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Teagasc’s eProfit Monitor and programmes such as the Teagasc/Irish Farmers Journal BETTER farm beef programme have consistently shown that bull beef systems are the most profitable on suckler beef farms.
The bulls’ increased capacity for growth versus a steer leads to increased performance on an individual animal basis, while the fact that animals typically reach slaughter targets prior to a second winter frees up winter accommodation space, allowing farmers to keep higher stocking rates.
Output drives profit and stocking rate is the main driver of output.
Significant concentrate
However, the current blueprint for a suckler bull beef system involves significant concentrate input prior to slaughter, in order to lay down sufficient carcase fat.
While these concentrates input are cost-effective if the system is run right, they involve significant outlays of cash.
Furthermore, the fact that they are generally fed indoors is not in keeping with Ireland’s image of a grass-fed beef producing nation.
Maturity
A 2015 trial at Teagasc Grange investigated the potential for producing bull beef at grass using Aberdeen Angus bulls, out of suckler cows. These animals are earlier-maturing than more common continental-breed suckler bulls.
This means that they begin to fatten at a lighter weight.
Trials prior to this one had failed to achieve enough carcase fatness when grazing continental-breed bulls. The 2015 trial was designed on the basis that the Angus cattle would fatten easier than the continental breeds and achieve the minimum carcase fat score required of 2+.
The trial
Three groups of 20 bulls were turned out to grass on 7 April. All bulls were spring 2014-born. One group went straight on to 3.75kg of a simple barley-based concentrate for an under 16-month finish after 63 days.
The other two groups were finished at 19 months of age, one being finished on grass only and the other receiving 3.75kg of meal daily, introduced after 96 days on grass. The 19-month-old bulls were slaughtered after 193 days.
Rotationally grazed
Cattle were rotationally grazed at 6.5 bulls/ha and moved every three days on average. Animals on the concentrate had their paddock sizes restricted so that grass feeding value and residency period would be consistent across all groups.
Carcase specifications
The trial results are presented in Table 1.
The bulls slaughtered after 63 days were to test whether specification for the under 16-month bull system could be met from pasture.
Target carcase weight and fatness for this system are 280kg and 2+, respectively.
This carcase weight target was not met and because the under 16-month group only averaged 2+. There was a significant number of animals out of spec.
In the 19-month group, there was an excellent response to meal (0.36kg liveweight daily). Similar to the 15-month-old group, the grass-only group only averaged a 2+ fat class.
However, the supplemented group achieved an average fat class of 3- and a very respectable carcase weight of 368kg.
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