Beef 2022 - Supporting Sustainable Beef Farming - Main Stands
- Selecting the most suitable system for your beef farm
- Performance Targets for Resilient Beef Production
- Achieving performance targets on beef farms
- The implications and options for increased costs on beef farms
in 2022
Selecting the most suitable system for your beef farm.
- Beef production in Ireland is characterised by having an array of different production systems.
- Given the range in farm systems, a clear three-to-five year plan is critical to improve the economic and environmental sustainability of beef farms.
- The beef system operated, and the intensity at which it is farmed, will depend on a number of factors including labour availability, facilities, land area and type, and economics.
- Analysis of alternative beef systems indicated that the rise in input prices have led to average costs for suckler weanling-to-beef and dairy calf-to-beef systems of 4.50 and 4.05 per kg beef carcass, respectively.
- Of the production systems analysed, net margin per hectare was greatest for systems finishing at the end of the second grazing season.
- Greenhouse gas emissions were lowest for dairy calf-to-beef systems and for systems finishing cattle at younger ages.
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Performance targets for resilient beef production
- A major source of inefficiency in beef cattle production systems is failure to meet performance targets.
- Achieving high animal performance is critical if animals are to be slaughtered younger.
- Where key performance targets are not met, this has large negative ramifications for the profitability and environmental footprint of beef production systems.
Achieving performance targets on beef farms
- There will be significant increases in costs on beef farms in 2022; in two worked examples, cost increases of almost 40% are estimated.
- In these examples, increased output prices are unlikely to offset the increase in costs at farm level.
- The first step to managing 2022 is the completion of a financial budget that evaluates the financial performance of the farm during 2022.
- All options should be considered with the major focus on making greater use of grazed grass for the remainder of the year, and finishing animals at pasture prior to rehousing for a second winter.
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The implications and options for increased costs on beef farms in 2022
- There will be significant increases in costs on beef farms in 2022; in two worked examples, cost increases of almost 40% are estimated.
- In these examples, increased output prices are unlikely to offset the increase in costs at farm level.
- The first step to managing 2022 is the completion of a financial budget that evaluates the financial performance of the farm during 2022.
- All options should be considered with the major focus on making greater use of grazed grass for the remainder of the year, and finishing animals at pasture prior to rehousing for a second winter.
