Achieving NISBP Targets –
Stephen Maguire
Starting Baseline
NISBP
Av farm size
(Ha adj Grassland)
Av Cow herd
118
(69ha owned)
93
Av Stocking rate (LU/ha)
1.65
Av GM/ha
£248
Av Calving Index (days)
397
Av Kg LWT/ha
567
Farm 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 fertility
Calving index
Calving
Index
2010
2011
2012
2013
393
371
367
382
Age of heifers at calving
Months
2010
2011
2012
2013
34
45
31.5
24.7
Calving spread
J
F
M
A
M
J
2010 (58)
11
11
12
13
10
1
2011 (67)
5
7
25
14
6
2
2012 (45)
4
11
19
10
1
2013 (52
12
10
23
7
2014 (60)
9
13
30
8
J
A
S
O
N
D
3
3
2
Improvements in grass
production
Grass growth 2013
New -13.2tDM/Ha
Old – 5.7tDM/Ha
Improvements in grass
management
Rotational grazing
Improved soil fertility
Baseline Performance
2010
(54)
2011
(54)
2012
(50)
Output
575
794
717
Grassland
56
84
110
Concentrates
(Kg/cow)
73
(333)
38
(185)
67
(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 cows
Weights 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
demand
2012 - 362 tonnes excess silage
2013 – 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
Target Performance
Male calf
management
Kg LWT
Birth 1st March
45
Housing 1st Nov
Turnout 17th March
Sale 31st May
290
385
460
LWG
1.0kg for
245days
0.7kg for
136days
1.0kg for
75 days
Concentrate feeding
Cow – 2kg/d (30days)
Calf 1kg/d (60days)
2kg/day (136days)
1kg/day (30 days)
422kg
Target Performance
Female calf
management
Kg LWT
Birth 1st March
40
Housing 1st Nov
Turnout 17th March
Sale 31st May
285
367
442
LWG
1.0kg for
245days
0.6kg for
136days
1.0kg for
75 days
Concentrate feeding
Cow – 2kg/d (30days)
Calf - 1kg/d (60days)
2kg/day (136days)
1kg/day (30 days)
422kg
Summary
Aim to have 60 calves per year with 12 suitable heifers in calf
Output
- 30 Steers 440kgs @ £900 = £27,000
- 18 Heifers 420kgs @ £840 = 15,120
- 12 Cull Cow 350DW @ £1000 = 12,000
(£54,120)
Less
Allow 5% Mortality/ loss - £2706
Cost of replacing bull per yr - £1000
Total Output = £50,414
Grassland
Meal & Straw
Vet/Ai/Misc
TOTAL VAR.
- 8,600
- 6,451
- 3,900
- 18,951
TOTAL GROSS MARGIN = £31,463
TOTAL HECTARES (39)
GROSS MARGIN PER HECTARE = £806
Summary
Grassland 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