Patrick Grennan Co Wexford

The farm stocking rate increased in 2014 to 2.42LU/ha up from 2.19LU/ha in 2013. Output of beef increased by 16% which totals 938kg liveweight/ha as there were more sales due to stock numbers increasing. Ten extra bulls, six extra heifers and two extra cull cows were killed than in 2013. Total gross output increased from €1,989 in 2013 to €2,127 in 2014. However, the gross margin decreased from €1,234/ha to €1,035/ha. This is mainly due to the higher beef price paid for the under 16 month bulls in 2013 than 2014. The value of beef produced in 2013 was €2.54/kg liveweight whereas in 2014 it dropped to €2.27/kg. The extra bulls killed helped supplement the lower beef price, but the beef output didn’t reach its full potential due to the specification limits on young bulls. The bulls were killed on average at 474 days at 409kg carcase weight in 2013 whereas they were killed younger at 463 days and lighter at 381kg carcase weight in 2014. Variable costs increased significantly from 2013 as feed costs increased to €329/ha due to the extra finishing animals. Veterinary costs also increased as the calves had scour problems last spring and I am using more preventative vaccines.

Cathal Crean Co Wexford

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I have put extra tillage land back into grassland in the last two years and therefore my stocking has reduced to 1.91LU/ha from 2.51LU/ha in 2012. However, I am planning on increasing the stocking rate to maximise my production and profitability from this extra grassland. Although my cattle sales increased in 2014, my gross output reduced to €1,484/ha from €1,622/ha last year because I purchased extra store bulls last autumn to finish with my own cattle and increase my farm output for this year. I also need to continue building my suckler herd as numbers have dropped off slightly due a higher culling rate in 2013. My production costs have risen from €572/ha in 2013 to €591/ha in 2014. The main increase has come from spreading more lime and 10-10-20 compound fertilizer and reseeding costs where they have risen from €141/ha in 2013 to €214 in 2014. My feed costs have reduced from €241/ha in 2013 to €219/ha in 2014. My gross output was not high enough to dilute my production costs in 2014 and my gross margin is back to €893/ha but I should be back on target next year when I have the extra sales to lift my output.

Pat O’Reilly Co Clare

I have had a reasonable year profitability wise. I achieved €1,083/ha gross margin on the cattle side of my farm, an increase of almost €300/ha on 2013 which admittedly was a bad year for me due to poor weather increasing my ration bill and a TB outbreak which restricted my buying and selling. I have resumed my old policy of selling top-quality export calves live at 400kg in the local mart and purchasing in O grade steers and heifers for finishing. I find this policy works well once suitable stock can be sourced at reasonable prices. Despite price drops, I found cattle thrived better, came in off grass heavier and consumed less ration in the final finishing period. My farm grew grass very well this year and I aim to improve on this over the next 10 months. My sheep enterprise which I started last year will contribute to a higher overall gross margin on the farm and is helping sward quality significantly. I have maintained cow numbers at 120 between autumn and spring as I feel this is enough for a one-man operation. My silage quality improved also this year with my first-cut results showing 74DMD. I aim to repeat this in 2015 by closing up early and cutting around 15 May.

James Kenneally Co Cork

My gross margin was more or less maintained this year at €1,022/ha. I have had two TB outbreaks on my farm which resulted in a substantial number of cows and yearlings being slaughtered but once I got clear on my first retest I began to purchase stock for finishing to maintain output. This resulted in a stocking rate increase to 2.89LU/ha which was one of the highest in the programme. Considering all that went on between TB, low finished cattle prices and high store and weanling prices, I am happy with the result. Next year, with hopefully higher beef prices and slightly better fortune regarding TB, I hope to exceed this target again. I will rebuild my cow numbers back up to 60 and continue to purchase in weanling heifers and steers to finish.

I managed to make top-quality silage with my first cut coming in at 71DMD. I aim to exceed that this year and turn stock out earlier. As this is predominantly a dry farm with good P, K and lime levels and a lot of reseeding carried out, I feel I can push the stocking rate to 3LU/ha without any major problem.

Mark Maxwell Co Westmeath

Although I didn’t hit the €1,000/ha mark in 2014, I feel I am well-placed to drive on and exceed it in 2015. I finished up with a gross margin of €899/ha and I have shown a steady increase each year since I joined the programme. I can now see a steady increase in my margins in direct correlation with output in terms of kg liveweight/ha. I have built up numbers slowly and am coming close to reaching my target of 120 cows with all stock finished as 24-month steers and heifers. This year I may examine the option of buying calves to finish, driving output up further. My grassland management showed its value this year in maintaining sward quality and deciding when to take out paddocks for bales or spreading extra fertilizer. I am also making better use of slurry and have a much earlier turnout date in my mind than in previous years. I aim to turn stock out from early February each year once land is dry from now on. Closing up following an autumn rotation planner ensures I have a bank of grass available each spring to get young stock out. Extra paddocks have also being installed to improve utilisation and extra water troughs have bee installed also.

