New profit levels reached on beef farm
Set up in 2009, the farm has been controversial due to teething problems, with difficulties for management in getting top-quality calves born alive, and a major breeding setback when an infertile bull led to a high empty rate in half of the herd. But latest figures indicate the farm is well on its way to the objective of a blueprint for high suckler farm profitability.
Current profitability is considerably higher than the average achieved on commercial farms, measured by the National Farm Survey (€141/ha) or eProfit monitor data (€391/ha).
Teagasc beef enterprise leader Eddie O’Riordan said a range of alternative bull finishing systems are being evaluated at Grange, and a three to four-month grazing period for bulls prior to indoor finishing seems to return the best profit margin.
Beef farming has been boosted this year by a price rise of 15% for Irish steers and heifers. Recent prices were 20%, or more than 50c/kg, ahead of the same period in 2010.
Irish beef cattle supplies are expected to fall this year to 1.55 million, compared to 1.64m last year. A further decline is expected in 2012, particularly in the first half.
Global beef prices have risen by 11% to 26% in key exporting countries. Ongoing strong global prices are anticipated into 2012. European male cattle prices are running 9% higher in 2011.
