Profitability best when calving aligned with start of grazing
He said a net margin per hectare of €454 can be achieved in suckler calf-to-beef production, where there is a long grazing season of 243 days. If the season is short, at just 178 days, the margin falls to €185.
John Kelly, a suckler farmer from Co Longford, outlined how he produces 0.96 live calves per cows per year, compared to the national average of 0.79. He said: “This means that, if I calve 100 cows, I will have 96 live calves to sell versus 79 calves. This is a difference of 17 weanlings to sell each year, which at an average value of €850 per weanling is equal to €14,450.”
Suckler farmer Margaret Lehane from Co Cork outlined management practices she has implemented to consistently calve all of her replacement heifers at 24 months. “There is a very strong advantage to calving down heifers at two years of age. Looking at my own profit monitor last year, I achieved a gross margin of €1,056 per hectare. I had 73 cows calving and had 72 sales, with an average value of €1,647.
“If I calved my heifers at three years of age instead of two years, I would only be able to carry 65 cows, which would mean a loss of output worth €13,176.”
