Booking bulls in for slaughter: Farmers unfortunately continue to face significant delays in getting cattle booked in for slaughter. There are an increasing number of bulls being finished in an under 16 month finishing system approaching the 16 month age limit.

It is important to check the age of animals and to make contact with the factory or agent you are likely to deal with well in advance. The difference in bulls being priced on or off the grid can be significant, so it is worth tackling this job early.

The same can be said of spring 2024 born cattle which may be approaching the 30 month age limit. Friesian bullocks are typically most at risk as they tend to be born at the start of the calving season.

Cattle born in January 2024 will start to go over 30 months of age in July 2026, so it is advisable to assess cattle if the aim is to get them drafted before 30 months.

In some cases it may make more sense to let them go beyond the 30 month age limit, but it is better to make these decisions in time and in the knowledge that they will be slaughtered over 30 months of age rather than being caught off guard.

Marketing autumn-born weanlings: While on the subject of marketing cattle, this time last year autumn-born bulls were meeting a flying trade with beef finishers locking horns with live export buyers. Weight had little effect on influencing competition levels, with plenty of buyers active for heavy bulls.

The reduction in beef price in recent months has put pressure on forward store cattle and is also reducing demand for heavy bulls weighing upwards of 450kg to 500kg liveweight.

It is worth farmers with autumn-born weanlings weighing up their best route to market, particularly if you have export-type weanlings on hand as the best, keenest demand is typically for lighter bulls weighing 350kg to 400kg. There are exceptions to this, but in general live exporters are trying to achieve the best balance in maximising the number of bulls transported in a consignment to reduce transport costs per head.

Demand from live exporters has quietened with large numbers currently in quarantine, but expoters are still active for top-quality U=/+ and E grading bulls for the European market.

Biosecurity advice: The Biosecurity Targeted Advisory Service for Animal Health (TASAH) launched this week provides for a farm visit and veterinary consultation, free of charge for the farmer, to deliver advice on biosecurity measures and recommendations to control diseases including bovine viral diarrhoea, johne’s disease and infectious bovine rhinotracheitis (IBR) and TB biosecurity.

Full details can be found on the page opposite. The opening date for submitting applications is Wednesday 17 June according to the Animal Health Ireland website.