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