Enhancers keep some profitable
Enhancers keep some profitable
BANNING growth enhancer use in cattle diets could mean the difference between profit and loss in some beef systems.
Independent beef consultant David Allen, says that public concern about beef production after the BSE crisis has caused some retailers and processors to review growth enhancer use.
But Dr Allen believes that its use is vital to maximise margins – especially for beef reared and finished on all concentrate diets.
Quoting figures from Elanco – manufacturer of the growth enhancer Romensin – Dr Allen suggests that growth enhancers could improve feed use by 10% and improve daily liveweight gains by 10-15%.
"For cereal beef this represents a saving of 200kg of feed a head or £28 a head with concentrate costs of £140/t," says Dr Allen. To offset this cost buyers would have to pay an extra 10p/kg deadweight.
"Growth enhancers in 18-month beef systems could increase daily gains from 1.1 to 1.2kg, shortening the finishing period or allowing heavier finishing weights within an 18-month period."
Dr Allen calculates that this would save £15-£19 a head requiring a 5-6p/kg increase in sale price.
In addition to the economic benefits, he argues that health and welfare could be compromised if growth enhancers are banned.
"Enhanced digestion reduces methane production by 30% and consequently reduces bloat."
Because the digestion of cereal feeds is slower, acidosis risks are reduced and lameness caused by laminitis cut significantly improving animal welfare, he adds.