The long-term trend of schedule movements showed that a 295kg carcaseweight (CW) bull even slaughtered in December would generate $100 or 8.5% more than one at the same weight in April, AgFirst consultant Gareth Baynham said.
Three Northland farms studied for the Finished by 20 Months project have achieved mob liveweight (LW) averages of 540kg and better at 16 months of age.
They did so by maintaining liveweight growth rates above 1kg a day from weaning to slaughter.
The project facilitator and Baynham’s colleague, Chris Boom, reported on the salient features of the three farms:
- Flat to easy contour and good-quality pastures
- Good weaning weights – better than 240kg LW at six months
- Every day must be a cattle growing day
- Winter and spring are critical – don’t rely on fickle summers
- Maintain pasture quality with other stock classes or mowing-mulching
- Good soil fertility and good clover content
- Lower stocking rates – around two bulls/ha, and
- Programmed animal health treatments to minimise disease.
