Consistency is aim of game for new breeding project
Consistency is aim of game for new breeding project
By Robert Davies
BRITAINS oldest specialist suckled calf marketing group has launched a new breeding project.
Gethin Havard, chairman of Brecon and Radnor Suckled Calf Rearers, claims that the Welsh Development Agency backed initiative is essential if his 450 members are to continue to meet finishers requirements.
"In changing times for the beef market, we have to supply cattle that allow finishers to respond to weight and conformation specifications set by supermarkets," says Mr Havard. "Our customers want cattle that consistently hit production efficiency and quality targets. If we are to stay ahead of the game we must improve the genetics of our suckler cows and terminal sires."
This is not simple as the Holstein influence makes it increasingly difficult to buy suitable herd replacements, and the cost of purchasing high genetic merit bulls cannot be justified in the small herds run by many of the groups producers.
"The 17,000 cows on members farms are a mixture of breeds and crosses ranging from traditional beef crosses out of dairy herds to pure beef breeds. Some good bulls are being used on these, but so too are lower quality sires."
To find a purpose-bred replacement cow for upland farms that can throw good quality calves for finishing on lowland units, semen from the Stabiliser composite breed will be used on a small number of farms.
This will be done under contract to BIG, the company that owns the UK marketing rights to the stable hybrid of Red Angus, Hereford, Simmental and Gelbvieh genes developed in the US. The aim is to breed a cow with the same low maintenance requirement, longevity and maternal traits recorded in US Stabiliser herds.
Success could provide some group members with the opportunity to become specialised replacement producers for others who are currently using trial and error crossbreds in a search for the right type of suckler cow.
Many more producers are likely to take advantage of the sire-line part of the project. This offers free semen straws from the Charolais bull Balthayock Marius, which has an EBV of 43, placing him in the top 1% of the breeds sires.
Members, who have to pay an insemination charge to Genus when cows are allowed to come on heat naturally, have already ordered most of the original purchase of 500 straws. But a significant number are also taking up the offer of a 50% insemination cost reduction where heat is synchronised.
This is being encouraged so breeders can pen larger, matched bunches of calves customers say they want at autumn sales.
"More Marius straws will be available if there is demand. While I believe that weight for age figures alone can be comparisons between stockmen, EBVs identify sires that produce calves with predictable performance," says Mr Havard.
"Each additional unit of EVB can be worth an extra 3kg of finished weight in offspring. Buyers now want this information and the first Marius calves will be clearly identified at the 2001 sales."
Group member Hywel Phillips, Cwm Camlais Uchaf, Sennybridge, is enthusiastic about the breeding project. The bull he uses on his 30 sucklers is at the end of his working life and he could not justify paying £4000 plus for a high quality replacement.
"Buyers are becoming much more selective and anything that is not up to standard will not sell well, so we have to improve the quality of the cattle we produce." *
Producing cattle which consistently hit production efficiency and quality targets is vital, says Gethin Havard.