The Newford suckler demonstration farm which was established by Teagasc and Dawn Meats with support from McDonalds in 2015, took up its new residence on a 118ac “farmable farm” in Scrine, Co. Roscommon at the end of 2023.
Last October, Agriland revealed the farm was set to relocate to a new Co. Roscommon site.
The farm was previously situated on lands that were being leased from the Industrial Development Agency (IDA) Ireland however, it was announced earlier last year that the IDA would be repossessing the lands and ending the lease as an industrial development was announced for the site.
The Newford Herd consists of Angus and Hereford cross Fresian cows, originating from the dairy herd with heifers calved at 24 months of age.
The systems on the farm are finishing male progeny at 21-23-months-of-age as steers, with a target carcass weight ranging from 310-350kg.
Heifers are finished at 18-20-months-of-age with a target carcass weight of 290-320kg. The farm contract rears all of its replacement heifers, which are sourced from high-index Hereford and Angus bulls.
Some of the herds main targets are:
- 365-day calving interval;
- 8-10 week calving spread;
- 80% of cows calved within eight weeks;
- Weaning a calf at 50% of the cows’ own body weight.
In a recent episode of Teagasc’s ‘The Beef Edge’ podcast, Teagasc’s Michael Fagan gave an overview of the new location for the suckler demonstration farm.
He explained the farm is mainly limestone, with its highest point at 156m above sea level.
Included on the farm is 15ac of biodiversity ground. The farm itself was an ex-drystock/tillage farm and had extensive cattle facilities.
According to Teagasc’s Michael Fagan, the farm “was more or less ready to farm but does require paddock fencing and water troughs to be put in place, and this work has commenced”.
Calving activity is in full swing now on Newford Farm, and 45% out of the 91 in-calf animals had calved with in the first three weeks.
The sires used for this year’s calves were:
- Gamin(ZGM);
- Kilconnelly Kodaline (BB4492);
- Lapon (CH4321);
- Hideal (HJD)
- Grangwood Royal Oak (CH8262);
- Gstaad (LM4366);
- Derryolam Matt (CH 4436);
- Elderberry Galahad (EBY) used on heifers.
Calving material and equipment is set up and ready to go alongside the calving pens. Before calving, cows are on 100g of pre-calving minerals which is being spread on top of silage each morning.
Yearling bulls on the farm are averaging 392kg and are gaining .96kg/day average daily gain from birth to weighing last week on February 15. Yearling heifers are weighing 347kg on average with an ADG of .84kg/day from birth.
These cattle are eating 2kg/head/day of concentrate ration and are currently being fed 68% dry matter digestibility (DMD) silage. The target weight for replacement heifers at breeding is 340kg.
Replacement heifers will go in calf at the end of April and will get their Lepto vaccine this week and the booster in four weeks’ time and will be treated for Blackleg as well.
Beef heifers averaged an R=3+ with a carcass weight of 320kg. These heifers were slaughtered at 19.5 months of age with a kill out percentage of 54%.
Bullocks killed out at R=2+ and were sold at 675kg live weight with a carcass weight of 365kg or a 54% kill out at 22 months of age.
Paddocks are being laid out with an underground water pipe system with approximately 4km to be installed. The pipe diameter is 32mm and is costing €2.65/m to lay with 32mm fusion tee, plus elbows costing €35/water trough.
He explained that the Newford Farm aims to “continue using key technologies to achieve its optimum goals on forage production, cattle selection for slaughter, health and welfare of housed animals while contributing to improve the farm’s carbon footprint”.