Three years ago, Michael Flynn introduced a calf-to-beef enterprise alongside the family’s 80-cow suckler-to-beef herd in Tipperary.

A small number of Hereford calves were purchased to see if the two systems could operate successfully side by side and increase farm output.

The calf-to-beef enterprise has been an excellent fit for the farm. The farm’s soil type and the potential for a long grazing season, along with a strong emphasis on maximising liveweight gain from grazed grass, has been the foundation for the positive start. 2012 dairy-bred male calves were slaughtered last November and December at 21 to 22 months of age, achieving an excellent average carcase weight range of 350kg to 370kg.

Rising numbers

Positive performance in the initial batch of calves saw the number of calves purchased in 2013 rise to 46.

The increase was at the expense of a portion of the suckler herd, with suckler cow numbers falling from 75 cows back to 50.

Michael explains that the decision to reduce suckler numbers was made easier by two difficult years. “2012 was a very difficult, high-cost year. Even on good ground, it was hard to retain sucklers outdoors in the second half of the year. This wasn’t helped by the late spring last year and another period of particularly high costs. We decided to cut numbers back a bit to try and control costs and see if the dairy calves could be brought to beef with fewer inputs required.”

Calf numbers have increased to 80 this year, although this was not the initial plan. “I was planning on staying at about 50 calves to see how they would work alongside 50 sucklers and the followers. I applied for the Hereford Prime competition; I was very lucky to win it and then found myself with an extra 30 calves (15 purchased and 15 received for free).

‘‘I suppose we are at a bit of a crossroads now as to what we will do next. We will retain the same number of cows for now and see how we can manage them with the extra calves. In the longer term, I think there will need to be a good suckler cow payment to justify keeping all the cows over the extra calves.”

Low-cost system

The greatest reason why the calf enterprise is working successfully is the potential for a long grazing season and the ability to get cattle finished without a second winter indoors.

Michael admits that while the system has achieved positive performances to date, it hasn’t been tested with the higher numbers. One aspect that is evident in getting cattle finished off grass and achieving higher carcase weights is purchasing January and February-born calves with good conformation.

“The older calves get the most from grass in the first year and it makes a big difference to have a strong weanling entering the shed. Stronger calves will perform well on silage and 1kg to 2kg of meal and will be great stores going to grass as yearlings.”

2013-born calves weighed 322kg, on average, on 3 December. They were offered good quality ad-lib silage and 2kg concentrates over the winter with a target weight gain of 0.6kg to 0.7kg per day. They were released to grass in the first week of March. This was a particularly good spring to get cattle out early but getting priority stock out early has always been a focus on the farm. The target in a normal year is to get spring-born bulls from the suckler herd to grass before the middle of March.

Yearling cattle were weighed on 18 April and averaged 408kg.

The aim is to gain over 1kg per head per day of grass and have cattle weighing, on average, 530kg liveweight on 1 September (2012-born calves weighed 532kg on 3 September).

At this stage, concentrates will be introduced, starting at 2kg to 3kg per head per day and rising to 5kg as cattle are drafted off grass in November and December. Animals will be drafted as they come fit with a target to exceed 350kg carcase weight.

Michael is a big advocate of regular weight-recording, explaining that accurately knowing the weight of cattle allows progress to be monitored. It also identifies any issues and allows his plans to be tweaked, if necessary.

There is a strong emphasis on keeping top-quality grass ahead of stock with a rotational grazing system and temporary paddock divisions used to manage grass.

A percentage of the farm is reseeded every year and Michael believes this is key in achieving high daily liveweight gains. “Good grass is serious stuff. There is a cost to reseeding but the benefits are clear to be seen in improved growth in spring and autumn and higher animal performance. At the end of the day, grass is the cheapest feed source that I have.”

An area of 22 acres is currently being reseeded. This ground is one of the driest areas on the farm and was in kale over the winter. I had planned to reseed it earlier with a perennial ryegrass-based seed mixture but this was delayed due to dry weather in recent weeks. Once established, it will be split into temporary divisions and used to graze the 80 calves for the summer.

Calf selection and rearing

Great emphasis is placed on calf selection and achieving high levels of performance during the rearing stage so that calves hit the ground running once weaned and turned out to grass.

There is a preference to source calves in batches direct from farms to reduce the risk of a disease outbreak and also to establish background breeding. This is more difficult to achieve in January due to lower numbers of Hereford calves born.

The target is to purchase healthy calves weighing at least 50kg, and with good length that should hopefully be capable of delivering an O=/+ or better carcase conformation. This year’s calves have ranged in age from three to five weeks coming onto the farm. Once calves arrive, they receive electrolytes and no milk for the first day. They are then transferred onto twice-a-day feeding totalling about four litres of milk per day.

The first two batches of calves purchased this year received whole milk sourced from a local dairy farmer. Calves are also offered fresh concentrates in pellet form daily to promote increased daily intake.

They are weaned at about 10 weeks of age provided they are eating sufficient concentrates.

Maintaining high levels of hygiene and routine is seen as central to preventing any health issues. “My wife, Kathleen, looks after all the calves during rearing so they get close attention and are well looked after. The importance of watching calves during feeding and ensuring all are drinking – or any calves that are not themselves are picked up quickly – is huge. I don’t think I’d have the patience, or the time. My son, Paul, is also doing an agricultural course and is interested in the farm and is a massive help,’’ Michael said. Health treatments are administered for coccidiosis and blackleg.

To date, calves have been supplemented with a kilo of concentrates during the grazing season. However, Michael is questioning if he will continue it this summer, especially with reseeding ground available.

“I don’t mind feeding the meal as it’s important to keep them moving. I’m just not sure if they need it during the summer and if I am getting a return for the €60 or €70 it costs. I think, this year, I’ll feed until June and then cut it for June, July and August provided weather stays good. There is definitely a payback from it when grass quality starts to decline and maybe I can feed a small batch for the year to see if there is any difference.”

Performance monitoring

As part of the Irish Hereford Prime calf-to-beef competition (run with support from ICBF and ABP), the 30 2014-born calves will be monitored regularly throughout the production cycle. Regular weight monitoring will be carried out with updates available. The economics of the system will also be monitored throughout the production cycle. The nature of the farm gives it a big advantage in terms of reducing costs and optimising liveweight gain from grazed grass. It will be interesting to see and follow how the system copes with the higher number of calves in 2014/15.

  • Performance is strengthened by the potential for a long grazing season and eliminating a winter finishing period.
  • Regular reseeding and maintaining good quality grass is delivering a significant payback on investment.
  • Calf age and qua lity is critical to allow calves to be finished at 21 to 22 months of age.
  • Close attention and a good start during the rearing phase is beneficial.
  • Michael and Kathleen Flynn and family Michael, Mark, Alan and Paul farm in Puckane, Nenagh, Co Tipperary. Stock numbers in 2014 are a 50-cow suckler herd and their followers along with 80 Hereford calves and 47 yearling Hereford bullocks.