Denis Hickey shares farm recovery and finishing strategies
Following a prolonged summer drought, farmer Denis Hickey is revitalising his paddocks through strategic fertilisation and careful livestock management. He is currently focused on finishing cattle while preparing for the upcoming winter housing season on his holding.
Source:
Teagasc Agricultural News
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⏱️ 2 min read
Denis Hickey, a participant in the Teagasc DairyBeef 500 and Signpost programmes, has reported a positive shift on his farm following a challenging ten-week dry spell. Recent rainfall has revitalised grass growth, allowing for the application of fertiliser on 9th September to encourage grazing and reduce winter fodder requirements. Having depleted approximately 100 bales of silage during the drought, the focus has now shifted to replenishing soil nutrients and managing slurry applications across the farm's paddocks.
The management of livestock remains a priority, with various groups of heifers and steers at different stages of their finishing diets. While some cattle were sold live at the mart in August, the remaining stock are housed and receiving concentrated feed alongside silage. The younger calves have been split into three distinct groups to ensure optimal nutrition, with plans to adjust their meal intake as grazing conditions continue to improve throughout the autumn.
Looking ahead, Hickey intends to weigh all yearling cattle and calves to assess performance metrics and will implement a dosing programme to address respiratory issues. Maintenance tasks, such as hedge cutting, are scheduled for the coming weeks as ground conditions permit. Further information regarding the Signpost Programme and expert guidance from advisors like Gordon Peppard is available on the official Teagasc website.
The management of livestock remains a priority, with various groups of heifers and steers at different stages of their finishing diets. While some cattle were sold live at the mart in August, the remaining stock are housed and receiving concentrated feed alongside silage. The younger calves have been split into three distinct groups to ensure optimal nutrition, with plans to adjust their meal intake as grazing conditions continue to improve throughout the autumn.
Looking ahead, Hickey intends to weigh all yearling cattle and calves to assess performance metrics and will implement a dosing programme to address respiratory issues. Maintenance tasks, such as hedge cutting, are scheduled for the coming weeks as ground conditions permit. Further information regarding the Signpost Programme and expert guidance from advisors like Gordon Peppard is available on the official Teagasc website.
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