livestock O ptimising erformance P


in the beef


suckler herd


Income and subsequently profit in the suckler herd is ultimately gained from weight of meat sold, either as calves finished or stores sold. The simplest means of improving profitability is to reduce input costs, which can work well if efficiency is improved, but it can have an adverse effect – not feeding cattle to reduce feed costs will not lead to improved profitability!


Alternatively, improved profit can be achieved by increasing output, either with the same inputs or with higher inputs leading to an even greater output. Knowing where to best invest these increased inputs, be it time, money or labour etc. is key and it is vital to benchmark performance, identify areas of underperformance and inefficiency when compared to targets and then concentrate on those where maximal return can be achieved.


Benchmarking is a useful tool for targeted attention which is important where a fixed unit of investment is likely to have greatest impact - or not as the case may be. For example, two similar herds:-


Herd A - 90% cows pregnant in 10 week bulling period but only 70% deliver a live calf.


Herd B – 70% cows pregnant in 10 week bulling period, all of which deliver a live calf.


Essentially both herds are performing similarly in terms of number of calves born and both present the obvious opportunity to improve production efficiency and thus profitability if efforts are targeted correctly. Herd A should concentrate on the maintenance of pregnancy and calf survival whilst in Herd B efforts to improve fertility should be made – very different and important to identify which and where attention should be paid.


Options for increasing the output from a beef suckler herd are reasonably limited and essentially include;- Maximising the number of calves born Reducing the number of calves dying or lost


Increasing food conversion efficiency and growth rates


Each is obviously affected by a multitude of complex interacting factors


Farming Page 8


and key areas have been considered in the EBLEX Better Returns programme which include;- Herd nutrition


Herd replacement policies Control of infectious disease Bull selection and management


Beef nutrition is complex with ample opportunity to go wrong and an even greater chance of failing to maximise potential. Protein and energy deficiencies are commonest and at times mineral deficiencies can be to blame for poor performance - particularly copper, iodine and selenium. Managing body condition scores at key times of the year, such as at calving and during the breeding period is vital and optimal management of feeding, grazing and grass intakes is vital.


Cows should not be too fat at calving to minimise calving difficulties and then have the opportunity for a rising plane of nutrition during the breeding period for a good return to cyclicity and optimal calf growth from milk.


Bruce Richards BVSc DBR MRCVS With a primary interest in fertility, particularly bulls and optimizing dairy herd productivity, Bruce is one of six dedicated large animal vets at Paragon.


CARLISLE HOUSE, TOWNHEAD ROAD, DALSTON, CARLISLE, CUMBRIA, CA5 7JF TEL (01228 710208) FAX (01228) 711960 E-MAIL vets@paragon.com WEB www.paragonvet.com


Replacement policy should consider the breed of cow that will match the husbandry and management methods employed and the market for their calves. Homebred are the most biosecure but these may be limiting if changes or improvements are necessary. Calving replacements, particularly heifers, earlier than the main herd will improve longevity and productivity.


Selection and management of the bull is also of vital importance. He should meet the needs of your intended market and be compatible with your breed of cows. Use EBV’s to achieve these targets and continually look to improve these traits. Ensure he is healthy, in optimum condition, has sound feet and legs and is fertile well before the start of the breeding period – an underperforming bull at breeding is a guaranteed way of ensuring poor productivity and performance.


Top performing bulls should get 95% of fifty, healthy, randomly cycling cows pregnant in less than 10 weeks. Many bulls are sub-fertile (approximately 3 in 10) often leading to an extended calving pattern and later born calves which will be smaller and lighter at weaning so less valuable as stores or require more feed and time to finish. Late calves are more prone to disease and the cows have less time to return to optimum breeding health when compared to earlier calving cows, thus often re-calve later again or are culled or carried round. Checking your bulls’ fertility two months prior to the service period is a very wise investment.


Infectious disease affects beef productivity in a host of ways – fertility, abortion, and stillbirth in the cows and in the case of infectious venereal disease, bulls too. Calf scour, pneumonia and parasites all affect welfare and performance of calves. Identify the health status and impact of disease on the herd first and then plan a strategy to minimise the impact of these diseases in conjunction with your vet by controlling and eliminating those present and preventing introduction of those not.


Continually monitor and asses both the performance targets and the measures taken to realise them to ensure they are being achieved and make certain the inputs (costs) made are having the most profitable return.


www.farmnequine.co.uk


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