April 1st 2009

Planning the future direction of your cow herd

It is not until you measure and analyse your herds performance that you appreciate the importance of having a plan to improve it.

The bull sale season is fast approaching.  Pregnancy scanning, weaner heifers and slaughtering of 20 month cattle are all either behind us or not far from happening.  The often spoken path to profits requires a plan, to ensure you maintain or become a low cost producer of a high value product.

How does your bull selection serve the strategy of becoming a low cost producer?  Look at your costs and not just the ones you have to write a cheque for.  For instance:

  1. A dead calf increases your costs per weaned calf by making you feed a female through the year without any payback at weaning.
  2. Every 2 year old that requires assistances during calving drives up your labour costs and often affects your next years in calf results.
  3. The higher the percentage of heifers that are scanned dry, the more grass and feed you've used up which adds on more cost.
  4. Cows and heifers that are dry or unsound should be culled but cost you by having to develop more replacements.  This is not to mention they are the ones that often cost you the opportunity to cull your low producing cows because of the need to maintain your numbers.

Once you recognise the significance of these costs then the selection to overcome any of these observed weaknesses can begin.  Make sure you are armed with the best information to make those important decisions when selecting your new sires.  Don't make the mistake of only using bulls individual birth weight for instance to determine whether he is safe to be used over virgin heifers.  The birth weight EBV includes information on how his half brothers and sisters compare in their respective groups in a variety of environments.  Check the breed average (remembering the females influence is 50%) and select a bull that should minimise any problems. EBVs are your best guide.

If the females are by high birth weight EBV sires then it pays to err on the cautious side and select the lowest birth weight EBV sires available.  The ultimate sire to purchase not only has a low birth weight EBV but also is above average for growth and in the case of the Stabilizers has an above average profit index. With the Angus you should do the same and go for the highest self replacing index you can afford. Remember you can check the whole of the Angus population in NZ by looking up the Angus website.   Over time you inherit the genetic improvement of your bull breeder so make sure they have similar goals to you.

Hogget Mating

If your ewe hoggets are well grown, then the choice of mating them needs to be seriously considered.

Every extra lamb bred, with a predicted schedule for next season of $5.50 plus, is a great option to increase revenue.

Don't use just any old sire, because like many before, you run the risk of lambing problems.  

The most proven meat sire for this task is definitely the Primera®. The selection pressure on birth weight (we know of no other sizable program that does this) helps minimise any lambing problems and leaves you with a very saleable and sought after offspring.

We still have Primera ram hoggets available so to make your selection or sight unseen purchase, contact the office on 06 839 5836 or email info@rissington.com

Many hundreds of thousands of hoggets have been successfully mated to Primera so its not just idle talk.

Stabilizer Weaner Heifers Wanted

We currently have 2 clients who would like to buy 1000 weaner heifers sired by Rissington bulls. If you are looking to market weaner heifers in the next 3-4 weeks and want a price net on farm price then please contact Daniel Absolom on 021 989 067 to discuss pricing.

Flybuys first for fertiliser company 

Summit-Quinphos has scored an industry first in bringing the popular Fly Buys scheme into play for fertiliser and farming-related purchases.

All Summit-Quinphos customers can now earn Fly Buys points on their fertiliser and animal nutrition purchases just by signing up to the programme.

Summit-Quinphos general manager Willie Thomson says the groundbreaking move is a significant development for loyal Summit-Quinphos customers and the wider fertiliser industry.

"This powerful rewards programme offers our farmer customers the chance to collect Fly Buys on their fertiliser and animal nutrition product purchases from us at a worthwhile redemption rate.

"Fertiliser is a big ticket item for most farmers nationwide, second only to the bank payments, so the opportunity to get a Fly Buys point for every $50 spent should prove to be a boon for those who enter the scheme," says Mr Thomson.

"Not that anyone needs another reason to buy from Summit-Quinphos. We have a great base of satisfied customers who have been with us through the years, and this move is really just a thank you from us for their loyalty.

"You can now spend for your farming business and collect Fly Buys points for your family, on top of what you can already collect day to day from other suppliers. The points should quickly stack up, and you'll be able to choose from a fantastic range of rewards such as LCD televisions, digital cameras, hot air balloon flights, travel and so much more."

Purchases from Summit Quinphos will attract Fly Buys points from March 9.

Planning the future direction of your cow herd