FARMERS INFORMATION SERIES CONTINENTAL CATTLE. Management Guide. blade-farming.com

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1 FARMERS INFORMATION SERIES CONTINENTAL CATTLE Management Guide blade-farming.com

2 INTRODUCTION to Blade Farming KEY POINTS The Continental Cattle Scheme The Blade Farming business was established in 2001 as an integrated supply chain which is dedicated to supplying consistently high quality British Beef to retailers and their customer, the consumer. The business is expanding rapidly throughout the UK and Ireland, as links are developed with new and existing customers. The Blade business is unique in the UK, and we now have in excess of 20,000 cattle in our operation, and the demand for beef produced through the Blade system is increasing as Producers and Customers realise the benefit of beef that is produced to a defined specification. All the schemes that are run by Blade Farming are designed to produce meat to the customer s requirements and premiums are paid for cattle that hit target specifications. Full management, technical and nutritional support is available as part of the Blade system and Blade producers now recognise the value of this support which is keeping them at the forefront of the industry. The Blade Farming business specialises in producing meat to the highest quality for the consumer and the meat being produced through the Continental cattle finishing scheme will be of the highest quality in terms of consumer requirements, ie. it is consistent, tender, succulent and full of flavour. With the option of steers or heifers, and the ability to incorporate a variety of finishing systems and still meet the required criteria, there is plenty of opportunity for Beef finishers to take advantage of the scheme. Depending on your requirements, continental cross steer or heifer calves arrive from our high health status contract calf rearing units onto the finishing farm at three months old where they are grown on to be finished by 24 months of age. There are certain dietary requirements for the finishing of the cattle. Cattle that fit these requirements and specifications, and achieve the target carcass weight will command a significant premium through the abattoir.

3 KEY POINTS of the Continental Steer & Heifer Scheme A carefully planned approach to efficient beef production. An attractive pricing contract for the finished cattle, which pays +25p/Kg dwt over the ABP weekly base price. Minimum required carcase weight of 260 Kgs dwt. Cattle must meet the dietary requirements of the scheme. Both steers and heifers are eligible for the scheme. Cattle must be delivered to ABP Sturminster or ABP Ellesmere when they are finished. First class, high health status weaned calves supplied to order. Full support package, including independent nutritional advice. Cattle must be finished under 24 months of age. Management feedback on carcase weights and grades. Prompt payment for finished cattle. BENEFITS OF BUYING Weaned Cal ves All Blade calves are reared by professional Calf Rearers in specialist calf rearing units. Fully transparent ordering system, pricing and payment terms, to ease enterprise budgeting. All calves are reared to a clearly defined health protocol, to ensure they are able to grow to their potential. Group health certificate supplied, detailing vaccinations and treatments. Calves are fully vaccinated during the rearing period, and extra CALF ORDERING Procedure treatments maybe given at the buyers request. Calves are reared to order to meet your delivery requirements, and delivered by ABM approved hauliers. Full nutritional support given to minimise the effects of the change of environment and diet at the time of transportation. Calves are ear tagged to enable BVD screening and Eid is available if required. Discuss your requirements with a member of the Blade team. Complete a Calf order confirmation form, detailing: Name, address and holding details Calf details; breed, sex, number and any other specific requirements Delivery month required Set price for calves Two weeks before delivery, contact from Blade to discuss the Transition diet and the likely delivery date. Calves bulk weighed, delivered and all details checked on the finishing farm. Visit from Blade Farming to finalise contracts. Payment due 14 days after delivery and acceptance. DAIRY BEEF Scheme

4 DAILY LIVEWEIGHT GAIN CHART Continental Cattle 700 Target Lwg Minimum Lwg LIveweight (Kgs) Feed growing diet for frame growth, avoiding fat cattle. Feed finishing diet to slaughter Age (months) Age (m) Date Average Weight (Kgs) Weight (Kgs) DLWG (Kg/d) If cattle are not achieving the required liveweight gain, please contact your Feed supplier or Blade Farming.

