How is your Suckler Herd Performing?
Austin Callaghan discusses optimizing suckler cow herd performance to maximize profitability while reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
On the 26th of June Teagasc held their Bi-Annual Open Day in Teagasc Grange, their lead beef research unit. On the day there was a good farmer attendance where a large number of topics were covered with grassland management, suckler and beef systems to the fore. All discussions and presentations focused on maintaining farm output while reducing greenhouse gas emissions. This can be achieved by reducing the dependence on chemical nitrogen and improving efficiency on farm.
The suckler cow system has had much comment in recent years especially in relation to the decline in suckler numbers across the country. Much of this comment is in relation to their greenhouse gas emissions and their increased feed costs. At the same time the expansion in the number of dairy cows has led to a feeling the suckler cow is the poor relation of farming systems. Many blame the decline of the suckler herd on the expansion of the dairy herd.
In reality, on farms in Mayo the main reason for the decline is the age profile of farmers. Older farmers have and will continue to cease their suckler cow enterprises. This is because few of these farmers feel it’s necessary or safe for them to continue to operate such systems. In addition where farms are transferred, the next generation because of off farm work and other commitments, simply do not have the time available to work such enterprises.
However, it needs to be remembered there are still in excess of 800,000 suckler cows in Ireland and 65,000 of those are located on farms in Mayo. It is therefore still important for the farmer to continue to focus on key targets so the herd performance in terms of output and profitability are maximised.
The following is a summary of the key targets in relation to the suckler cow and obviously much revolves around the breeding performance of the cow and the replacement heifers.
Does your farm have an average calving interval of 365 days i.e. does the cow calf every year? If not, you likely have a higher cow culling rate. The target is to have 5% or less of cows culled each year as empty (not in calf). 80% of the cows calved should calf in the first 6 weeks of calving. This isn’t easy to achieve and of the cows that calf, 95% of them should wean a calf. This allows for an expected 5% mortality at or soon after birth. How is your herd performing in relation to mortality rates?
Do you calf replacement heifers at 24 months of age? Again this is difficult to achieve and is where many suckler enterprises are lacking. There are many reasons this isn’t achieved but it requires very good animal performance from the time the replacement is born on the farm until she calves 24 – 26 months later. It requires much skill and good management to achieve this. This is in relation to the calving of homebred heifers. Ideally heifers are homebred as you have information on the performance of her dam in your herd. Very likely some replacements will have to be purchased and every effort should be made to source replacements that will remain in your herd for 5 to 6 years at least.
On most Suckler farms 15 to 20% will be culled each year and farmers should plan to calf this number of heifers each year. Remember these replacement heifers should be the first to calf in the herd. They will need preferential treatment after calving. Also aim to breed more heifers than is required. This to avoid issues with heifers not going in calf. Don’t assume they will all go in calf or they will all calf successfully.
Ideally cows should be calved to coincide with the start of the grass growing season. In this case ideally they should calf from late January onwards. Calving this early and calving heifers will require having good housing and calving facilities on the farm. In this circumstance the calf with suckle for a minimum of 6 months and the target weights at weaning will be achieved. The calf weaning weight should be in the region of 300kgs or higher. This should be achieved with a meal input of on average 200 – 300Kgs per cow across the herd.
Every effort should be made to target the achievement of the above efficiencies. If these targets are reached the performance of the suckler herd in terms of output and profitability is optimised and greenhouse gas emissions per kilogram of beef output are reduced. Contact your local adviser for advice in relation to the above.