Olive Hynes January/February 2025 Update
Preparing vasectomised bulls
- 2 bulls vasectomised
- They have also been fitted with nose rings for safety
- They will have a chin ball harness for the breeding season
Profit monitor complete
- Profit monitor results for 2024
- Increase in beef price of 19% versus 2023
- Reduction in variable costs
Store and finishing cattle sold
- Latest sales
- Finishing performance of heifers
- Weanlings and stores are continuing to be sold off the farm
Breeding
The two dairy bred bulls have been vasectomised before the breeding season starts. The procedure was carried out by Olivia’s vet and she also had nose rings fitted in them as a safety precaution.
They will be fitted with a chin ball harness which will be filled with paint to help identify cows and heifers in heat. One bull will run with the cows while the other will run with the heifers. As Olivia is 100% AI they are a great aid to her and she has successfully used vasectomised bulls the last 2 years. She has 2 dairy beef bull calves bought in again this year that will be reared and used as vasectomised bulls next year too.
Figure 1: Two dairy beef bulls have been vasectomised
Financial
Olivia has completed her profit monitor for 2024. On analysis of the cattle detailed report, she is happy with the farm’s financial and physical performance this year.
The first figure on the report is the output per livestock unit which was 322 kg/LU. This was an increase since 2023 where the figure was 304 kg/LU, but it is behind the target >350 kg/LU for a suckler system. This figure is affected by everything that affects weight gain in the herd - the cow fertility, bull fertility, mortality, genetics, nutrition at grass, winter performance, ration fed, animal health and calving spread. Due to the outbreak of leptospirosis last year in the herd, Olivia had extra cows to sell due to infertility which would have affected this figure.
The stocking rate on the farm is 1.78 LU/ha or 121 kg organic N/ha which means that Olivia is not in derogation and she does not plan to increase the stocking rate much more, aside from a few bought in dairy beef cattle.
The gross output figure is calculated from cattle sales minus cattle purchases and add/subtract any changes to the inventory. Olivia had a gross output figure of €1724/ha which is the main ‘money in the pot’ to cover variable and fixed costs. This increased by 8% from €1588/ha in 2023.
The 3 biggest expenses on drystock farms are purchased concentrate, fertiliser and contractor costs. Olivia’s farm is slightly different with her biggest costs for the year;
Contractor: €193/ha (increase of €10/ha since 2023)
Fertiliser: €164/ha (decrease of €12/ha since 2023)
Animal health/vet: €145/ha (decrease of €29/ha since 2023)
As Olivia operates a weanling system she tries to maximise as much weight gain from grass as possible and only feeds ration before and after weaning.
In total, the total variable costs (€762/ha) were 44% of the gross output figure, which is well ahead of the target of <55% for a suckling system. It is back on 2023 where it was 48% - mainly due to a 19% higher beef price from cattle sold off the farm.
The fixed costs were €455/ha for 2024 which is similar to 2023. While machinery running costs reduced in 2024, the repairs and maintenance costs increased across the farm due to investments into a new roadway, fencing and loan interest.
Performance
Six weanling bulls were sold in the mart on 21st January. They averaged 350kg live weight and made €3.78/kg.
Figure 2: Some of the bulls that were sold recently
One Blonde x Limousin cow was sold in the mart on 31st January and made €2210 at 785kg live weight.
Four heifers were sold on 11th February to the factory at an average of 27.1 months of age. They were 324kg carcass weight and graded R=4- on average, making €2062/head.
A further 3 bulls and 2 heifers were also sold before the end of February.