Achieving NISBP Targets –Stephen Maguire

Starting BaselineStarting Baseline

NISBPNISBP

Av farm size Av farm size (Ha adj Grassland)(Ha adj Grassland)

118 118 (69ha owned)(69ha owned)

Av Cow herdAv Cow herd 9393

Av Stocking rate (LU/ha)Av Stocking rate (LU/ha) 1.651.65

Av GM/haAv GM/ha £248£248

Av Calving Index (days)Av Calving Index (days) 397397

Av Kg LWT/haAv Kg LWT/ha 567567

Farm OverviewFarm Overview

- 39 Ha farmed 2013 (51.1ha 2010)

- High rainfall area > 50 inches annually

- Traditionally suckler to weanling system

- 50 suckler cows – Mainly Sim x lim

- Charolais as terminal cross

- Replacements purchased in calf

- Old swards with low PRG content

Herd fertilityCalving index

2010 2011 2012 2013

Calving Index

393 371 367 382

2010 2011 2012 2013

Months 34 45 31.5 24.7

J F M A M J J A S O N D

2010 (58) 11 11 12 13 10 1

2011 (67) 5 7 25 14 6 2 3 3 2

2012 (45) 4 11 19 10 1

2013 (52 12 10 23 7

2014 (60) 9 13 30 8

Age of heifers at calving

Calving spread

Improvements in grass production

Grass growth 2013New -13.2tDM/HaOld – 5.7tDM/Ha

Improvements in grass management

Rotational grazing

Improved soil fertility

Baseline Performance2010 2011 2012(54) (54) (50)

Output 575 794 717

Grassland 56 84 110

Concentrates 73 38 67 (Kg/cow) (333) (185) (300)

Vet, Med Sund. 55 97 65

TOTAL VAR 184 219 234

GROSS MARGIN 390 575 474

AREA (Ha) 51 45 44

GROSS MARGIN/Ha 413 706 539

Weanling system – 60 cowsWeights and value based on 2013 performance

Weight Value Total Value

Steers (30) 311 630 18,900

Heifers

(18)

277 550 9,900

Cull Cows

(12) DWT

350 1000 12,000

Total output (£40,800 less 5% Mortality)= £38760 or £646 per cow

Based on current variable costs GM per cow = £412 GM per Ha = £633

Opportunities to increase GM/Ha

1. Grass production currently exceeding stock demand2012 - 362 tonnes excess silage2013 – 278 tonnes

2. Increase cows / add value to weaned calf

3. Make better use of spring and autumn grass growth

4. Continue to improve herd fertility

5. Refine breeding of replacements

Improvements in grassland management

Carry over of stock

capable of utilising

spring grass

Improvements in grassland management

Earlier weaning of calves has allowed :

1.Extended autumn

grazing of calves

2. Reduced silage

demand for cows

Male calf management

Kg LWT LWG Concentrate feeding

Birth 1st March 451.0kg for

245days

0.7kg for

136days

1.0kg for

75 days

Cow – 2kg/d (30days)

Calf 1kg/d (60days)

Housing 1st Nov 290

2kg/day (136days)

Turnout 17th March 385

Sale 31st May 460 1kg/day (30 days)

422kg

Target Performance

Female calf management

Kg LWT LWG Concentrate feeding

Birth 1st March 401.0kg for

245days

0.6kg for

136days

1.0kg for

75 days

Cow – 2kg/d (30days)

Calf - 1kg/d (60days)

Housing 1st Nov 285

2kg/day (136days)

Turnout 17th March 367

Sale 31st May 442 1kg/day (30 days)

422kg

Target Performance

Summary

Output- 30 Steers 440kgs @ £900 = £27,000- 18 Heifers 420kgs @ £840 = 15,120- 12 Cull Cow 350DW @ £1000 = 12,000

(£54,120)LessAllow 5% Mortality/ loss - £2706Cost of replacing bull per yr - £1000

Total Output = £50,414

Grassland - 8,600Meal & Straw - 6,451Vet/Ai/Misc - 3,900TOTAL VAR. - 18,951

TOTAL GROSS MARGIN = £31,463TOTAL HECTARES (39)GROSS MARGIN PER HECTARE = £806

Aim to have 60 calves per year with 12 suitable heifers in calf

SummaryGrassland cost

Fertiliser – 96 acres @ 5bags/acre = 24tonnes@ £300/t = £7200

Lime – 10 acres per year @ £40/acre = £400

Grass seed – 10 acres per year @ £70/acre = £700

Sprays = £300

TOTAL GRASSLAND = £8,600

Meeting these targets

- Maintain and improve herd fertility- Body condition management- Target bulling and calving weights- Use of maternal genetics

- Continual improvement of grass production and utilisation - Refine rotational grazing plans

- Silage budgeting- Monitor and address soil fertility

- Continual monitoring of cattle performance.- Identify best & poorest performers

- Defined animal health plan