calving dates and stocking rates for weaner and yearling
TRANSCRIPT
Grassland Society of Southern Australia Inc
Profitability of Tasmanian beef enterprises:
Libby Salmon, David Counsell and Tim Rhodes
Calving dates and stocking rates for weaner and yearling production systems
Grassland Society of Southern Australia Inc
How can I make more from beef?
“Profitable grazing businesses generate more incomefor roughly the same costsas less profitable farms”
Holmes, Sackett and Associates, 2004
Grassland Society of Southern Australia Inc
More income, same costsMeat production
(kg/ha)Beef price
(c/kg)
Stocking rate Type of enterprise, Genetics
Supplementary feed
• Pasture production
• Fertilizer management
Animal health
Time of calving
(Labour/DSE)
Grassland Society of Southern Australia Inc
Key questions for beef production systems in midlands TAS
What are the most profitable and sustainable:
1. stocking rates?
2. enterprises?
3. calving dates?
4. levels of supplementary feeding?
Specific for farm, over a range of seasons
Grassland Society of Southern Australia Inc
Farm resources
weather
pasturessoil
livestock
management
Grassland Society of Southern Australia IncGrassland Society of Southern Australia Inc
Putting the farm’s resources together
Management
$ ProfitRiskSustainability
• Depth• Water availability• Bulk density• Fertility
Grassland Society of Southern Australia Inc
Southern midlands-climate and pasture growth
Apsley42oS
Annual rainfall: 550 mm(1979-2004)
Elevation: 270 m
Grassland Society of Southern Australia Inc
Daily temperatures
oC
Max
Min
Average monthly temperatures
+ short days in winter
Grassland Society of Southern Australia Inc
Rainfall variability
Max
Min
Percentiles for monthly rainfall
mm
Best 10%
Worst 10%50%
0
0.25
0.5
0.75
1
1.25
1.5
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27
0
100
200
300
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27
-500
50100150200250300350400
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27
0100200300400
500600700800
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27
1980 1995 200019901985
Annualrainfall(mm)
Green pasture
(t DM/ha)
Meat production(kg LW/ha)
Grossmargin($/ha)
Feed(t/ha)
0200400600800
0
200
400
1000
200
300
1.0
0
1.5
0.5
02
46
8
Climate variability Production risk
Cocksfoot, annual grass, sub clover
Average = $248/ha
hay
Average = 190 kg LW/ha
Average = 550 mm
Grassland Society of Southern Australia Inc
0
1000
2000
3000
4000
5000
6000
7000
8000
Jan Mar May Jul Sep Nov
Pasture supply – S. Midlands
0
1000
2000
3000
4000
5000
6000
7000
8000
Jan Mar May Jul Sep Nov
0
2
4
6
8
Green pasture
(tonnesDry Matter
/ha)
Stocking rate = 5 DSE/ha
Cocksfoot - annual grass - sub clover
Grassland Society of Southern Australia Inc
0
1000
2000
3000
4000
5000
6000
7000
8000
Jan Mar May Jul Sep Nov
Variability in pasture supply
Green pasture
(tonnesDry Matter
/ha)
0
2
4
6
8
Best 10% of seasons
Worst 10% of seasons
Grassland Society of Southern Australia Inc
0
1000
2000
3000
4000
5000
6000
7000
8000
Jan Mar May Jul Sep Nov
Reliability of pasture supply - S. Midlands vs SW Victoria
Hamilton, VICGreen pasture
(tonnesDry Matter
/ha)
0
2
4
6
8
Best 10%
Worst 10%
Stocking rate = 5 DSE/ha
Grassland Society of Southern Australia Inc
Beef systems tested
• Self-replacing herd: 550kg Angus cows – Weaner & Yearling production
– 5 stocking rates at 3 winter-spring calving dates
• Common weaning date (end Mar)
Grassland Society of Southern Australia Inc
• Weaners sold on 1st April (7-9 months)
Assumptions for weaner system
185200215Heifers230250270Steers
> 300 kg< 300 kg< 285 kgWeaners prices (c/kg LW):
• CFA cows 130 c/kg LW
Grassland Society of Southern Australia Inc
• Yearling steers sold on 15th Dec (15-17 months)
• Cull heifers sold on 1 Mar (18-20 months)
• Prices:
- Steers 220c/kg LW
- Heifers 175c/kg LW
- CFA cows 130c/kg LW
Assumptions for yearling system
Grassland Society of Southern Australia Inc
Profit driver: Stocking rate
Test 5 stocking rates:
0.3, 0.6, 0.9, 1.2, 1.5 cows/ha
Over 25 years (1979-2004)
Grassland Society of Southern Australia Inc
Grazing pressure: cows/ha vs DSEs
0Followers/ha
Weaner System
8.5DSEs/ha on 1 Jul
