Des and Frank Beirne put paid to the notion that fragmentation prevents intensive, grass-based beef production. The Beirnes’ 82ha farm is split in four blocks, upon which the father and son team keep 90 suckler cows. This year just 13 cows will calve in autumn and the plan is to have the full complement calving in spring within two years.
The farm is now selling twice as much beef as it did prior to joining the programme in 2012 and gross profits have trebled.
Cows are predominantly continental-crosses and the Beirnes have two Charolais stock bulls as well as a Hereford for the heifers. All progeny is finished on farm and beef bulls are bought in for feeding to boost output.
Grazing greatness
Even before joining the BETTER farm programme, the Beirnes had begun improving their grazing infrastructure. They were already aware that if their farm was to be successful, it would be on the back of grazed grass.
The Beirnes knew that things needed pushing. Their start-off stocking rate was 1.66 LU/ha, which although above average, is well shy of what a profitable suckler farm generally needs to achieve. To carry these extra cattle they needed to ramp up grass production and utilisation.
Soil tests revealed that, like most Irish farms, the Beirnes’ land was deficient in P and K and had a low pH (lime).
“We used our slurry too sparingly back then, trying to get it out on all of the blocks and stretch its nutrients. Our intentions were good but the soil tests highlighted that our strategy was a bit flawed. Now we use all of the slurry at home and go with 18-6-12 on outfarms.”
Average field size was around eight acres and the Beirnes set about installing perimeter fences with temporary splits. Once comfortable, Des then split fields again and installed drinkers in the centre. One-acre paddocks are made using temporary reels.
Des has measured grass religiously since joining the programme and is one of the top grass managers I have encountered, anywhere.
“I target a 9cm pre-grazing grass height and a sub-4cm residual 36 hours later. Keep them moving and keep the quality under them, that’s the motto. If it gets strong it comes out as top-quality silage which forms an integral part of the finishing system.”
All a bit excessive? Think again – the Beirnes were growing an average of 5t of grass per hectare annually in 2012. Now their average is a whopping 16t across the board and 14t of this is utilised. The focus on grass has facilitated big increases in stocking rate and silage quality.
Perspective
Three facts put the Beirnes’ grass-growing abilities into perspective. Firstly, 16t DM/ha/year is Teagasc Moorepark’s target for growth – seen as ambitious by even the very best dairy farmers. Secondly, a typical Irish beef farm grows less than 9t of grass per hectare annually and utilises 5.5t of this – on every hectare of their farm the Beirnes utilise 2.5 times more grass than the average Irish beef farmer. Finally, the Beirnes are active reseeders and their most recent project was based on a paddock’s poor grass growth performance relative to the rest – it was growing (just) 11t/ha annually. The paddock in question was slow in the shoulders of the year; periods which good grass farmers target to boost production.
Bull finishing
Commercial businesses make investments based on potential returns. Farming should be no different. While we erect sheds out of necessity for winter accommodation, who’s to say we cannot push these investments to give us more when stock are out?
The Beirnes buy in 50 continental-type bulls each year. They aim to take in a 350kg to 400kg animal and send them to grass for 100 days. In 2016, bulls achieved weight gains of 1.47kg daily during their stint at grass. Given a current young bull beef price of €3.90, these bulls are depositing €3.35 worth of carcase weight daily at a grazing cost of €0.70.
At 500kg, bulls are housed for a further 110 days of intensive finishing (including a 10-day build-up). Average finishing growth rate is 2kg.
The finishing diet is offered as a TMR, and is as follows:
Rolled barley 5kg.Maize meal 3.5kg.Beet pulp nut 1.5kg.Soyabean meal 1kg.Molasses 1.3kg.Water 2kg.Straw 0.8kg.Silage (75% DMD) 5kg.Mineral, yeast, buffer, urea (<0.5kg).Here, the Beirnes are making use of two assets in their ‘off-peak’ periods –their shed and their diet feeder. The ration costs €2.70 daily and a U-grade bull achieving 2 kg of weight gain at a beef price of €3.90 is laying down €4.56 worth of carcase daily.
While the diet seems complicated, an indoor bull-finishing system can be run on a much simpler basis. For starters, a diet feeder is not necessary. Also, the grazing component makes the Beirnes’ system lucrative, but is not the deal-breaker. Many opt to skip it, buy in a 500kg bull for around €1,150 and finish him for three months. A finishing growth rate of 1.7 kg will produce a carcase worth just over €1,600. Even if feeding a high-spec commercial concentrate ad-lib, feed costs shouldn’t exceed €300 for the period. Remember to build up feed gradually over 21 days and that water, forage (straw/silage) and concentrate can never run out when feeding ad-lib.
Overcoming fragmentation
The Beirnes have taken steps to make their fragmented farm work for them, both in terms of labour efficiency and profitability.
Blanket-spread fertiliser once per month.Move to spring calving – streamlines labour during calving and winter feeding.Paddock systems on all holdings.Handling pen on all holdings.Purchased mobile crush.Most trouble-free cattle sent to furthest block.Natural breeding.Strong electric fences kept in good condition.Comment
The Beirnes strength has been attention to detail over the years. As a team they work very well together and are able to make decisions based on experience and any research available. The farm is mixed with some very good quality productive land which grows a large tonnage of grass and also a portion of heavier, more unproductive land near the Shannon which has much lower levels of production and dilutes the profitability on a per-hectare basis. The finishing system works very well for the Beirnes with Frank having been finishing bulls for many years prior to joining the programme. Cattle diets are analysed and adjusted accordingly and grassland is intensively managed, with measuring beginning in late January and continuing until late into the year.
