ABP Demo Farm There have been 290 of the 400 head of 2025-born calves on the farm weaned off milk. Maher said: 'Weights have been steady like all other batches. These calves have an average weaning weight of 90kg and spent a total of 40 days on milk on the ABP Demo Farm. 'We are very happy with the calf weights and performance is well on target for turnout to grass at approximately 120kg in mid-May to June. 'We have no calf turned out to grass as of yet. Night-time temperatures are still too low. We feel this could lead to calves going backwards and potentially cause some sickness. 'Weaned calves are eating 2.5kg concentrates/head/day with access to ad-lib straw as a source of roughage. The weaning strategy has not changed this year.' In 2024, a new protocol was trialled in the calf-rearing strategy on the ABP Demo Farm to tackle incidents of summer-scour syndrome. Calves remained housed for an average of 46 days post-weaning with the aim that the stronger calves going to grass would be more capable of adapting to their new grass diets. The move has added cost to the system, but has been effective in significantly reducing incidents of summer-scour syndrome. This year, Maher explained that the plan is 'to keep all weaned calves indoors for at least 30 days post weaning before turning them out'. All calves will be infectious bovine rhinotracheitis (IBR) vaccinated and weighed at turnout and the plan is to graze calves in bundles of 80 for the year. Yearling cattle at grass The spring 2024-born cattle are currently out at grass and are performing well. The farm manager said: 'These cattle were all weighed on April 22 and came in at an average weight of 360kg. 'The steers had an average weight of 370kg and heifers had an average weight of 345kg. 'These cattle are paddock grazing in batches ranging in size from 40-50, with an emphasis on offering cattle fresh grass every three days.'
Agriland
28-04-2025
- Business
- Agriland
Sowing red clover on beef farms to grow high-protein feed
Having a supply of high-protein feed available to feed growing cattle is essential to ensure good growth rates over the winter-housing period. Where protein is purchased in through concentrate feed, it adds expense to cattle production systems for farmers. However, there is huge scope to improve the crude protein percentage of the silage fed to cattle during their first winter on most Irish beef farms. Red clover silage is one option to increase the crude protein content of silage produced on beef farms, while reducing the need for bought-in chemical nitrogen (N) and bought-in protein through concentrate feed. As part of the Red Clover Silage Measure, farmers can avail of a €300/Ha support payment to reseed paddocks with red clover. The ABP Demo Farm in Co. Carlow reseeded a 9ac bloc of land with a red clover mixture on Friday, April 11. The field selected is predominantly used for silage. ABP Demo Farm manager Sean Maher told Agriland that the field was prepared for reseeding, tilled to create a fine, firm seedbed, and sown with the seed mixture and an application of 10:10:20 fertiliser before being rolled. The field also received a lime application. The seed mix used was as follows: 4kg Aberclyde Lolium; 4kg Aberwolf Lolium; 2kg Ferga Trifolium Pratense. Once the crop is established, the field will be cut and baled before receiving a slurry application and closed for a subsequent cut of silage. A growing sward of red clover In the past, up to five cuts of silage/year have been taken off red clover paddocks on the ABP Demo Farm. Maher said red clover is a great crop to have in the silage inventory for the farm. How red clover silage looks coming out of the bale He said: 'Red clover silage is a great feed for growing cattle; it's a very palatable protein source, it reduces the need for chemical N on the farm, cattle love eating it and thrive well on it.' First cut (April 26) Second cut (June 14) Third cut (July 19) Fourth cut (August 26) Dry matter (%) 42.9 38.3 34.7 29.7 Protein (%) 17 15.6 20.1 20.5 Sugar (%) 5.1 1.3 1 1 Intake Potential (%) 130 110 123 117 Silage analysis results of the red clover silage on the ABP Demo Farm in 2022 The farm manager highlighted that extra care and attention is needed when harvesting red clover silage and good weather and ground conditions at harvesting are important. Attention is also needed on avoiding field compaction and ensuring a consistent sward cutting height.
