Going for broke with four-way cross sucklers
Going for broke with four-way cross sucklers
Breeding cattle made up of
a variety of breeds to
boost performance and
returns has been the
objective of a Hants producer.
James Garner reports
HOLSTEIN influence has increasingly caused a rethink of suckler cow breeding policy in the UK and USA.
According to many herd owners, the increasing influence of Holstein genes in suckler herds has meant poorer conformation cows that have a shorter life span.
In response to this, Bolinge Hill Farm, Buriton, has changed breeding policy on its 218ha (540-acre) mixed farming unit.
Visitors on a Signet-organised farm walk learned that after 11 years at the farm, its owner Susan Shone, sold her Charolais herd in 1995 to start breeding her own four-way cross suckler cow.
Her inspiration for this was Signet consultant Ian Ross, who was influenced by the work of Leland Leachman from the USA. Mr Leachman has developed and is marketing several types of composite cattle throughout the world – including those being used by the Beef Improvement Group.
Mr Ross explained that the idea was to breed a cow that combines all traits required in a suckler cow: longevity, uniform shape, fertility and good conformation.
Using four breeds could result in a hotch-potch cow that had no unique identity, so breeds were chosen to produce a cow that retained uniformity and identity.
Therefore the plan was to use the local breed – a Sussex – crossed with Simmental, Red Angus and South Devon to produce a predominately red cow; this explains why they chose a Red Angus rather than a black one.
"The breeds chosen give good eating quality and have maternal traits. Simmentals have a bit of marbling in the meat and South Devon and Red Angus result in a red and uniform bunch of cattle."
But composite breeding is reasonably complex. Mrs Shone started off with 24 pedigree Sussex bulling heifers in spring 1996. These were put to a Simmental to produce crossing heifers. Bull calves are cut and sold finished at two years old.
These crossing heifers are then put to a Red Angus cross South Devon bull at 15 months, as long as they weigh 350kg; if they dont they are run a year before bulling.
Bulling them is normally no problem, says Mrs Shone. "As a first cross they are extremely fertile and the bull ran with them for only four weeks.
"This gives us a good tight spring calving, with milky and easy calving cows," she added.
Once again any male progeny from these are normally cut and sold as finished steers. However, this year Mrs Shone is selling them entire as beef bulls as a good marketing opportunity has appeared. Nothing worthless is produced in the system, she said.
Mr Ross agreed: "Last year the by-product from this system – two-way cross and four-way cross steers – made money."
All male calves were sold deadweight at an average carcass weight of 305kg, worth on average £523, and were eligible for £248 in subsidy.
Growth rates after the stock have been housed for their first winter are good, said Mrs Shone. The two-way cross steers, stored during their first winter, have good compensatory growth after turnout in spring and average 0.8kg/day liveweight gain during their second summer.
Every finished animal is sold to St Merryn Meats and, as the herd is BSE-free, much is exported.
Mrs Shones original plan was to keep a four-way cross suckler herd, and use a terminal sire bull over these to produce top quality beef carcasses. But she said it would result in too many groups of cattle to manage.
Therefore, she now plans to build up the two-way cross herd to 60-80 cows, so she can sell a decent number of heifers as suckler cow replacements each year.
But, for a composite breed developed along these lines to take off, other suckler producers would need to use her breeding stock or begin breeding their own composite suckler cows.
If this occurs, Mr Ross said it would be possible to produce an animal for a niche market.
"Because of the good eating quality and uniformity of the animals produced, we would look to supply the retailing and gourmet trade with top quality grilling beef. If we can stimulate enough interest, then it may be possible to attract EU money and support to help market it."
Box pls – COMPOSITES
* Unique identity and uniformity.
* Benefits of heterosis.
* Better carcass quality.
Composites
• Unique identity and uniformity.
• Benefits of heterosis.
• Better carcass quality.
Four-way composite cattle have been selected for good eating quality and uniformity. Ian Ross hopes this may lead to a niche gourmet market.