Playing catch-up with growth rates throughout winter

Improving performance of beef cattle during the winter months

The two distinct phases in Mr Thomas’ production system mean both youngstock and their dams have access to nothing other than unimproved grazing from May until November. This means he maximises their growth through winter months, building their rumen health to achieve optimum performance and averaging growth rates of 1.7kg/day during the finishing period.

He says: “Close attention to  winter nutrition is essential for our youngstock and our cows. We carry out nutrition planning with Richard Greasley, of ForFarmers, and this  involves sampling all our forages and formulating a suitable blend to complement their high forage diet. It is essential our youngstock grow well over winter and our cows are turned out in spring in really good condition.”

Pedigree British Blondes

As a breeder of pedigree British Blondes for the past 18 years, Mr Thomas routinely produces breeding bulls which he successfully exhibits at shows, winning championships and other prizes from a range of high profile events. These include the Royal Welsh, Royal Three Counties and Royal Berkshire shows.

With a focus on their commercial performance, the Blonde bulls are mostly sold into extensive, native-breed suckler herds, which are said to benefit from the calving ease and thrifty calves, along with the ‘continental breed growth rates’ for which the Blonde is renowned.

On the 154 hectares (380 acres)  he farms himself around Mortimer Lodge Farm, near Wokingham, he runs the Blondes as suckler cows alongside pedigree Shorthorns, serving both breeds with a well-muscled Blonde and retaining some Blonde cross Shorthorn cows to join his 90-head commercial suckler herd.

Winter diets for suckler cows and finishing cattle

As they come in for housing this month, the diet of both the suckler cows and finishing cattle will be switched to a mixture of grass and maize silage and a bespoke, high starch blend. This includes among its ingredients rolled cereals and ground maize and the live yeast, Levucell Titan SC.

He says: “I have learned from  experience the importance of good gut health and we know the Levucell SC optimises rumen function and stabilises its pH.” Mr Greasley agrees: “Acidosis  is always a risk when cattle move on to a higher starch winter ration and, although it may only occur at a sub-clinical level, it will always impact performance and can damage the lining of the rumen.

“The rumen-specific live yeast, Levucell SC Titan, has been designed to help in exactly this situation, as it can regulate rumen pH, improve fibre digestion and scavenge oxygen, all of which have a positive effect on rumen health.

“For instance, by utilising oxygen it helps create the ideal environment for the rumen’s anaerobic microflora, and this, in turn, gets other important processes under way.” This includes the ‘mopping up’ of lactic acid by the bacteria encouraged by the yeast, which will help to maintain a constant rumen pH of 6.2 or higher. He says: “This is a particularly  important benefit in high starch diets, such as those including barley, wheat or maize.”

Finishing cattle profitably

Today, cattle are typically finished by 20 months, about two months quicker than in the past. Grades have also increased by one to hit the farm’s U3 target, with a small percentage as Es and Rs.

Mr Thomas says: “Our costings tell us the youngstock cost £1.03/kg liveweight gain and the finishers cost £1.30/kg gain. This tells me that trimming two months off the time to finish is saving us up to £132/head.

The bottom line

“ForFarmers has definitely made us more profitable, which is why we have stuck with them for so  many years. I would describe our relationship as a partnership of trust and support.

“They have formulated a ration which grows frame and flesh on the Blonde, the Shorthorn and the cross-bred cattle at a far improved rate of daily gain. It allows us to  play catch-up through winter to compensate for summer.

“We could not do it without either breed, as they both complement one another. And we will certainly stick to the Levucell SC, which has helped transform our performance since it was introduced.”
 

For more information

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