Sean Power Co Kilkenny

I slaughtered 337 heifers in 2014, 97 more than in 2013. I also purchased 369 heifers, 37 more than in 2013. My stocking rate increased from 2.36LU/ha in 2013 to 2.45LU/ha in 2014 and beef output has increased from 702kg liveweight/ha to 774kg liveweight/ha in the same period. My gross output value has also increased from €1,768 to €1,946 and the extra sales are driving this. However, my gross margin is back 3% to €739/ha from €762/ha in 2013. Despite the extra output generated, my production costs have increased to 62% of gross output value. I would like to get this back to 50%. My variable costs increased from €1,006/ha in 2013 to €1,207/ha in 2014, mainly due to feed costs increasing from €570/ha to €734/ha. I did incur extra feed costs last spring when I couldn’t get heifers killed when they were ready for slaughter. I will try to buy heavier cattle with a shorter finishing period and get more cattle finished off grass and concentrate on improving my silage quality. However, my overall farm gross margin with the sheep and cattle enterprise combined has increased to €967/ha in 2014 from €793/ha in 2013.

Patrick Drohan Co Waterford

Since joining the programme, my gross margin has increased from €202/ha in 2011 to €574/ha in 2014. The main reason for this increase has been increasing the cow numbers and producing extra stock for sale. Initially, the farm stocking rate was relatively low at 1.22LU/ha and is now 1.84LU/ha. My output of beef produced has increased from 295kg liveweight/ha in 2011 to 632kg liveweight/ha in 2014. Indeed, gross output value has nearly doubled during this period rising from €650/ha in 2011 to €1,201/ha in 2014. As expected, my production costs have also increased over time due to the increasing intensity of the system. In 2014 my total production costs were €627/ha and mainly comprised fertilizer and lime at €240/ha, contractor at €129/ha, feed at €82/ha and veterinary at €84/ha. I am investing in the farm by reseeding and improving soil fertility which is an added cost for the short term. However, the extra output has given me more scope to invest in the farm as my variable costs have been diluted from 69% of total gross output to 52% of the gross output.

Richard Williamson Co Meath

Farm gross margin has increased to €732/ha in 2014, up from €594 in 2013 which was a difficult year with high production costs. My major objective when drawing up my farm plan was to increase my suckler cow herd and stocking rate. My cow numbers have increased from 65 in 2012 to 88 in 2014, with my plan going to 100. My stocking rate has increased to 2.00LU/ha from 1.96LU/ha in 2012 and my beef output has increased from 561kg liveweight/ha to 632 kg liveweight/ha in the same period. The gross output on my Angus crossbred system is €1,335/ha, up from €1,239/ha in 2013. This year I killed all my males as steer beef under 22 months of age so my feed bill has reduced to €118/ha from €260/ha in 2013. As I plan to increase my stocking rate further and operate a steer to beef system, I will have a higher demand on grass growth. I soil tested and spread extra lime and compound fertilizers where needed. My fertilizer and lime costs have increased to €258/ha from €205/ha in 2013. My production costs are under control at 45% of my gross output value. I will have extra sales of cattle in 2015 and I hope I will be closer to the €1,000/ha gross margin target.

Donie Ahern Co Limerick

I have exceeded the target of €1,000/ha for the first time, achieving €1,215/ha in 2014. Weather made a difference, with my fertilizer bill reducing substantially from the previous year due to better grass growing conditions. I increased my output also, killing more bulls and heifers. My stocking rate on the other hand didn’t increase much as stock finished faster due to better thrive. Bulls and heifers that wouldn’t have been finished until February were killed in November and December. While my ration bill increased, the return from the extra stock killed more than exceeded the cost. For 2015 I intend to increase my output further by killing extra stock again. This will increase the stocking rate but I now have the confidence to carry it as the last few years of grass measuring have shown what my farm is capable of. This year will see more reseeding of older pastures. The return on investment from reseeding is too often overlooked – it is the fastest return on your money you can have on farm. I find that planning is an important process. In my opinion every farmer should do this at the start of each year to try and improve performance.

Charlie Crawford Co Donegal

I am building numbers in my suckler herd as I am trying to increase stocking rate and output. Stocking rate is at 1.85LU/ha and should increase to 2.06LU/ha this year as I will have more cows. Since joining the programme, huge improvements have been made on grassland management. I have realised the role good-quality grass swards have in achieving good weight for age when selling weanlings. In recent years, maternal Limousin and Simmental AI sires were used on the best-quality cows to breed suitable replacement stock, which will make a big difference this year. The sheep enterprise combines favourably with the suckler system as it increases farm output and lifts stocking rate at grass, which in turn aids the improvement of grass utilisation. Regular weighing of stock has focused my attention on achieving high daily gains from grass. My aim for the coming year is to increase output while maximising the amount of grass utilised.

