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The beef trade remains buoyant with prices continuing to exceed 400p/kg for U grading animals and there are signs that the market will remain robust into the autumn.
That may encourage more farmers to finish forward stores off grass over the coming weeks.
However, making a margin from finishing cattle at grass relies on more than just a strong beef price, so it is worthwhile completing a simple budget to help inform the decision.
Cattle type
In general, heifers will suit grass finishing better than steers, and traditional beef breeds are easier finished than late maturing continental breeds.
However, with the right management continental steers can also be properly finished off grass this autumn.
Weight range
As of this weekend, there are just over 40 days until the start of October and 70 days until the end of the same month.
On good quality swards and high levels of concentrate supplementation, good quality steers are capable of gaining 1kg to 1.2kg of liveweight/day.
Heifers are more likely to gain 0.9kg to 1.1kg/day.
Therefore, by late August, if cattle are going to be finished before the end of October they should be no more than 50kg to 70kg below their target finishing weight.
For traditional beef breeds, heifers should weigh at least 520kg with steers weighing above 550kg. For continental breeds, heifers should weigh at least 580kg, with steers exceeding 600kg.
Kill-out will be lower in grass finished animals, so factor this into your target finishing weight and consequently, the starting weight.
Grass supply
From mid-September onwards, there will be a noticeable slowing in grass growth. Grass quality and dry matter will also decline as autumn progresses, meaning supplementation rates must increase to maintain weight gain.
Meal feeding
When finishing cattle, the most important part of the diet is energy. There will be adequate protein in grazed grass.
Rolled barley will often suffice, possibly mixed with a product like soya hulls to provide additional rumen fibre to aid digestion.
Maize meal will increase energy and starch levels, and help get late-maturing breed animals to the correct fat cover.
Limit meal feeding to six weeks for heifers and eight weeks for steers. Start heifers off on 2kg/day and increase to 3kg/head after two weeks.
For heifers with traditional breeding, 3kg/day should suffice on good grass. If grass is in short supply, up to 4kg/day can be fed during the final fortnight before slaughter.
For continental heifers, feed up to 4kg/day if grass supply is adequate or 5kg/day if grazing is scarce.
For steers, start on 3kg/day and build to 5kg/day during the final fortnight for traditional breeds. For continental steers, start on 4kg/day and build to 6kg/day for the final three weeks.
When feeding more than 3kg/head of concentrate, always split meal across two allocations to avoid acidosis.
Cattle value
Finally, consider the starting value of forward stores before committing to grass finishing.
Good quality forward stores around 550kg to 650kg are making 240p to 260p/kg in local marts.
Taking a 630kg steer with U grade conformation at a conservative 240p/kg, the animal is worth £1,515 if sold now.
Assuming a 50-day finishing period, during which the animal eats an average 5kg/day of barley costing £230/t, meal costs come to £57.50.
Factoring in a grazing cost of £14/head to cover a final bag/acre of fertiliser, the animal needs a breakeven price of £1,587.
At a kill-out of 56% on a slaughter weight of 680kg, carcase weight is 381kg, which converts to a breakeven price of 416p/kg before factoring in a profit margin.
Given the strength of the mart trade, and current input costs, consider carefully the economics of grass finishing, particularly of those higher-conformation cattle that are attractive to buyers around a ring.
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