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In-spec bonus payments: Farmers should familiarise themselves with the in-spec bonus payment structure. The new categories and payment bands have been in place for 12 months but some people find they still take getting used to. Grass cattle are coming fit so it is important to be familiar with the different bands.
There is a €0.20/kg in-spec payment on steers and heifers under 30 months grading from O= to U+ on conformation and from a 2+ to 4= coming from a quality-assured farm, with a final 60-day residency period and a maximum of four farm residencies. The animal must have a total residency period of 70 days on a quality-assured farm, so the previous farm must also have been quality-assured. Steers and heifers under 30 months and grading O- or 4+ and meeting other in-spec criteria attract a payment of €0.12 /kg. Steers and heifers from 30 to 36 months old grading at least an O- and a fat score between 2+ and 4+ attract a payment of €0.08/kg provided all other in-spec criteria are met. It’s important to remember there are no weight limits attached to in-spec bonuses.
First-calving heifers: First-calved cows or heifers which have calved at 24 months need preferential treatment around this time of year as they are still growing animals. They should be weaned first to allow them regain some condition before housing. Trying to put on condition indoors will cost more and calving problems can occur where you do this too close to calving. Where these heifers have a condition score of less than 2, they should get 2-3kg/head/day of concentrates and good-quality grass to allow them pick up before housing.
Pregnant heifers: Make sure early spring-born bull and heifer calves have been split up to avoid any unwanted pregnancies in very young heifers. If in doubt, call in a scanning operator but remember they will only be able to pick up pregnancies from 28-30 days. It’s a big worry for heifer buyers and every year there are problems with heifers having to be returned along with an argument over price for feeding etc.
Winter-finishing webinar: The Irish Farmers Journal livestock team will broadcast a live webinar next Wednesday night on winter finishing. The team will debate the future of winter finishing animals in Ireland. Declan Marren will look at feeding regimes, including ration makeup, silage quality and health programmes to make sure you hit high animal performance. I’ll take a look at the numbers being finished, different budgets and the finances of each system and what can be tweaked along the way to make things work. Phelim O’Neill looks at the implications of Brexit on winter beef finishers and why this autumn’s purchases may be hardest hit. While everybody’s costs will be different, the budget template is a good starting point to work off. Farmers who wish to participate on the night must register at www.farmersjournal.ie/winterfinishing. Alternatively, you can email questions you want answered to awoods@farmersjournal.ie
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