Richard Jennings Co Mayo

If every year was like last year, farming would not only be profitable but enjoyable. My stocking rate has increased significantly from 2.07LU/ha in 2008 to 2.31LU/ha in 2014 combined with an increase in output value to €2,257 in 2014. Increasing farm output by using top AI bulls and good grassland management during the grazing season has been essential to improving profitability. In 2014, my variable costs reduced significantly by €375/ha which has helped reduce production costs. Variable costs account for 47% of my gross output, which I am happy with. Compact calving has been very important to me. As I am targeting the export market with Belgian Blue weanlings, it is essential that all calves are of similar age and weight for selling. It leads to a more uniform group of weanlings to sell. Sheep are also a significant component of my system and contribute to increasing output and improved grass utilisation. For the coming year, I aim to maintain gross output while monitoring variable costs.

Chris McCarthy Co Westmeath

My profit monitor results have shown a steady increase in output value since joining the programme in 2012. This progress has helped me reach my target of €1,000/ha as my gross margin is now €1,029/ha. The biggest change I have made is increasing my stocking rate to 2.33LU/ha. Output has increased by 63% over the same period. Investing in reseeding ensures cows and calves are turned out to grass early in spring, but it also extends the autumn grazing season. I have focused on reducing spending on purchased concentrates, while maintaining animal performance. Earlier weaning of the cows ensures they are housed in good condition, saving on silage costs. Fertilizer and lime costs have increased, largely due to correcting soil pH and soil P and K levels. However, the investment is paying off, with increased grass growth, yields and animal performance.

Joe Murray Co Roscommon

Variable costs were reduced on my farm by a third in 2014. The fodder crisis in 2013 led to significant increases in feed and fertilizer bills on the farm. Fortunately, good grass growth and weather conditions last year made a huge difference. Each year I focus on making top-quality silage. By carrying out reseeding on the farm over the past five years, huge improvements have been made. Grassland management is very good on the farm with a combination of a well-structured paddock system and the grass measured weekly. This year I am focusing on reducing spending on purchased concentrates, while maintaining animal performance.

David Mitchell Co Monaghan

I was happy with the 2014 profit monitor in that I have made good progress from 2013. However, we are still somewhat off where we want to be in terms of targets set out at the beginning of the programme. Our output, which has been identified as an issue for improvement as part of my farm plan, has improved from 502kg/ha in 2013 to 620kg in 2014. Our sales were good at €1,806 but our variable costs were too high at €1,032/ha and we really need to sit down and see how we can reduce these. In a 26-month steer system it is quite a slow process lifting output.

I am trying to breed my extra heifers from within the herd so when a heifer calf hits the ground on our farm it is roughly four years before we have a sale from this animal. If I was in a weanling system and purchasing extra cows this lift in sales would come much quicker. We have purchased some in-calf cows this year to try and lift output quicker. However, I will stand by my decision to breed my replacements from within the herd for animal health reasons.

William Treacy Co Louth

We are happy with our financial progress in 2014. We have exited our expansion phase now and stocking rate is probably as far as it can go at 3.0LU/Ha. We probably need to focus on reducing costs and ensuring at this high stocking rate that high concentrates in our system don’t become the norm. We lifted output per ha by another 40kg from 919kg in 2013 to 959kg in 2014. Our output was €2,099/ha and our variable costs ran at €1,022/ha. Our variable costs are running at 49% of output. Our target is to take this to 47% in 2015 while maintaining our high output. Instead of pushing for a higher and higher gross margin, I would rather build a resilient system which will consistently deliver a GM of over €1,000/ha. One way of doing this is to ensure we are the best we can be in growing and utilising grass to ensure we keep our costs low. In the next few months I intend to visit some dairy farms – not for the purpose of conversion, but instead to try and learn how I can grow more grass in 2015.

Michael Smith Co Cavan

We are very happy with our gross margin improvement in 2014. Our gross margin increased from €171/ha in 2013 to €643/ha in 2014. This was as a result of our variable costs dropping by 34% from a high of €744 in 2013 to €490 in 2014. This was mainly due to reduced feed costs – we had to purchase a lot of extra meal and forage in 2013. We also lifted output from 390kg/ha to 429kg/ha in 2014, a 10% increase.

We opted to finish some animals in 2014 and we were quite happy with the results. We will probably choose to finish more in 2015. We are also looking at some options in increasing our output. We are looking at the opportunity of purchasing some HEX or AAX to graze at grass.

Housing is quite tight and we don’t have the option of increasing cow numbers easily without building or renting extra accommodation. The purchase of these weanlings should allow me lift output at relatively low cost with all liveweight coming from grass with the plan to finish these heifers before they come back indoors next October