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Know How / Beef / Assessing performance

Whether running suckler cows or finishing stores, collecting and using health, growth and margin data is vital for steering your enterprise in the future.

Read about the crucial fertility and cow efficiency goals for suckler herds and how to get the most of your growing cattle, whether it be on grass, forage or cereal.

Are your cows to big? What is your cost of production per kg of beef produced? Read on to find out more.

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Case studies

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BEEF

How an intensive beef finisher has cut carbon footprint

A Welsh beef finisher is demonstrating that making structured progress towards net zero is achievable in an intensive farming system. Dylan Jones, who farms on Anglesey in partnership with his…

GRASSLAND MANAGEMENT

How satellite biomass mapping tech could optimise grazing

With traditional grass-measuring techniques limited in their flexibility, a new trial has shown that physical measurement and accuracy can be improved by using a combination of satellite technology and algorithms.…

ASSESSING PERFORMANCE

Cost-focused Angus herd targets further £8 a cow savings

A processor-led carbon benchmarking initiative has challenged a Cheshire Angus unit to squeeze more cost out of its already lean system. Ian Norbury at Mobberley Angus, near Wilmslow, has already…

BREEDING AND FERTILITY

How a beef farmer simplified herd management using genetics

With a job off-farm and a small pool of available labour, breeding “hands-free” cattle is a key priority for third-generation farmer Adam Quinney. Reins Farm, near Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, comprises 150ha…

BEEF

How Cheshire suckler farm adapted to survive drought

Cheshire suckler farmer Ian Norbury has torn up his feed budget several times this summer, as bales have been bought, winter crops cancelled and stock sold early. Like in many…

BEEF

How a farm’s switch to dairy-beef has upped output/ha by 75%

A Welsh livestock farm has increased its annual output of beef from 219kg/ha to 895kg/ha by switching from suckler production to a dairy-beef system with rotational grazing. Neil Davies and…

Practical advice

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BREEDING AND FERTILITY

How to select a stock bull to breed herd replacements

There is plenty to consider when searching for a new stock bull, including health status, fertility checks, historical management, feeding practices, and if the animal is fit for purpose. The…

BEEF

3 beef systems and their earning potential compared

More farmers are considering beef production as the industry experiences a sustained period of buoyant returns. Buying in calves and selling them as stores is now the most common system…

BEEF

How and what to record to inform suckler cow culling

Every commercial farm has its own aims and parameters, but there are some key breeding goals and culling criteria to drive suckler herd performance and profit. This is according to…

BEEF

Guide to understanding a beef killing-out sheet

Taking the information from the kill sheet, and using some basic sums, can reveal a heap of information about production and efficiency. All too often cattle are sent to slaughter…

BEEF

Canadian learnings: 4 ways UK sucklers could improve profits

Beef production is a major enterprise in Canada, with more than 90,000 producers in the country. However, with harsh winters and hot summers ⁠— as well as the increasing population…

ASSESSING PERFORMANCE

Beginner's guide to measuring suckler herd performance

Understanding the performance of a suckler herd is critical for making future decisions and setting targets to improve production and profitability. One way of measuring this is through Key Performance…

Insights

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DAIRY

Revised methane method pegs dairy emissions 20% lower

Net carbon emissions from a sample of livestock farms fell significantly when analysed by a carbon methodology that accounts for biogenic methane. Distinguishing between biogenic (methane from ruminants) and fossil…

LIVESTOCK

6 livestock tech developments to look out for

From driverless tractors to cameras for identifying diseases, several high-tech innovations are coming down the track. Farmers Weekly looks at six highlights. See also: NI farm transforms slurry and food…

HEALTH AND WELFARE

Why health gains cut ruminant methane emissions by 10%

Three classic livestock benchmarking targets can help sheep and cattle farms raise technical performance and meet obligatory methane goals to battle climate change. Livestock policy leaders are urging farmers to…

BEEF

Beef sector lacks incentive for meat quality, farmers say

Processors and supermarkets are missing out on opportunities to grow the value of beef by failing to pay farmers a premium for meat with good eating quality. That’s the conclusion…

ASSESSING PERFORMANCE

5 new livestock gadgets for farming in 2020

From innovation to slightly improved design, engineers and inventors are constantly striving to produce the next big gadget in livestock farming.  Farmers Weekly has looked at the top products that…

LIVESTOCK

Beef sire worth up to €200 more in dairy-cross calf profit

Selecting the right beef bull on terminal traits could benefit Irish beef farm margins by €150-€200 a head in carcass quality and feed efficiency, according to a national initiative. Industry…

LIVESTOCK

Selecting for feed efficiency could raise beef profits 39%

Including feed efficiency in the genetic selection indices of beef cattle has the potential to increase farm-level profit by 39% and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by about 22%. Preliminary results…

LIVESTOCK

Finishing bulls v steers: Which is best for your farm?

Bulls produce higher liveweight gains, heavier carcass weights and achieve better financial returns than steers, a study has shown.  The research, carried out by Harper Adams University, Shropshire, used Holstein…

BREEDING AND FERTILITY

Finishing performance of terminal sires compared

Calves sired by bulls with higher terminal indices record heavier carcass weights resulting in returns worth an additional £45/animal when compared to progeny of bulls with lower genetic merit. Harper…

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