Farmer Focus: Budgeting tool crucial for grazing decisions

We are getting into the thick of weaning season now, with about half of this year’s calf crop now weaned.

It is a slightly protracted process for us with several groups of cattle across multiple holdings.

Our weaning process involves the use of Quiet Wean nose flaps, which dramatically reduce stress for calf and cow.

See also: Post-weaning cattle growth rates double with natural spot-on

About the author

Duncan Morrison

Duncan farms owned and tenanted land with his wife, Claire in Aberdeenshire. They run a small Lleyn ewe flock and around 260 Aberdeen Angus and Stabiliser cows and are a QMS Monitor Farm. Operating a low-cost system, stock are outwintered on deferred grass, bale grazing and forage crops.

Read more articles by Duncan Morrison

We are also trialling a new product called FerAppease (a bovine appeasing pheromone), which is applied onto the forehead and poll of an animal, and aims to reduce stress.

We are always keen to try new things but, most importantly, look for ways to refine our system.

Grass growth has been good now that soil moisture is improving, but it will be too, little too late.

We have been supplementing cattle for a few weeks in the lead up to weaning, much earlier than usual.

We scanned our yearling heifers and were let down by one group, which was a little disappointing.

They were synchronised and artificially inseminated, so I wonder if that maybe had an influence.

In years like these, using the Farmax grazing budgeting program really pays dividends.

Planning ahead, managing forage stocks, monitoring stock numbers and performance are all important things to consider, but having them all in one program and interconnecting can be so powerful when it comes to decision-making in a difficult year.

Recently I had the pleasure of attending the Aberdeen Angus Youth Development Programme final prize giving.

This is a brilliant initiative that gives so many opportunities to budding cattle enthusiasts of all ages.

It really helped kickstart my career in cattle breeding and farming by exposing me to a wide range of different farming systems, new skills and social connections.

It was incredible to see the enthusiasm and talent the young people demonstrated.

It got me thinking about the opportunities available to keen young people in the industry.

I was fortunate enough to start my business aged 25 and have since benefited from a lot of help and opportunities from other farmers who were much more established than I.

I really believe helping young people in farming is a virtuous cycle that breeds the attitude of helping others.

I know that when the time is right, I would like to pass on some opportunities to others where I can.