Beef Under 30 Months the Big Production Challenge
Issued 26thSeptember 2001
Producing beef at under 30 months is the big production challenge facing beef farmers, said Bernard Smyth, Chief Beef Adviser with Teagasc.
Speaking at the Teagasc Suckler Breeding Demonstration at Ballina Mart, Bernard Smyth said that all the best priced consumer markets are demanding beef from animals under 30 months, and a number of markets are specifying that animals must be under 24 months. He said there are also new niche markets for top quality animals from the suckler herd at under 12 months.
"Meeting customer needs and maximising profitability are best achieved by using cross bred continental cows with good milk yields. These should be crossed with a continental bull of a different breed in order to maximise hybrid vigour. This breeding strategy is worth £50 per suckler cow up to weanling", he said.
"Beef markets are recovering slowly and it is essential that Ireland's suckler herd captures the maximum share of the recovering market. For as long as the EU has surplus beef it is critically important to have animals that the market requires".
"Well shaped and lean continental progeny with good growth rate that are finished under 30 months can be delivered by Ireland's suckler herd and provide our best opportunity for security of both markets and profitability", he added.
He said Irish finishers, both north and south, are the best customers for quality weanlings, with best prices for well conformed continental weanlings with good growth potential.
The Ballina event is one of 10 suckler breeding demonstrations being held by Teagasc throughout the country. They feature displays of top quality commercial replacements for the suckler herd together with a live demonstration on BLUP as a significant aid to ensure selection of the best stock bulls.
According to Bernard Smyth, the outstanding AI progeny at each demonstration demonstrates how the immediate benefits of using the top AI sires can be achieved by all farmers.
