Striving for greater efficiency should be an ongoing focus for producers, but in times of market fluctuation and rising costs, small improvements are vital for safeguarding farm businesses for the future.
According to a recent Harbro report, looking at the different stages of the production cycle helps pinpoint specific areas that can be streamlined, and this typically starts when animals are young. Young calves and lambs have an inbuilt feed efficiency which must be maximised to reduce costs of production and improve efficiency.
The Aberdeenshire-based feed and nutritionist company, claims creep feeding is an important first step to take advantage of the inbuilt efficiency of young animals and reduce overall days to slaughter. As soon as lambs and calves start to grow, feed efficiency begins to reduce as a bigger body results in higher maintenance requirements.
Creep feeding, they say should be offered as early as is practically possible and continue throughout the summer. Creep feeding is also an extremely good way to reduce the stress and impact of weaning, as the diet only has milk removed, rather than a complete overhaul. A growth check at weaning will have a negative effect on meat quality, as well as the performance and profitability of effected animals.
Ian Richardson at Upper Samieston Farm in Jedburgh is a firm believer in the benefits of creep feeding and gives his calves Harbro Beefstock nuts over the summer months.
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When Ian originally switched from a blend onto Beefstock a few years ago, he was initially worried that the calves were eating less and called Murray Smith, his Harbro specialist to check they were performing OK.
Murray commented: “Beefstock is an energy dense nut which gives calves high levels of energy in every bite. Compared to the blend that was fed before, Ian was concerned that the calves were eating less as it was obvious that he wasn’t having to fill the hoppers as much. This is due to RumiTech which improves feed efficiency. As well as eating less, the calves have looked extremely content since moving onto the feed and have always performed and sold well.
Ian said: “The calves have performed really well on Beefstock nuts – we’ve had some fantastic results since we introduced the nut, including a champion and reserve awards at St Boswells for our bullock calves last winter, which both sold for £1000 per head plus at under six months of age. The other benefit which has been quite noticeable is the reduction in management time as we’ve not had to fill the hoppers as often."
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