‘This is a benchmark to work off on trimming costs’
“WE are not saying that this is the best that can be done, but we are advising beef farmers that it is a benchmark for them to work off and see where they could trim off a bit of cost, and get a better performance.”
That was the key message from Joe Day, Teagasc Kildalton, at last week’s suckler and beef event.
“Stand back and look at what we are doing and measure it against your own and see is there a place for improvement in your system.”
Kildalton College carries a 60-cow suckler herd, with progeny finished to beef under four different systems as well as 180 ewes, on the drystock side.
Herd replacements are bred by mating the top half of the cows to five star maternal AI bulls, with some bought-in Limousin x Friesian heifers to increase milk.
There is a calving interval of 277 days. Stocking rate on the farm is 2.75 LU/ha achieving a gross output of €2,422/ha and a net margin of €1,413/ha.
Emphasis is placed on good management at weaning time. Minimising stress for both cow and calf is a priority. Castration and dehorning are avoided within four weeks of weaning.
Meal or creep grazing is introduced within two weeks of weaning at 2kg/day.
Liveweight gains
Weaned males on 2kg of meal/day can have daily liveweight gains of 1.3-1.4kg/day, while heifers can add 1.2-1.35 daily gain on 1.5kg/day meal.
Fertiliser application on the farm is 175kg N/ha and 5000 gls (56 cubic metres) slurry/acre.
All stock are housed by mid-November and the target turn-out date is mid-February.
Steers being finished off grass are fed 4-5kg centratrate for six to eight weeks prior to slaughter.
Stores for indoor finishing are fed 1-2kg for three weeks prior to housing.