Underweight store cattle – what are my options?
Manager of the Teagasc DairyBeef 500 Campaign, Alan Dillon shares strategies farmers can follow to tackle the problem of underweight store cattle - an issue arising on some farms after a prolonged winter 2023/2024 and a poor summer of grass growth.
The wet weather that lasted from June 2023 to May 2024 caused significant issues on farms in terms of ground conditions, resulting in early and prolonged housing periods. This was coupled with low levels of thrive in calves and yearlings due to lower than anticipated grass dry matter levels.
Combined, the result is 2023-born stores being anything from 30kg to 50kg behind target weight in many parts heading towards the housed period – the window in which they are typically finished.
Lighter carcasses
At a recent beef processor open day, it was commented that heifer carcass weights were back close to 25kg this year, while steer carcass weights were back close to 35kg. This is significant money and can add up to near €20,000 of a cash deficit for anyone finishing around 100 cattle this year. In a small margin enterprise such as cattle finishing, it may be the difference between profit and loss.
Processors are also warning farmers about minimum carcass weights, a sea change from 5-10 years ago when maximum weights were their main concerns. The commentary is that there are much less heavy carcasses now over 400kg given the increased percentage of dairy-bred stock and the reduction in the suckler herd. This, coupled with very high prices paid by live exporters, means a significant number of cattle with very high genetic potential have left our shores. The majority of processors have indicated that they require carcasses north of 270kg to 280kg, and there are very few markets for small carcasses around the 220-240kg mark.
Early-maturing heifers from the dairy herd can often fall into this bracket, with large numbers finishing under 250kg carcass annually. While a number can be tolerated, with live weights so far back this year, there is a risk that a large number of steers particularly from the dairy herd may fall under the 280kg carcass mark.
Farmers need to take a number of steps first off to assess what action to take should they find their cattle lighter than expected.
1). Weigh all store cattle
Now is an ideal time before housing begins in earnest to assess what cattle can begin to be fed and what ones need more time to grow and develop. Cattle over 500kg live weight now could be housed for a 100-120 day feeding period.
2). Assess the housing and feed situation
Is it possible to store lighter cattle until Christmas and feed on to finish in March? If silage or housing is tight, this may not be an option. In this case, it may be necessary to look at options such as selling as stores or pushing on to finish with a target of hitting the minimum required carcass weight. Store prices are very strong this year and while beef prices are higher also, it will take a 60c/kg increase for most farmers to justify feeding cattle until next spring in a shed.
3). Ground conditions and grass supplies
Ground conditions in most parts of Ireland are quite good. And although grass is scare, once heavier stock are housed, this will reduce grass demand and allow lighter stores to be supplemented a small quantity of ration (1-2kg) at grass until housing late in the season. Farmers need to be careful not to graze all their ground bare, as this may lead to being short of grass next spring should weather be dry.
Key points:
- Farmers need to ensure steers are a minimum 450kg live weight before they begin to finish them and heifers should be 400kg before feeding for finishing.
- Initial weighing on demonstration farms shows 2024 calves have performed much better than calves born in 2023, so target weight gains should be back on track next year all going well.