Reducing the age at first calving for suckler heifers – a key profit driver for beef farms

Dr Colin Byrne, Beef Researcher, Teagasc Grange, spoke about reducing the age at first calving for suckler heifers and its impact on profit at the National Beef Conference 2022.

Nationally, only 24% of beef heifers calve for the first time between 23 and 26 months of age (ICBF, 2022). This is in contrast to the top 10% of commercial suckler enterprises and suckler research farms consistently and successfully calving 100% of beef heifers between 23 and 26 months of age. This means that 75% of beef heifers in Ireland are unproductive for a year longer than they should be. A heifer calving for the first time at 36 months of age consumes 65% more grass, 96% more silage and 33% more concentrates than an equivalent heifer calving at 24 months of age (Crosson and McGee, 2012). This paper will discuss: (i) barriers to the adoption of reduced age at first-calving for farmers, (ii) how these barriers can be overcome if a heifer is reared correctly and (iii) the environmental and economic benefits of calving beef heifers between 23 and 26 versus 36-40 months of age.

Summary

• Calving suckler heifers between 23 and 26 months of age is a ‘win-win’ measure that can be implemented on suckler farms to increase the profitability and reduce the carbon footprint of the enterprise.
• Pre-weaning growth rates of at least 1.2 kg/day should be targeted to increase the number of heifers reaching puberty before the breeding
• Heifers should weigh 380-420 kg at breeding, and 550-600 kg at calving, depending on breed type.
• Bulls with <8% beef heifer calving difficulty and 80% reliability should be used on heifers for first breeding.
• Calving heifers in the first 21 days of the calving season increases their longevity and lifetime productivity in the herd.
• Differences of 75 and 12% in favour of reduced age at calving can be achieved in net margin per cow and carbon footprint, respectively, when calving at 24 versus 36 months of age.

Download the presentation : Reducing the age at first calving - Colin Byrne - Teagasc Beef Conference 2022 (PDF)
Read more about the National Beef Conference 2022