€400/ha profit gap for suckler herds

THE difference in net profit between the top and poorest-performing suckler beef herds is €400 per hectare, figures from the Teagasc National Farm Survey reveal.

Teagasc beef specialist Pearse Kelly told the Animal and Plant Health Association conference yesterday that the bottom third of suckler producers are making a loss before premia of €200/ha, compared to a profit of €200/ha for the top third.

He said a typical top-performing suckler farmer with 100 hectares earns €60,000 per year.