0.9Cows/ha
(includes repl. heifers)
Grassland Society of Southern Australia Inc
0.6 yearlings0Followers/ha
Yearling SystemWeaner System
12.78.5DSEs/ha on 1 Jul
0.90.9Cows/ha
(includes repl. heifers)
Grazing pressure: cows/ha vs DSEs
Grassland Society of Southern Australia Inc
0.6 yearlings0Followers/ha
Yearling SystemWeaner System
12.78.5DSEs/ha on 1 Jul
0.90.9Cows/ha
(includes repl. heifers)
+50%
Grazing pressure: cows/ha vs DSEs
Grassland Society of Southern Australia Inc
Cost: Supplementary feeding
Feed to maintain condition above:• score 2.0 -cows • score 2.5 -weaners
Hay purchased at $150/t(not cut from surplus)
Gross margins calculated after cost of feeding
Grassland Society of Southern Australia Inc
Significant feeding needed at calving
kg/head/day
1.2 cows/ha
Percentiles for hay fed to mature cowsworst 4 years in 10
half the years
best 4 years in 10
Calving
0
100
200
0 0.3 0.6 0.9 1.2 1.5 1.8
Supplementary feeding depends on stocking rate
Annualfeed costaveraged
over 1979-2004
Jul
Aug
Sep
Calving date
Yearlingsystems
Weanersystems
cows/ha
($/ha/year)
Grassland Society of Southern Australia Inc
Key messages - feeding
• Significant feeding– at stocking rates over 0.6 cows/ha
• Yearling systems - more feeding than weaners
• Weaner systems carry less animals through winter
• In most years, yearlings also fed over winter to maintain weight
• Earlier calving = more feeding
Grassland Society of Southern Australia Inc
Profit driver: Time of calving
Grassland Society of Southern Australia Inc
0
1000
2000
3000
4000
5000
6000
7000
8000
Jan Mar May Jul Sep Nov
Green pasture
(tonnesDry Matter
/ha)
0
2
4
6
8
3 calving dates tested
15 Sep
15 Aug
15 Jul
Grassland Society of Southern Australia Inc
Time of calving: yearling vs weaner requirements
0
1000
2000
3000
4000
5000
6000
7000
8000
Jan Mar May Jul Sep Nov
Green pasture
(tonnesDry Matter
/ha)
0
2
4
6
8 Calvingdate?
Pasture quality
Pasture quantity
0.75 t DM/ha
Weaners: heavier sale weights from earlier calving and low stocking rates
150
200
250
300
350
0 0.3 0.6 0.9 1.2 1.5 1.8
Weight of weaner steers at sale
Jul
Aug
Sep
Calving date
cows/ha
AverageLW(kg)
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
200 300 400 500 600
Live weight at sale (kg)
Probability 0.3
0.9
1.5
Yearlings: reaching target (400kg) more likely at low stocking rate
cows/ha
27%
58%
90%Probability
July calving
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
200 300 400 500 600
Live weight at sale (kg)
Probability
Jul
Aug
Sep
Calving date: little effect on reaching yearling target weight
Calving date
Probability
0.9 cows/ha
0
100
200
300
400
0 0.3 0.6 0.9 1.2 1.5 1.8
Stocking rate vs Profit (weaners)
Averagegross margin Jul
Calving date
cows/ha
($/ha)
$100/ha
0
100
200
300
400
0 0.3 0.6 0.9 1.2 1.5 1.8
Calving date vs Profit (weaners)
Averagegross margin Jul
Aug
Sep
Calving date
cows/ha
($/ha)
$50/ha
More beef from higher stocking rates and from yearling systems
July calving
0
100
200
300
400
0.3 0.6 0.9 1.2 1.5
cows/ha
kg LW/ha weaneryearling
Meat production(kg LW/ha)
Enterprise vs Profit
0
100
200
300
400
0 0.3 0.6 0.9 1.2 1.5 1.8
Averagegross margin Jul
Aug
Sep
Calving date
Yearlingsystems
Weanersystems
cows/ha
($/ha)
Enterprise (same stocking rate and calving date)
0
100
200
300
400
0 0.3 0.6 0.9 1.2 1.5 1.8
Averagegross margin Jul
Aug
Sep
Calving date
Yearlingsystems
Weanersystems
cows/ha
($/ha)
$100/ha
0
100
200
300
400
0 0.3 0.6 0.9 1.2 1.5 1.8
Averagegross margin Jul
Aug
Sep
Calving date
Yearlingsystems
Weanersystems
cows/ha
($/ha)
Enterprise (stocking rate and calving optimised)
$45/ha
Grassland Society of Southern Australia Inc
Key messages Calving dates & Profit
Weaner system (April sales):– later calving less profitable
Yearling system: – calving dates had little effect on profit – (total amount of supplement high for all dates)
Grassland Society of Southern Australia Inc
What has the greatest effect on Profit?
1. Stocking rate
3. Calving date
2. Enterprise
Boost to gross margin:
120-180%
15-30%
0-15%
Grassland Society of Southern Australia Inc
Stocking rate, profit & risk
– What are the downside risks for each system?– What are the opportunities?
