talking to AgrilandMatthew Quinn of the ABP Food Group Advantage Beef Program team explained how things have been going on the farm this spring.
In all, more than 350 yearling cattle now live on the farm’s grass, he said.
All youngsters on the farm were weighed and their back fat was checked as part of a project in collaboration with Meat Technology Ireland (MTI).
These cattle also received the clostridium booster vaccine as well as injectable mineral supplements.
The average weight of yearling cattle when turned out on grass was 323 kg.
The heaviest-lived cattle is an Angus bull, which weighs 485 kg. He is designated AA9860 Westellen Boss and has achieved an average daily gain of 1.1kg since birth.
The farm has been covered with 30 units of protected urea “to grow grass for the grazing season.”
“Grass is a large part of the diet on the experimental farm and is used to the best possible advantage,” he explained.
Weather conditions
So far, weather conditions have proven challenging to manage cattle on the grass, Quinn said.
To ensure minimal damage to the pasture, livestock were moved regularly to avoid poaching in the fields.
The average agricultural cover is about 600 kg/ha with demand up to 26 kg/ha.
“The weather is still fairly cold at night so the grass growing conditions were not ideal,” Quinn said.
All of the farm’s silage land is grazed and receives protected urea. Some silage lands also received a livestock slurry application, as required.
“The aim is to cut this around mid-May and secure a crop of high-quality Grade 1 silage,” he said.
Calves born in 2026
The spring 2026 calf rearing season is in full swing at the ABP demonstration farm as well.
As of Thursday, April 9, a total of 348 calves have been purchased, with additional calves still to be purchased.
The calves have averaged 59kg on arrival so far.
The heaviest calf arrived weighed 82kg and the lightest calf purchased weighed 42kg.
Calves are weighed on arrival, at weaning and on turnout to ensure they are making adequate progress and any lagging calves will be treated as needed.
Calves receive 3 liters of blended milk replacer at 200 g/L and can also receive calf starter pellets.
Fresh hay is also available for calves daily. Access to high-quality feed hay is vital to rumen development – along with starter pellets.
Older calves were started to be drawn to 2 litres/day.
Once calves are confidently consuming at least 2kg/head/day of concentrates, they will be weaned from milk completely.
A new addition to the farm for this year’s calf-rearing season is an automatic milk feeder.
This system has been installed in one of the calf-rearing barns and will feed milk to some calves automatically.
It is hoped that the automated feeder will make raising these calves more efficient and save time and labour.
The automated calf feeder has the capacity to feed up to 140 calves milk, “which is a big help in a very busy spring,” Quinn said.
Calves on the farm received their first Pasteurella pneumonia and Clostridium pneumonia vaccines.
They will receive the second dose of both once they have spent 3/4 weeks on the farm.
