Weanlings are receiving 2kg of a high-energy 16% crude protein ration along with ad-lib silage.
Newford Farm recently weighed 2020-born bullocks and heifers to gauge performance to date over the winter.
The bullocks weighed 397kg on average on 15 January and recorded an average daily gain (ADG) since housing on 30 October of 0.55kg per day.
The group has an ADG since birth of 1.09kg.
Performance over the housing period is running slightly behind the 2019-born batch (0.65kg/day), but their liveweight is 13kg higher, with bullocks entering the shed at heavier weights.
Heifers
Heifer performance is running ahead of the bullocks, with ADG recorded at 0.62kg per day since housing on 30 October.
Image source: David Ruffles
Three Northern Ireland organisations have joined forces to launch a research project to tackle bovine mastitis and lameness in a bid to reduce the use of antibiotics in dairy cattle.
The project will be run by the Institute for Global Food Security (IGFS) at Queen’s University Belfast in partnership with AgriSearch and the Agri-Food & Biosciences Institute (AFBI).
The new approach will involve the use of mass spectrometry – an analytical method using sophisticated laboratory equipment – to develop a rapid diagnosis of mastitis directly from a suspected milk sample.
This will initially use laboratory-based equipment but it’s hoped this could eventually form the basis for an on-site test to further improve result turnaround times.
Milk filters tell a lot about milk quality
“We always say prevention is key to milk quality,” said Penn State Extension educator Greg Strait. “We try to help cure the problem . . . but we want to prevent that problem when we arrive on the farm.” In order to help with prevention, farmers need to address cleanliness practices in both barns and parlors.
Strait said when he goes on farm visits, his first stop is always at the milk filter. A dirty filter tells him a lot about the dairy’s practices.
“If we have filters like this, what is actually the problem?” asked Strait, showing an image of a dirty milk filter.