Risk = year-to-year variationRank gross margins from 25 years
Weaners- July calving
-200
600
1.5000
200
1.20000.90000.60000.3000
800
Stocking rate (cows/ha)
0
400
GM
($/h
a)
-200
200
0
400
600
800
Weaners - July calving
0.3 0.6 0.9 1.2 1.5
GrossMargins
1979-2004($/ha)
Middle value (median)
Stocking rate (cows/ha)
Best year
Worst year
Weaners- July calving
-200
600
1.5000
200
1.20000.90000.60000.3000
800
Stocking rate (cows/ha)
0
400
GM
($/h
a)
-200
200
0
400
600
800
Weaners - July calving
0.3 0.6 0.9 1.2 1.5
GrossMargins
1979-2004($/ha)
Middle 50% years
Stocking rate (cows/ha)
Rank gross margins from 25 years
Weaners- July calving
-200
600
1.5000
200
1.20000.90000.60000.3000
800
Stocking rate (cows/ha)
0
400
GM
($/h
a)
-200
200
0
400
600
800
Weaners - July calving
0.3 0.6 0.9 1.2 1.5
GrossMargins
1979-2004($/ha)
Middle 50% years
Stocking rate (cows/ha)
Best 25% of years
Worst 25% of years
Rank gross margins from 25 years
Stocking rate and riskWeaners- July calving
-200
600
1.5000
200
1.20000.90000.60000.3000
800
Stocking rate (cows/ha)
0
400
GM
($/h
a)
-200
200
0
400
600
800
Weaners - July calving
0.3 0.6 0.9 1.2 1.5
GrossMargins
1979-2004($/ha)
Stocking rate (cows/ha)
Yearlings- July calving
1.50001.20000.90000.60000.3000
Stocking rate (cows/ha)
Yearlings: more variable
Stocking rate (cows/ha)
Weaners- July calving
-200
600
1.5000
200
1.20000.90000.60000.3000
800
Stocking rate (cows/ha)
0
400
GM
($/h
a)
-200
200
0
400
600
800
Weaners - July calving
0.3 0.6 0.9 1.2 1.5
Yearlings - July calving
0.3 0.6 0.9 1.2 1.5
GrossMargins
1979-2004($/ha)
Yearlings- July calving
1.50001.20000.90000.60000.3000
Stocking rate (cows/ha)
Yearlings: more upside opportunity
Stocking rate (cows/ha)
Weaners- July calving
-200
600
1.5000
200
1.20000.90000.60000.3000
800
Stocking rate (cows/ha)
0
400
GM
($/h
a)
-200
200
0
400
600
800
Weaners - July calving
0.3 0.6 0.9 1.2 1.5
Yearlings - July calving
0.3 0.6 0.9 1.2 1.5
GrossMargins
1979-2004($/ha)
Yearlings- July calving
1.50001.20000.90000.60000.3000
Stocking rate (cows/ha)
Yearlings: similar downside risk
Stocking rate (cows/ha)
Weaners- July calving
-200
600
1.5000
200
1.20000.90000.60000.3000
800
Stocking rate (cows/ha)
0
400
GM
($/h
a)
-200
200
0
400
600
800
Weaners - July calving
0.3 0.6 0.9 1.2 1.5
Yearlings - July calving
0.3 0.6 0.9 1.2 1.5
GrossMargins
1979-2004($/ha)
Yearlings- July calving
1.50001.20000.90000.60000.3000
Stocking rate (cows/ha)
Picking the best long-term stocking rate
Stocking rate (cows/ha)
Weaners- July calving
-200
600
1.5000
200
1.20000.90000.60000.3000
800
Stocking rate (cows/ha)
0
400
GM
($/h
a)
-200
200
0
400
600
800
Weaners - July calving
0.3 0.6 0.9 1.2 1.5
Yearlings - July calving
0.3 0.6 0.9 1.2 1.5
GrossMargins
1979-2004($/ha)
Yearlings-September calving
1.50001.20000.90000.60000.3000
Stocking rate (cows/ha)
Yearlings- July calving
1.50001.20000.90000.60000.3000
Stocking rate (cows/ha)
Yearlings: calving date –so what?!
Stocking rate (cows/ha)
-200
200
0
400
600
800
Yearlings - July calving
0.3 0.6 0.9 1.2 1.5
Yearlings - Sep calving
0.3 0.6 0.9 1.2 1.5
GrossMargins
1979-2004($/ha)
Grassland Society of Southern Australia Inc
Stocking rates and risk
Yearlings: - more up side opportunity(more beef/ha)
Both: - similar down side risk at moderate stocking rates
- greater down side risk at higher stocking rates
Grassland Society of Southern Australia Inc
Opportunities for other GrassGro studies
• Are bigger cows more profitable?
• How would a later or early calving affect risk?
• Is it cost effective to feed steers over winter to reach higher target weights?
Grassland Society of Southern Australia Inc
Profit-drivers in southern beef systems
1. Stocking rate
2. Enterprise type
(not calving date)
Keep focused: similar drivers, different targets
Grassland Society of Southern Australia Inc
What did GrassGro show?
Targeted information to support decisions
• Your grazing system’s potential
• A way to explore options
• Profit
• Production risks
Grassland Society of Southern Australia Inc