Profit - finishing cattle
Profit from better beef breeding - when finishing cattle
Producing what the market requires as efficiently as possible is commercial reality for all beef producers. The quality of the bull used on the farm is one of the major factors, which will determine the economic viability of a beef producers business, especially at today’s prices. Tools are now available which can aid in bull selection. These are based on actual measurements as discussed in previous articles.
The Estimated Breeding Values (EBV’s) in relation to growth and carcase quality are given in Table 1. These are determined by the animal’s own performance and also the performance of it’s relatives. To maximise financial gain it would be best to select bulls with a mixture of positive and negative trait values, as highlighted.
Table 1 The EBV’s associated with cattle performance and carcase quality.
| EBV | Unit of measurement | A positive figure indicates | A negative figure indicates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 200 day growth | kg | faster growing calves | slower growing calves |
| 400 day growth | kg | faster growing calves | slower growing calves |
| muscling score | points based on 1 - 15 scale | greater muscling | poorer muscling |
| muscle depth | mm | greater muscling | poorer muscling |
| fat depth | mm | fatter carcase | leaner carcase |
Each EBV has an associated accuracy value expressed as a percentage point ranging from 1 to 100. The greater the value the more accurate the EBV.
To simplify selection decisions these values have been combined into a multi-trait selection index, known as the Beef Value Index.
The Beef Value Index
This is an overall assessment of the economic value of an animal’s ability to produce a carcase demanded by the market in terms of weight, conformation and fat class. It is influenced most by 200 day growth, 400 day growth, muscle score, fat depth and muscle depth. The beef value index is also presented as a cash value per head, representative of the bull’s genetic ability and must be halved, as the bull passes on half his genes to the next generation. For example a bull with a Beef value of +24 is expected to produce calves, which will produce an extra £12 income/head, compared to a bull with a Beef Value of 0. Again positive values mean increased profits.
Selecting for profit
Compare two bulls. Bull A carries superior genetics for both calving value and beef value when compared with bull B.
| Bull A | Bull B | |
|---|---|---|
| Beef Value | +24 | +2 |
| Increased return/calf (£) | 12 | 1 |
| Number of calves sired per annum | 50 | 50 |
| Difference in return/annum (£) | 600 | 50 |
| Difference in return/bull (£) (assuming a bull produces 5 crops of calves |
3000 | 250 |
Bull A generates an extra £2750 income as compared to bull B and with increased selection by pedigree breeders the financial rewards will increase. At Greenmount College the average Beef Value for the stock bulls is 24. Therefore in terms of the financial value of the carcase each calf sired by these bulls will on average generate an extra £12.00 profit compared with calves from a bull with a beef value of 0.
So the simple message is:
££ Increase returns by selecting good looking bulls with the right figures ££