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On the Thrive demo farm, the aim is to weigh cattle at key points of the year.
Most dairy calf-to-beef farmers are well aware of the benefits of weighing cattle at regular intervals. It is the only accurate barometer of performance available to beef farmers.
Weighing regularly can provide really good information as to how cattle are thriving, and even more importantly, can flag a period of under production much sooner than may be identified where cattle are not being weighed.
Like with any system, the information to come out of it is only as good as the information that is put into it. What I mean by this is that there are many variables that can alter the result of weighing cattle.
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If grass is as tall as the distance from the tip of your middle finger to your wrist, then it is ideal for grazing.
Dairylink Ireland adviser Aidan Cushnahan is urging programme participants to walk their grazing blocks to assess ground conditions and grass covers.
It has been a challenging start to the 2021 grazing season for most participants on the Dairylink Ireland programme.
Cold temperatures have hampered grass growth and high levels of rainfall, particularly at the end of last week, affected ground conditions.
But better weather has now arrived and forecasts of warmer temperatures with limited rainfall are being given for the coming days.
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Grazing conditions have led many to rehouse heavier groups of stock, using up the last of winter feed reserves. / Adrian Gallagher
As May continues to resemble October in many parts of the country, Noel Bardon spoke to farmers about how they are managing livestock and grass on their farms.
Ronan and Micheal Delaney
Cattle were turned out from February on the Delaney family farm in Dunshaughlin.
However, the tables turned in early May, with sluggish grass growth rates and tough grazing conditions experienced since then.
“We’ve had a bitter north wind from the last week in April - it’s as if there is a month of growth has gone missing.