NBA Regional Open Meetings: Are Suckler Herd Targets Accurate and Achievable?
Event Date: 7th February 2017 - 8th February 2017
Northern Region: Tuesday 7th February, Borderway Mart, Carlisle, CA1 2RS
Midlands Region: Wednesday 8th February, Church Lawford Village Hall, Church Lawford, Warwickshire. CV23 9EE
Refreshments at 6.30pm, to start at 7.00pm.
OPEN TO ALL with an interest in the beef industry
GUEST SPEAKER: Nuffield Scholar Steven Sandison
TOPIC: Are suckler herd targets accurate and achievable?
A first-generation Orkney beef farmer who has grown his herd of 100 Simmental and Salers cross cattle from scratch. Steven classes benchmarking as his hobby and when he was chosen as a focus farm and told that his figures could be improved he was driven to investigate the feasibility and achievability of suckler herd targets, and if profit before subsidies was possible.
Speaking on his work Steven says “‘What is a realistic number of calves to wean from 100 cows exposed to the Bull in 9 weeks?’. Farmers are told they need to achieve 92%. We are offered services, information, machinery, gadgets, feeds, minerals, vaccines, etc. to make us more efficient. Although we have access to all this, only 82% of cows are actually weaning a calf.
So, is 92% realistic and what do the best farmers have in common? These were the two main questions which I set out to answer through my Nuffield Scholarship.”
A fascinating and relevant topic, with the uncertainty around CAP payments post Brexit emphasising the need for profitability before subsidies. A speaker passionate about suckler cattle with a lifetime of practical hands on experience and a message to share.
For full details download the pdf File.
