Maximising profits and efficiencies is a weighty winter issue

Profits and efficiency can be optimised by weighing beef cattle over the winter months, according to precision livestock company Breedr.

T he company says that accurate information on daily liveweight gain (DLWG) will not only predict growth rates, identify under-performers, intercept health or feed issues and track bloodline performance, it will also give accurate predictions on winter feed requirements.

Alan Bason, managing director at Agricultural Business Analysis, said: “Last year, straw costs ran at approximately £ 40- a- head to house until spring, and this year, it’s forecast to be at least 50% higher.

“Working out how many cattle you can afford to keep will give you a head start, but when you understand which of your cattle will have the highest returns for the winter investments, this will give you the edge come spring.”

He advised working out the tonnage of forage and straw in store then weighing animals and estimating the quantity of feed needed based on 2.5% body weight per day.

“If you are using a growth predictor tool like the Breedr app, you will be able to forecast the expected growth rate over the winter months, to give you a more accurate idea of how feed requirements will change as the animal grows,” he said.

“For example, if an animal is gaining 1kg per day DLWG, then over the 200-day winter period, it will increase by 200kg.

“So estimate feed based on current weight, plus 100kg to get the average daily feed allowance.”

He pointed out that the information gave farmers options.

“They could decide to keep animals out at grass for longer, though this can preserve feed and s t r aw rations, condition can drop off as the weather turns or if grass fails to meet their needs,” he said.

“Alternatively, growers can buy in extra straw and forage, but the impact of this on annual gross margins will need to be calculated.”

Farmers could also look to sell their lower performing cattle.

“This is gearing up to be an expensive winter, so you only want to invest in animals that will give positive returns,” said Mr Bason.

“Removing the bottom-performing animals and leaving only the top performers will put producers in a much stronger position.

“Reserving your precious forage and straw stocks for the cattle that will convert it best into profits will allow you to recoup in the spring.”

Work out which animals will give positive returns.