Weanling to beef losses of up to €341 per head

BEEF producers must find weanlings for as much as €340 per head cheaper, or go without profits in the decoupled farming era.

The first detailed analysis of the impact of decoupling for weanling to beef production has looked at profitability on 15 working cattle farms which purchase 700 weanling bullocks and finish them to beef.

In this Teagasc assessment, it was found that on the best run farms with the most efficient production and best buying in prices, there was a profit margin of €93 per head before premia entitlements were added in.