Suckler herds large margin
Suckler herds large margin
WELSH suckler producers could gain £9m a year by matching the results achieved by the top third of herds, according to Gwent-based Signet consultant David Evans.
He has just completed a survey on the performance of spring-calving suckler herds in Wales which revealed a massive range in the level of gross margin achieved.
"According to last seasons records, the best suckler units outperformed the average and bottom third of farms by nearly £224/ha and £375/ha, respectively. Gross margins a cow for the top third were £54 higher than those of average farms, and £69 greater than the bottom third.
"The potential loss of income is enormous if these figures are extrapolated across the Welsh beef breeding herd of 219,900 cows."
Mr Evans says profitable management is more dependant on high output/cow than on paring costs, with annual calf sales/cow put to the bull and calf weight the key measures of financial efficiency.
"Calf sales vary from £267 for the top third to £189 for the bottom third of herds. Sale weight of the top third is 50kg heavier, partly due to a tighter calving period of seven weeks; spread of calving is the most sensitive single measure of cow performance."
Cows also consume most of the feed required to produce the weaned calf, and feed costs vary from £75 for the top third of herds to £82 for the least efficient, says Mr Evans. Calf concentrate costs range from £17/head in the top herds to £10 in the bottom third.
Performance of spring suckler herds in Wales selling weaned calves – winter 99/00
Top Ave Bottom third third
Output (inc subsidy) (£) 447 394 375
Total variable costs (£) 148 149 145
Gross margin/cow (£) 299 245 230
Gross margin/ha (£) 478 254 103
Stocking rate/ha 1.6 1.04 0.45
90% calving (weeks) 12 14 19
% Barren cows 4 7 6
% Calves reared 94 92 89
Age at sale (days) 228 220 214
Weight at sale (kg) 285 250 235
DLWG (kg) 1.05 0.95 0.9
Average herd size 63 55 51