2019 Better Farm Beef Challenge NI Autumn Walks

September 12, 2019

The Better Farm Beef Challenge NI programme recently held two events on the farms of programme participants Barry Carty, at Garrison Co Fermanagh and Paul and Thomas Jamison at Dromore Co Down.  The programme is a joint initiative with CAFRE, ABP Food Group NI and the Irish Farmers Journal has ten farmer participants from across N Ireland which are used to highlight technologies and practices which are helping them improve their profitability. Over two hundred farmers attended these two recent events.

Paul Jamison

At the event in County Down, Paul Jamison explained how he has been able to increase farm stocking rate and output by introducing a paddock grazing system.  He stated that his farm stocking rate has increased from 1.40 Cow Equivalents per hectare (CE/ha) in 2016 to 1.78 CE/Ha in 2018, with plans to further increase this to 2.6 CE/ha in the next two years. This focus on good grassland management means Paul is on course to grow over 10 tonnes of dry matter per hectare over his grazing platform in 2019.

Darryl Boyd Better Farm Beef Challenge NI programme adviser addresses the crowd with host farmer Paul Jamison at Dromore, Co Down

Paul and Thomas operate an intensive bull beef system. Male calves born in spring 2018 and slaughtered in early summer 2019 achieved an average daily carcass gain from birth of 0.86 Kg per day resulting in an average carcase weight of 397 Kg, and average grade classification U+ 2=. Paul highlighted the breeding policies on the farm with Aberdeen Angus and Stabiliser genetics being introduced to cross with mainly Limousin bred cows to improve hybrid vigour.  Paul explained how reducing his calving index from 389 days in 2018 and compacting his calving spread from 16 weeks to 12 will be highly beneficial to gain better feeding efficiencies in the bull beef system.  The farm has recently invested in modern handling facilities and Paul outlined how stock can now be handled in a safer environment with a much faster throughput.

Darryl Boyd Better Farm Beef Challenge NI programme adviser addresses the crowd with host farmer Barry Carty at Garrison, Co Fermanagh

Barry Carty

In Fermanagh, farmers who attended the event at Barry Carty’s farm saw and heard how Barry is focusing on producing high quality calves with excellent carcass traits from his 60 cow suckler herd. These calves are in good demand at local livestock marts as weanlings or year-olds. Due to heavy clay soils and multiple land blocks Barry explained how he has split his calving periods. Forty cows calf in 8 weeks during August and September with a further twenty calving during January and February. Barry used elite Charolais genetics through DIY Artificial Insemination. Conception rates of 70% to first service was achieved in 2019.  Replacement breeding stock are purchased locally.  Barry highlighted how he is increasing output by carrying offspring to heavier weights, tightening the calving period and harvesting excellent quality silage (74 D-value).  Winter born 2018 steers had an average sale weight of 446 Kg at 13.5 months grossing £1,024 per head. Performance of winter 2019 steers has ensured that Barry’s winter calving cows weaned 48% of their weight at 200 days.  Farmers also heard from Phelim Connolly, CAFRE agri-environment adviser about how the Environmental Farming Scheme can be used to improve environmental sustainability whilst also aid good farm management practices.  The event concluded with Barry outlining the main features of a newly constructed cattle shed to winter forty of his cows and calves.  Design of this shed with particular emphasis on ventilation was discussed. Barry also highlighting how the design has facilitated restricted suckling leading to earlier onset of heats.