what’s an extensive suckler
cow in uplands 20-30 months, two periods of housing
semi intensive
12-20 months, housed or (stored) period in winter
hosted intensive finishing systems
12-15 months cereal barley, rearing phase often followed by housing phase
how much of uk beef is sourced from dairy herds
52%
what percentage of uk beef is from prime cattle
80%, 19% from cull cows
benefits of spring calving
more grass matches lactation curve, weather, control nutrition pre calving, good supervistion, cows turned out ASAP, improved cow condition at bulling, low winter feed costs, suits out wintering, grass growth matches lactation
disadvantages of spring calving
Abort in winter weather, lambing and calving cross, risk of calve pneumonia, fertility sensitive to summer grass, small calf for autumn suckled
advantages of autumn calving
outdoor calving, full control of feeding during mating, facilitates use of AI heavier calf, calves easily finished out of yards
disadvantages of autumn calving
higher winter feed and bedding costs (as cows are lactating indoors) and increased labor for calf management
what age are suckler calves removed
7-10 months
choice of bull
Estimated breeding value EBV, majority of suckler herds use continental bulls as the terminal sire and an easy calving bull on heifers.
common beef cattle health issues
Mineral deficiency
Internal external parasite infection
Pneumonia
Acidosis
Fluke
cattle from a suckler system
to have at least 75% beef genetics. Spring and autumn born calves
Range of breeds
Crossbreeds
Careful management of finishing systems essential
cattle from a dairy farm
Year round supply
Weaker in pure dairy calves suited to rapid growth
what is estimated breeding value EBV
breeding potential
Traits that directly affect meat quality and yield -
Carcass weight, fat class, days to slaughter, average daiky carcass gain.
Maternal traits
Intramuscular fat, birth weight, gestation length, milk production, calving ease.
