Dairy Beef Boards

Dairy-beef heifer systems research

Dairy-beef heifer systems research (PDF)

Summary

Despite lower carcass weights, heifer finishing is profitable.
Clover increases profit by €74/head.
Greater animal performance and lower inputs (fertilizer, feed) are achieved with clover.

MSS Sward Composition:

PRG: 46%
Clover: 21%
Chicory: 6%
Plantain: 25%
Weeds: 2%

Read accompanying paper Dairy-beef systems for profitable production (PDF)

Commercial Beef Value

Commercial Beef Value (PDF)

Summary

The CBV can help beef farmers make more informed decisions when purchasing animals.
Dairy farmers use DBI bulls with high Beef Sub-index to improve the beef quality of dairy-beef progeny.
CBV is an index for gauging the quality and expected profitability of non-breeding animals.
Look for higher CBV values when buying calves.
Use within breed ranges as a guide.

Read accompanying paper The Commercial Beef Value (CBV): Potential catalyst for change (PDF)

Major Parasites of Cattle

Major Parasites of Cattle (PDF)

Summary

Identify major parasites on your farm and implement appropriate control strategies.
Include parasite control in your herd health plan developed with your vet.

Protozoa

Cryptosporidium and coccidia
Neonates (cryptosporidium) and calves (coccidia) are at risk.
Immunity usually develops in 3-6 months.
Prevention:
Buy calves >2 weeks old
Maintain hygiene
Use prophylactics

Fluke

Liver and rumen fluke
Cattle of all ages are at risk, especially in wet areas.
Immunity does not readily develop.
Prevention:
Grazing management
Anthelmintic treatment

Worms

Lung and gut worms
First grazing season carries the highest risk.
Immunity usually develops in 1-2 years.
Prevention:
Grazing management
Anthelmintic treatment

Read accompanying paper Managing parasites on dairy calf-to-beef farms (PDF)

Respiratory Disease Management

Respiratory Disease Management (PDF)

Summary

Sourcing healthy calves is crucial for success.
Vaccines are useful but do not guarantee protection.
Monitor for disease and act quickly.

Vaccination

Both intranasal and injectable vaccines are available.
Intranasal vaccines provide faster onset of immunity, useful for newly arrived calves.
Injectable vaccines provide longer duration of immunity and protection against certain bacterial pathogens.

Detection

Ensure good colostrum management on the source farm.
Select healthy calves with no scour or joint issues.
Reduce the number of source farms to lower pathogen risk.
Minimize travel time for calves.
Watch for coughing, nasal discharge, and fast/labored breathing; take rectal temperature and consult a vet if ≥ 39.5 °C.

Read accompanying paper Key management strategies for reducing respiratory disease on dairy-beef farms (PDF)

Tipperary Dairy Calf-to-Beef Demonstration Farm

Tipperary Dairy Calf-to-Beef Demonstration Farm - details in text

Tipperary Dairy Calf-to-Beef Demonstration Farm (PDF)

Summary

Established April 2022 by Teagasc, Dawn Meats, and Shinagh Estates
112ha farm near Fethard, Co. Tipperary, leased for 15 years
330 dairy calves raised to beef steer and heifers on a grass/clover system
High CBV (Calf Breeding Value) calves
Strong biosecurity measures, regular monitoring, and vaccination protocols
Uses high DBI (Dairy Beef Index) beef sires
Aims to minimize calf stress during movement
Calves are valued based on their profit potential
Collaborates with 8 dairy source herds

Read accompanying paper Tipperary dairy calf-to-beef demonstration farm (PDF)

DairyBeef 500 Programme

Summary

Improving genetics, animal health and grassland management improve profitability
Require high stocking rate to achieve €500/ha net margin
Essential to monitor and manage variable costs

Read accompanying paper Teagasc DairyBeef500 Campaign (PDF)

Calf Housing

Calf Housing (PDF)

Summary

Roof Pitch: 15°
Teat or trough feeding
Pens: 4.6m x 4.8m, 10 calves per pen, 2.2m² per calf, 1:20, split drain 0.8m inside pen
Eaves Height: 3.35m. Ridge Height: 5.8m

Draughty Calf House:

Create a microclimate with solid partitions and a canopy
Use calf jackets
Purpose-built calf houses are most effective

Overcrowding:

Provide calves with access to external space
Allow early turnout by letting calves out during the day
Utilize calf shelters

Drainage Issues:

Repair drainage channels and use extra straw
Redo floors with proper slopes and channels

Calf Health and the Microbiome

Calf Health and the Microbiome (PDF)

Summary

Microbiomes, established in the first weeks of life, are influenced by both genetics and environment
Diverse and stable microbiomes are essential for long-term animal health and well-being
Microbiomes play a significant role in both respiratory and diarrhoeal disease
A Horizon Europe funded research project aims to determine how microbial populations in the gut, respiratory tracts, and other locations in cattle affect performance, health, welfare, and the environment
A microbiome is a community of microorganisms in a particular environment, such as the colon or lungs. Microbiomes are important to calf health.

