A review of the Derrypatrick herd in 2023

For the final episode of 2023, Teagasc Researcher Peter Doyle is on this week’s Beef Edge to give a review of the Derrypatrick herd in Teagasc Grange in the past year.
 
Weaning started on the 9th October and the weanling performance this year was: Males = 326 kg (1.3 kg/day) and Females = 305 kg (1.2 kg/day). The weanlings remained outdoors for another month post-weaning and they received 1 kg concentrates/head/day.

The cows were body condition scored in December with an average body condition score of 3.0 and  live-weight of 650 kg.

Overall the 2023 breeding performance in Derrypatrick was very good. There was a 9 week breeding season with 87% of the cows scanned in calf. 85% of these are calving in the first 6 weeks.

Grassland management and performance in 2023 was very difficult. Grass was measured on a weekly basis and recorded on Pasturebase Ireland. It yielded 12 t DM/ha.
 
Peter also discussed the slaughter performance and explained that he will be establishing a grass clover group in the new year. For interested farmers, Peter can be contacted at peter.doyle@teagasc.ie.

For more episodes from the Beef Edge podcast, visit the show page at:
https://www.teagasc.ie/thebeefedge

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