Grange Beef Research Centre: Open Day - A must for all beef farmers

By Justin McCarthy

The forthcoming beef open day, to be hosted by Teagasc at their Beef Research Centre in Grange, is a must for all beef farmers. The event will tackle all aspects of the profitability equation in beef farming, production costs, animal performance and the beef pricing grid. The event will be held on Tuesday 12 September and will run from 10 am till 4 pm.

According to Eddie O'Riordan, Head of Centre, the day is aimed at updating beef producers on new research findings and developments in beef production.

Many aspects of the production chain will be addressed from breeding, feeding, management, to the eating quality and yield of the beef produced.

Analysis of production costs and returns from the 2005 Monitor Farms will be presented. Details of the production systems of the 28 farming families that took part in the Bord Bia/Irish Farmers Journal Quality Beef Producer of the Year competition will also be featured on the day.

New Payment System

Price paid for beef in Europe very much reflects carcase conformation and price differentials can be 25 to 80c/kg for a U3 compared to an O3 carcase. The corresponding figure in Ireland is closer to 17 c/kg.

A new study is underway at Grange looking at the total meat yield and the yield of high priced cuts from carcases differing in conformation and fat class. A database is being compiled to show the relationships between carcase conformation, fat scores and meat yield. For example, at the same carcase weight (say 360 kg) a U3, as opposed to a O3, grade carcase will have a greater meat yield, less fat and bone resulting in a carcase value worth more than 35 c/kg. Using such relationships, the opportunity now exists to combine this meat yield information with the factory operated carcase scanners (measuring conformation and fat scores) and have payments based on a new, comprehensive and appropriate assessment of carcase quality.

This will be further explained at the Open Day and farmers will be invited to give their views.

New Beef Index under the spotlight

The recently launched ICBF Beef Breeding Index is a major advance for beef breeding in Ireland. Two aspects of the Index are being tested at Grange. The first study with suckler beef cattle is examining the progeny from (over 20) sires with High or Low Beef Production Indexes, which were mated with suckler cows. Weanlings from these sires were purchased by Grange in autumn 2005 and are being reared as either bulls (which were killed late June 2006) or steers which are still at pasture and can be seen at the Open Day. The second study, using animals from dairy herds, is examining the progeny from 22 beef sires (from the Belgian Blue and Aberdeen Angus breeds) of High or Low Index for Growth. The calves from the dairy herd were purchased by Grange in Spring 2006 and will also be on display during the Open Day.

Suckler Beef: going more continental

The results of a four year experiment where beef production from half, three-quarters or full continental breeding and Simmental cross Limousin cows was compared will be summarised. Information on intake, milk yield, calf weight gains, progeny performance to slaughter as well as carcase conformation and fat scores will be presented.

Out-Wintering Pads and Earth-Bank Tanks

With Earth-Bank Tanks now officially approved, a stand will feature what is involved in their construction, maintenance and general use. With Out-Wintering Pads (OWP) likely to be approved shortly the type of construction needed to meet the specifications will be shown on the day. The role of and options for the use of OWPs on farms will also be discussed.

Management of the Suckled Weaning

With the majority of spring-born suckler beef calves approaching weaning, a package of weaning practices to minimise weaning stress and losses will be put forward on the day. With pneumonias among weanlings being a major cost on some farms, and especially among traded animals, some vaccination strategies will be outlined.

Methods to improve Quality

Results from a number of Grange studies addressing on-farm factors affecting meat quality will be outlined at the Open Day. Effects such as animal age, gender, growth rate before slaughter, diet type, and so on, will be summarised. Information on the human-health attributes of Irish grass produced beef will be featured as will the findings of new studies to authenticate the origins of beef.

Finishing Options for Beef

Following decoupling the economics of beef production in general and finishing systems in particular need to be assessed.

Current studies on steer finishing options such as pasture finishing (with and without concentrates) before the second winter or winter grazing strategies, together with bull production at pasture, will be outlined.

The effects of maturity (early vs. late maturing beef animals) on finishing options will be presented along with their carcase data.

Mats on Slats

The findings of a comprehensive new study with finishing steers where conventional and mat-covered slatted floors were compared, will be outlined. This study should be of interest to all winter finishers.

Alternative Forages for Finishing Beef

Results of a number of feeding studies where alternatives forages such as maize, whole crop cereals, triticale, etc, were used for beef production will be summarised. Animals and diets from the current study (now approaching the final weeks) will be on display.

Monitor Farm Results

The 2005 information on production costs and returns from the Teagasc Profit Monitor farms will be presented on the day.