 |
The BETTER Farm Beef Programme |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
BETTER beef farm programme - Aim
The Teagasc-Farmers Journal BETTER farm beef programme aims to develop a road map for profitable beef production through improving technical efficiency within the farm gate.
The Programme will focus on boosting profitability on farms by reducing production costs and increasing farm output. Key areas of focus will be:
Breeding
The future of the suckler herd depends on a planned approach at farm level to increasing the genetic quality of the breeding herd. Producing high quality, marketable weanlings and finished cattle. The programme will also focus on the correct management of the cow to ensure high conception rates, weaning rates and tight calving patterns.
Grassland Management
Suckler farmers and beef finishers must become more focused utilising their most valuable resource: grass. Developing practical grassland management systems to deliver high liveweight gain at optimal stocking rates with reduced concentrate feeding will be vital.
Performance Monitoring
Each farm is assessed at the start of the programme. A three-year plan was drawn up and targets set. Intensive monitoring during the year will allow for the impact of improved technical efficiency on profitability to be quantified and promoted.
Farmers Journal
The farms participating in the BETTER Farm programme will be profiled in the Farmers Journal regularly throughout the year.
Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
Based on the outcomes of the programme KPIs will be set for various stages of the production system. Farmers operating a similar system to benchmark the performance of their own enterprise.
Better Technology Transfer
The programme will give us a better understanding of how and why technologies are adopted by farmers and lead to improved design and implementation of advisory programmes and provide clear signals on areas for future research.
