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Land is the biggest resource on any farm and maximising output per hectare farmed is what drives farm profit.
David McKinstry farms 60 suckler cows on a part-time basis with his father Kenneth and brothers Stephen and Jonny.
Off-farm employment and family commitments have seen the farm system changing over the past two years.
The focus of the business is now firmly on maximising farm output, by streamlining the system to be as efficient as possible.
Key to this is adopting as many new technologies as possible, as well as attention to detail and hard work.
Efficiency gains
In recent years, changes to farm management include measuring grass growth on a weekly basis for the NI GrassCheck programme, with individual paddock performance recorded online and analysed regularly.
Fertiliser applications are now targeted to individual field requirements based on soil analysis
Under-performing paddocks are marked for reseeding and over the past four years, 50% of the farm has been sown out in new grass.
Cattle are grazed in a rotational paddock system, increasing grass utilisation. Fertiliser applications are now targeted to individual field requirements based on soil analysis, with 120t of lime spread across 60ac in 2019.
The net result has been an increase in grass yields, with production now sitting at just over 12t DM/ha last year with individual fields yielding 14t.
David has signed up to a new project with Queens University Belfast looking at anthelmintic resistance to cattle worm and fluke treatments
Other improvements include regularly weighing of cattle, use of AI for breeding on heifers and a selection of autumn cows, improving animal health and learning from other farmers in their local discussion group and at industry events.
This year, David has signed up to a new project with Queens University Belfast looking at anthelmintic resistance to cattle worm and fluke treatments on the farm.
Increased stocking rate
To make best use of the additional forage grown on farm, there has been a significant increase in stocking rates.
A further 25 store cattle were bought over winter
But rather than increasing the suckler herd, farm output is being maximised by purchasing around 25 dairy calves annually, which are then taken through to beef.
In addition, a further 25 store cattle were bought over winter. These animals will go to grass this spring, and depending on performance and market prices, will most likely be finished in autumn.
Suckler herd changes
Alongside establishing the new dairy calf-to-beef enterprise, the suckler herd has been reduced gradually from 70 cows, through harder culling of older and under-performing animals.
The move to Angus was geared towards being able to finish cattle off grass or silage, with lower concentrate inputs
The herd is split between autumn and spring calving to make the best use of housing facilities, with 25 cows calving in August and September and the remaining 35 cows calving during March and April.
Cows are bred to an Angus stock bull, with previous bulls including Simental, Limousin and Angus sires.
The availability of the bonus premiums under the breed scheme also made the Angus a more attractive option
The move to Angus was geared towards being able to finish cattle off grass or silage, with lower concentrate inputs.
The availability of the bonus premiums under the breed scheme also made the Angus a more attractive option in terms of maximising farm profit. Angus steers are currently finished through ABP under a local beef producer group through Hutchinson Feeds.
Preparing for calving
Spring-calving cows were wintered on silage only until early January, at which point straw and dry cow minerals were introduced.
All cows are covered with high-iodine boluses and vaccinated for scour. As a practising vet, David is conscious of keeping on top of animal health throughout the year
Cows are moved to individual pens as they calve. With a compact calving period, the calving pen sees plenty of action.
When calving starts, pens are cleaned out daily
To keep on top of hygiene, the calving shed is powerhosed and washed down using Kenosan detergent and Kenocox distinfectant, applied with a foaming lance prior to the onset of calving.
When calving starts, pens are cleaned out daily. Hydrated lime is applied after every use, before fresh straw is applied.
Turnout to grass is usually around late April, weather depending
Once cows and calves have bonded, they are moved back on to rubber slats and calves are given access to a straw-bedded creep area.
Cows are fed 1kg/day of concentrate along with high-quality silage post-calving. Turnout to grass is usually around late April, weather depending.
Dairy-bred beef
The dairy calf-to-beef enterprise was established back in October 2018, with a second batch of calves purchased last April and another batch due to arrive this April.
Calves are purchased at around 14 weeks of age and a minimum of 120kg liveweight through ABP’s Blade Farm supply chain.
Dairy-bred Angus steers typically achieve R- and O conformation
This means dairy calves come off a specialist rearing unit, having followed a proper rearing programme on milk, are vaccinated against respiratory diseases and have a guaranteed market.
Dairy-bred Angus steers typically achieve R- and O conformation, with carcase weights of 320kg to 340kg by 20 to 22 months of age.
“We saw the dairy beef system as a good alternative to run alongside the suckler herd. It spreads farm income and the lighter calves can make greater use of land over the grazing season,” said David.
“Farm output has increased on the same area of land. Calves come on to the farm in batches of 25, are easily managed and it doesn’t take much land to graze them in their first year”.
We can graze two to three dairy-bred bullocks where we were grazing one cow and calf unit
Heifer calves bought in April 2019 are going back to grass this year at around 420kg, with bullocks approximately 480kg. They will graze until August, then come inside and finish by October, just in time for the spring herd to be housed.
“We can graze two to three dairy-bred bullocks where we were grazing one cow and calf unit, yet we have more kilograms of beef to sell. But we still like the cows and its nice when you breed the odd good one,” said Kenneth.
Balance
“Ultimately, we are focused on getting the basics right inside the farm gate. The current system makes the most of our resources in terms of labour, housing and land.
“There is a good balance between the suckler herd, stores and the dairy calf-to-beef system and we are able to sell more kilograms of liveweight per hectare farmed, which is driving farm output and helps us achieve our aims. Change is not necessarily a bad thing and we are doing it gradually,” said David.
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