5 TRANSITION FEEDING Continental Cattle FEEDING STRATEGY Continental Cattle The transition feeding is the key part of getting the calves moved over smoothly from the diet in the rearing unit onto the feed on the finishing unit. All the calves that leave our rearing units will have had access to ad-lib straw and and ad-lib 16% protein calf pellets. When they leave the unit the calves will be eating 4-5 Kgs of pellets per animal per day. For the transition to flow smoothly you need to feed forage and concentrate (unless feeding intensive heifers, these do not need any forage) SILAGE FINISHER CONCENTRATE REARER PELLET STRAW Fresh feeding straw is required ad-lib Clean, fresh water is essential to maximise performance Make any dietary changes gradually The concentrate can be a cake, blend or home-mix and can utilise a lot of home grown feeds Concentrate quantity is dependent on quality of the silage Silage can be grass, maize or whole crop Grazing is optional, although supplementation will be needed at grass to maintain growth rate Two stage approach Growing then Finishing The growing stage will grow frame without putting on excess condition The finishing ration will cover the frame Heifers - Intensive Heifers - Extensive Steers TARGET WEIGHT 600 Kgs 600 Kgs 650 Kgs TARGET AGE AT SLAUGHTER 16 months 20 months 20 months TARGET TIME ON FARM 13 months 17 months 17 months TARGET DLWG 1.25 Kgs/day 0.95 Kgs/day 1.05 Kgs/day TYPICAL RATION Ad-lib concentrate Ad-lib straw Concentrate 2.5Kgs Forage 15 Kgs Ad-lib Straw Concentrate 3Kgs Forage 15 Kgs Ad-lib Straw DAY 1 Feed the calf exactly as it has been fed on the rearing unit; ad-lib straw and ad-lib pellets. DAY 3 Continue with the straw and pellets; slowly introduce silage to the calves. When the calves are starting to eat more silage, you can start to reduce the quantity of calf pellets. DAY 10 Start to introduce your own concentrate to replace some of the calf pellets. DAY 21 Transition should be complete and the calves will be on ad-lib silage with about 2 Kgs of concentrate per animal per day. TYPICAL RATION SPEC ME MJ/Kg Protein 15% Starch 30% ME MJ/Kg Protein 15% Starch 25% For a tailored nutrition plan or for any questions regarding feeding or nutrition please contact one of our nutrition team via the Blade office on ME MJ/Kg Protein 15% Starch 25% CONCENTRATE USAGE 2.8 Tonnes 1.25 Tonnes 1.5 Tonnes Each calf will need Kgs of calf pellets to get them through the transition period.

6 STEERS AND HEIFER PRODUCTION Costings Table FORWARD PRICE CONTRACT Continental Plus 25 Current farm performance Blade Farming performance STEERS HEIFERS Calf price Comments Av. price; Inc vacc & BVD test Forage costs Includes straw Vet & med Worming etc Water & elec The Plus 25 contract will be for cattle being slaughtered from December 2015 onwards. Contracts are for steers and heifers under 24 months. The contract only applies to calves supplied through the Blade Farming system, and will be based on each batch of cattle reared. Contracts will be signed for the lifetime of the cattle in the batch and ear tag numbers will be recorded. Cattle not meeting the specification below will be paid at the ABP weekly base price Contracts may be subject to change at any time. CONTRACT DETAILS The contract applies to continental steers and heifers under 24 months of age +25 p/kg over ABP weekly base price Finished cattle must be delivered to ABP Sturminster or ABP Ellesmere Cattle must be fed on a non-gm diet All cattle must have been supplied by Blade Farming Losses Transport Deductions Inc. abattoir charges Sub-total Conc. feeds - Steers /t Heifers /t Total inputs Income: Steers 1190 Heifers 1105 Gross Margin Prices correct as at Spring Kgs 3.40/Kg dwt 325 Kgs 3.40/Kg dwt Variation in gross margin with fluctuations in feed and carcase prices Steers; 350 Kg carcase, grade R=3 (base), under 24 months old, 1.5 tonnes of feed Carcase price ( /Kg dwt) Feed price ( /t) Carcase price ( /Kg dwt) Heifers; 325 Kg carcase, grade R3/4L, under 24 months old, 1.3 tonnes of feed Feed price ( /t) = = = U U= U Base -30 R R= Base Base Base Base Base Base R Base Base Base Base O O= O P P= P Weight Ranges All cattle must be in the following weight range: kg dwt UNDERWEIGHT DEDUCTIONS Weight range E to O= -O to -P Kgs -20p -40p Kgs -40p -60p Kgs -60p -80p Kgs -70p -90p Under 220 Kgs -90p or R -120p (R) DEDUCTIONS Abattoir charges, incl insurance // Blade commission - 2% Prices correct Spring 2016 OVERWEIGHT DEDUCTIONS over 420 Kgs 20p/Kg

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