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The management and performance of beef cattle in the hills and uplands

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 February 2018

L. R. Gurnett  and
A. Waterhouse
L. R. Gurnett
Affiliation:
Liscombe Experimental Husbandry Farm, Dulverton, Somerset
A. Waterhouse
Affiliation:
West of Scotland Agricultural College, Pathfoot Building, Stirling University, Stirling FK9 4LA
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Abstract

With no supplementary feed to cow or calf, a suckler cow can produce a calf of 330 kg at 1 year old worth about £380. At 2.5 cows per ha on an upland farm, the system can be self-sufficient for grass and silage. Overall production can be 820 kg live-weight gain per ha with the use of 250 kg N per ha. This is technically an efficient enterprise. It is also profitable, with a gross margin per ha in excess of £800.

Work at Liscombe, in parallel with other centres, has developed to establish minimum healthy diets for the suckler cow whilst producing healthy, fast growing calves. The cow must be fertile and have a long life, producing on average 10 calves. This involves the controlled management of the natural ability of the cow to put on weight quickly in the summer and take it off slowly in the winter.

The winter diet of the cow can vary from (1) restricted silage alone, (2) silage plus untreated straw, (3) untreated straw plus concentrate supplement, or (4) treated straw alone. As a result, the enterprise is very flexible.

On a hill farm, the cow has a major role to control pasture in a subordinate role to sheep. Because of her role in pasture control, a low margin per cow can be accepted as a direct contribution to sheep production.

Type
Research Article
Information
BSAP Occasional Publication , Volume 10: Hill and Upland Livestock Production , 1985 , pp. 67 - 76
Copyright
Copyright © British Society of Animal Production 1985

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