Watch the video from the Beirne's farm here:
Des and Frank Beirne put paid to the notion that fragmentation prevents intensive, grass-based beef production. The Beirnes’ 82ha farm is split in four blocks, upon which the father and son team keep 90 suckler cows. This year just 13 cows will calve in autumn and the plan is to have the full complement calving in spring within two years.
The farm is now selling twice as much beef as it did prior to joining the programme in 2012 and gross profits have trebled.
Cows are predominantly continental-crosses and the Beirnes have two Charolais stock bulls as well as a Hereford for the heifers. All progeny is finished on farm and beef bulls are bought in for feeding to boost output.
Grazing greatness
Even before joining the BETTER farm programme, the Beirnes had begun improving their grazing infrastructure. They were already aware that if their farm was to be successful, it would be on the back of grazed grass.
The Beirnes knew that things needed pushing. Their start-off stocking rate was 1.66 LU/ha, which although above average, is well shy of what a profitable suckler farm generally needs to achieve. To carry these extra cattle they needed to ramp up grass production and utilisation.
Soil tests revealed that, like most Irish farms, the Beirnes’ land was deficient in P and K and had a low pH (lime).
“We used our slurry too sparingly back then, trying to get it out on all of the blocks and stretch its nutrients. Our intentions were good but the soil tests highlighted that our strategy was a bit flawed. Now we use all of the slurry at home and go with 18-6-12 on outfarms.”
Average field size was around eight acres and the Beirnes set about installing perimeter fences with temporary splits. Once comfortable, Des then split fields again and installed drinkers in the centre. One-acre paddocks are made using temporary reels.
Des has measured grass religiously since joining the programme and is one of the top grass managers I have encountered, anywhere.
“I target a 9cm pre-grazing grass height and a sub-4cm residual 36 hours later. Keep them moving and keep the quality under them, that’s the motto. If it gets strong it comes out as top-quality silage which forms an integral part of the finishing system.”
All a bit excessive? Think again – the Beirnes were growing an average of 5t of grass per hectare annually in 2012. Now their average is a whopping 16t across the board and 14t of this is utilised. The focus on grass has facilitated big increases in stocking rate and silage quality.
Perspective
Three facts put the Beirnes’ grass-growing abilities into perspective. Firstly, 16t DM/ha/year is Teagasc Moorepark’s target for growth – seen as ambitious by even the very best dairy farmers. Secondly, a typical Irish beef farm grows less than 9t of grass per hectare annually and utilises 5.5t of this – on every hectare of their farm the Beirnes utilise 2.5 times more grass than the average Irish beef farmer. Finally, the Beirnes are active reseeders and their most recent project was based on a paddock’s poor grass growth performance relative to the rest – it was growing (just) 11t/ha annually. The paddock in question was slow in the shoulders of the year; periods which good grass farmers target to boost production.
Bull finishing
Commercial businesses make investments based on potential returns. Farming should be no different. While we erect sheds out of necessity for winter accommodation, who’s to say we cannot push these investments to give us more when stock are out?
The Beirnes buy in 50 continental-type bulls each year. They aim to take in a 350kg to 400kg animal and send them to grass for 100 days. In 2016, bulls achieved weight gains of 1.47kg daily during their stint at grass. Given a current young bull beef price of €3.90, these bulls are depositing €3.35 worth of carcase weight daily at a grazing cost of €0.70.
At 500kg, bulls are housed for a further 110 days of intensive finishing (including a 10-day build-up). Average finishing growth rate is 2kg.
The finishing diet is offered as a TMR, and is as follows:
Rolled barley 5kg.Maize meal 3.5kg.Beet pulp nut 1.5kg.Soyabean meal 1kg.Molasses 1.3kg.Water 2kg.Straw 0.8kg.Silage (75% DMD) 5kg.Mineral, yeast, buffer, urea (<0.5kg).Here, the Beirnes are making use of two assets in their ‘off-peak’ periods –their shed and their diet feeder. The ration costs €2.70 daily and a U-grade bull achieving 2 kg of weight gain at a beef price of €3.90 is laying down €4.56 worth of carcase daily.
While the diet seems complicated, an indoor bull-finishing system can be run on a much simpler basis. For starters, a diet feeder is not necessary. Also, the grazing component makes the Beirnes’ system lucrative, but is not the deal-breaker. Many opt to skip it, buy in a 500kg bull for around €1,150 and finish him for three months. A finishing growth rate of 1.7 kg will produce a carcase worth just over €1,600. Even if feeding a high-spec commercial concentrate ad-lib, feed costs shouldn’t exceed €300 for the period. Remember to build up feed gradually over 21 days and that water, forage (straw/silage) and concentrate can never run out when feeding ad-lib.
Overcoming fragmentation
The Beirnes have taken steps to make their fragmented farm work for them, both in terms of labour efficiency and profitability.
Blanket-spread fertiliser once per month.Move to spring calving – streamlines labour during calving and winter feeding.Paddock systems on all holdings.Handling pen on all holdings.Purchased mobile crush.Most trouble-free cattle sent to furthest block.Natural breeding.Strong electric fences kept in good condition.Comment
The Beirnes strength has been attention to detail over the years. As a team they work very well together and are able to make decisions based on experience and any research available. The farm is mixed with some very good quality productive land which grows a large tonnage of grass and also a portion of heavier, more unproductive land near the Shannon which has much lower levels of production and dilutes the profitability on a per-hectare basis. The finishing system works very well for the Beirnes with Frank having been finishing bulls for many years prior to joining the programme. Cattle diets are analysed and adjusted accordingly and grassland is intensively managed, with measuring beginning in late January and continuing until late into the year.
Watch the video from the Beirne's farm here:
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