Second grazing adds profit
As a result, there is a broadly consistent trend of calf to beef or calf to store systems being more profitable than calf to weanling — if the proportion of grazed grass in the annual feed budget is maximised, whilst also availing of compensatory growth during the second grazing season.
In these findings by Paul Crosson and Mark McGee, the prices assumed are average national prices.
Where a higher price is achieved (for example, for weanlings exported live to continental EU markets), the relativities will be different.
Where sale options arise, perhaps due to a price rise for weanlings or store cattle, budgets should be developed to compare selling at that stage or retaining animals.
Their findings also showed positive profit margin per cow at higher stocking rates.
At the open day, Edward G O’Riordan and Mark McGee said performance at Grange over the last three years suggested that spring-born weanling bulls weighing 340kg in early November can achieve carcass weight of 400 to 420kg at about 18 to 19 months. Carcasses in this weight range were deemed to have an adequate fat cover. Feed inputs are about five tonnes of silage (fresh weight) and 1,300 to 1,500kg of concentrates.
“While animal performance is in general excellent, financial gross margin is quite poor,” they said.
