How a 93% calf sold figure helped carbon efficiency in suckler herd

A calving percentage of 95% and a mortality rate of 2% are helping Robert, Bob and Lucy Forrest, Preston Farm, Duns, manage greenhouse gas emissions in their beef herd.

By achieving a percentage sold figure of 93% from 285 Angus-cross Simmental cows in 2017, the Forrests have spread farm emissions over more kg of beef sold.

The farm emitted 32.72kg CO2 equivalent (methane, carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide)/kg deadweight from their suckler-to-finish enterprise, which they run alongside 260ha of arable. This compares to an average of 38.34kg.

See also: How beef herd is delivering £350/cow net profit with deferred, mob grazing

The calculations were done in November 2018 through the Scottish government’s Beef Efficiency Scheme. This pays the Forrests £48/ha on eligible hectares, to undertake a range of management tasks (see box).

“I want to cut emissions but not if it means sacrificing financial performance,” says Mr Forrest. “That said, I believe there is a strong correlation between efficiency, profitability and low carbon emissions.”

Robert Forrest

However, acknowledging the scheme has had criticism, Mr Forrest believes that the data collected through the scheme could be made more relevant for the beef industry.

He adds that entering figures in both Farmplan and ScotEid is too time consuming. 

He says that recording growth rates in conjunction with feeding systems and carcass quality would be a useful addition for breeders.

Genetics

Moderate-sized cows that can calve on their own, produce a vigorous calf and then milk well off grass are important for the farm’s carbon footprint.

This is according to consultant Ian Cairns of Agrifood Technical Services and the 5-Agri group, who says this combination allows the farm to stock more cattle per hectare and wean more kg of calf.

“The technical performance of the farm really helps the carbon figures,” says Mr Cairns, who undertook the carbon audit. “This means the emissions are spread over more kg of beef.”

Simmental and Angus bulls are used in a criss-cross breeding policy, combining the stretch and milk of the Simmental with the easy-fleshing Angus breeding that receives a premium.  

Recently a group of 40 Simmental-cross Luing females were bought from Orkney, to experiment with a smaller, hardier cross.

In general, the Forrests are trying to breed a 750kg cow and currently have a weight range between 680kg and 880kg.

Calf birthweights are 35-45kg and most cows calve unassisted in calving sheds with a calving camera. Carcass weights average 300kg for heifers and 370-380kg for steers at R4L/U4L.

Grassland and forage

More efficient forage production has also helped the farm’s carbon performance. About 12ha is reseeded annually.

“We now cut 8-12ha less silage ground for the same production as before,” explains Mr Forrest. “We’re also trying to get some of it two weeks earlier to improve quality.”

Meanwhile, 40ha of woodland and 184ha of permanent pasture mitigate emissions through soil carbon sequestration, the process of capturing atmospheric carbon in soils.

Clover has been stitched in to make up 10-12% of swards, improving forage protein content and reducing nitrogen fertiliser use. The farm used 59.82kg/ha of nitrogen, 30kg of phosphate and 36kg of potash.

Mr Cairns says: “Because the Forrests analyse their manure they can use it accurately, keeping soil indexes right.”

Management

Herd productivity is boosted by calving heifers at 24 months. This means fewer stock groups on the farm, faster genetic progress, increased lifetime output per cow and a tighter calving block.

A nine-week calving block ensures cows have a calf every 365 days, which means that while cows are on the farm and emitting methane, they are being productive. 

With about half the farm in arable, the beef unit can feed silage, bruised barley, bruised beans and straw in varying quantities for finisher, youngstock and cow diets through a mixer wagon.

This minimises haulage costs and fossil fuel use and means purchased feed use per cow is 267kg, which is less than 20% of the average 1.45t/cow.

Being in south-east Scotland, the farm can budget on a 180-day winter, meaning less forage is needed than on some Scottish farms, reducing tractor hours needed to produce and feed fodder, thus controlling carbon emissions.

Future improvements

A major change will see the farm switch from finishing cattle to selling weaned calves in the spring at 12 months old.  

Mr Forrest believes this is the best route the farm can take. Currently the farm uses 270t of barley a year and about 780t of straw.

The Forrests admit that the cull rate has dropped recently to 10-12% as they intend to expand the herd further, from 320 this year up to nearer 400 head.

He expects the farm to require 100t more silage, 125t less barley, 65t less beans and slightly less straw, thus making the farm more self-sufficient and saving on carbon emissions on delivery and haulage.

Having younger animals on the farm with higher feed conversion rates will make more efficient use of feed and is better for carbon footprint, explain Mr Cairns.

Grassland management and mature cow size in relation to weaning efficiency are also areas the Forrests are targeting for improvement.

Meanwhile, the Forrests are considering trying to cut concentrate feeding and forage use by outwintering a selection of fully mature cows on forage rape this winter. This will enable self-sufficiency in straw.