Principles of calf rearing

Principles of calf rearing (PDF)

Summary

Hit target weights.
Feed to energy requirements.
Meeting calf rearing targets is critical for achieving final slaughter targets.
No compensatory growth in the calf stage.
Aim for a gain of 0.7-0.8 kg/day during the calf rearing period.

Performance

Milk feeding should achieve 80 kg live weight (LW) by 8 weeks of age.
Gradual step down in milk feeding as calves consume >1 kg concentrate per day.
Concentrate should be 16-18% protein with roughage to promote rumen development.
Key to success: Rumen development.

Weaning

Live weight targets should be met, with a consistent daily gain of 0.7-0.8 kg.
Feed calves above maintenance requirement, with 4-6 liters of milk replacer per head per day.
Ensure a balance between maintenance and growth nutrition.

Investigation of Summer Scour Syndrome

Investigation of Summer Scour Syndrome (PDF)

Summary

SSS calves had high blood ammonia levels.
Potential association between timing and level of fertiliser application and SSS occurrence.
Clinical signs include diarrhoea, ill-thrift, weight loss, and mouth ulcers, potentially leading to death.
Causes of SSS remain unclear.
Understand what SSS entails and its clinical signs.
Investigate calves showing signs of SSS promptly.
Coccidia and worms levels are low.
Rumen pH is normal.
Blood copper and molybdenum levels are normal.
BVDV testing results are negative.

Supplementation during the first grazing season

Supplementation during the first grazing season (PDF)

Summary

Two-Year Grazing Study

Calves were male Angus and Holstein Friesian sired, born on 15 February.
Grazed on high-quality swards with pre-grazing cover of 1200-1600 kg DM/ha.
Post-grazing sward height maintained at 4-5 cm.
All calves supplemented from mid-September onwards.

Take Home Messages

Supplementation during the 1st grazing season had no long-term effect on growth of early spring-born calves.
Autumn supplementation increases growth performance when sward quality declines.
Calf age and grass quality determine the feeding strategy.

Optimising Stocking Rate Of Dairy-Beef Systems

Optimising Stocking Rate Of Dairy-Beef Systems (PDF)

Summary

Impact of Stocking Rate (SR)

Increased SR reduced carcass performance of 21-month heifers but had no impact on 27-month steers.
Animals on high SR can compensate for periods of herbage restriction.
High SR did not produce adequate winter forage.
Medium SR optimizes animal performance and provision of feed.

Performance of dairy-beef weanlings fed red clover-grass silage

Performance of dairy-beef weanlings fed red clover-grass silage (PDF)

Summary

Red Clover Silage Sward Characteristics:

High biological N fixation.
High dry matter (DM) production (>15 t DM/ha).
High intake potential.
Potential for high animal performance.

Despite lower Dry Matter Digestibility (DMD) by 9%, RCGS increased intake by 1.4 kg DM/day, yet only increased Average Daily Gain (ADG) by 0.12 kg, indicating lower feed efficiency.

Due to compensatory growth, there was no significant liveweight difference by the end of the 2nd grazing season.

Grange dairy-beef research update

Grange dairy-beef research update board 1

Grange dairy-beef research update board 2

Grange dairy-beef research update board 3

Grange dairy-beef research update board 4

Grange dairy-beef research update (PDF)

Summary

Objective

To assess the benefits of Commercial Beef Value (CBV) and pasture supplementation on dairy-beef steer performance.

Take Home Messages

Substituting High CBV for Holstein Friesian (HF) beef steers results in + €196 profit per head.
73% of High CBV steers met carcass specifications, compared to 53% and 22% for Low CBV and HF steers, respectively.
High CBV steers consistently outperformed across all systems.

High profit potential from dairy-beef production.
Majority of carcasses processed are of dairy origin.
Need for improved calf quality (Genetics/Health).

CBV serves as a crucial selection tool for non-breeding beef cattle, focusing on carcass and feed efficiency traits.
High CBV Angus steers contribute + €228/ha profit compared to low CBV counterparts (€1 CBV = €1.85 additional profit).