Shorthorns for commercial herds

Future role of the Shorthorn in commercial herds

Gavin Hill, Beef Specialist, SAC Consulting

Conversations in the market are often ‘There is no money in the beef cow’. Recently beef farmers have seen their costs dramatically increase in all areas, but it is mainly the feed, fertiliser and fuel cost increases that are weighing heavily on the business.

Previous store and finished cattle increases did move incomes to a level that many felt was sustainable allowing them to move two steps forward, but then the increase in costs simply moved them three steps backwards.

As John F Kennedy said; “The farmer is the only man in our economy who buys everything at retail, sells everything at wholesale, and pays the freight both ways.”

Cattle finishers want more return for their product, but with the current economic squeeze the retailers will not want to increase the retail price and face consumer resistance.

Usually, this in turn leads to a rise in imports filling the shelves, but with imports more expensive because of Sterling’s weakness it can mean potential increases in prices.

In any moment of decision, the best thing you can do is the right thing, the next best thing is the wrong thing and the worst thing you can do is nothing. We cannot hide from reality. With most livestock farms it will be the sheep that have been the positive sector that continues to drive any form of making profit.

Changes are happening now and many cannot wait for policy to get there. When decisions are made such as tree planting as we see now then it simply cannot be switched back when policy does come along.

Autumn 2022 has seen spring calving cows being scanned early, with empty cows culled after weaning. Breeding sales saw in-calf cows with their calves being purchased by other herds which were looking to increase numbers or simply replace older cull cows for a younger herd.

Other sales simply saw the calf weaned and the cow sold to the abattoir. Cull cow values have been the most lucrative of any of the other beef enterprises. These animals are in demand as they supply the low value cuts such as mince which consumers are now more focused on.

Culling cows, however, does not result in same level of overheads also going down the road that day. The result can often be less output, but more costs per livestock unit left on the farm.

A plan has to be in place of what do with existing overheads, such as sheds, buildings and machinery. Also, what is the impact to many with their sheep enterprises? Cattle and sheep work off each other, as do beef and arable enterprises.

Livestock producers who have the scale and scope to winter outside and maximise hill and upland ground with their hardier maternal type cows can often make it work.

They have the cow for the environment, but still put Continental bulls over these cows to produce the right animal for the marketplace. This system really does keep costs down, but not everyone can do it.

There can be no doubt that those who have dedicated considerable time to altering their grass systems have certainly made an impact with lower inputs. In fact, many are now using no artificial fertiliser.

Thought has to go to how the maternal breeds will suit the commercial breeder and how, if focused on, could provide a sustainable sucker cow for the future.

The Beef Shorthorn suits many of the demands we face in maximising production from forage and the ability to adapt to less productive terrains of the UK uplands.

With 54% of UK suckler cows distributed across just 16% of holdings it is easy to understand that while there are fewer herds, they are larger herds. This means suckler cow owners are looking for simplicity and, therefore, easier managed cattle.

Table one clearly shows the rising popularity of Shorthorn sired animals with an annual increase of more than 2000 (9%) more registrations as many look to improve their breeding systems. It is important to note the considerable increase in Aberdeen-Angus cross and British Blue cross registrations with much of this is due to the increasing use of these breeds in dairy herds.

Table 1: Beef Cross registrations comparing 2021 vs 2022

Head 2021 2022 Year on Year Change Number

Aberdeen Angus x 235,124 252,662 7% 17,538 Limousin x 249,640 239,696 -4% -9,944 British Blue x 129,808 134,325 3% 4,517 Charolais x 115,878 111,745 -4% -4,133 Hereford x 75,092 76,166 1% 1,074 Simmental x 73,509 70,284 -4% -3,225 Beef Shorthorn x 22,800 24,889 9% 2,089

There can be no denying that the Beef Shorthorn is a maternal breed. Easy calving needs to be a primary asset of the breed, along with easy fleshing, milk and a level of fat cover both for the breeding females and for males being finished.

Nobody can afford the feedbag to finish them and so the genetics have to do this and lay down the required level of fat – there is a need to maintain easy fleshing attributes.

It is important we produce cattle which suit grass-based systems, which must be the focus in future. Shorthorn breeders must maintain their focus on maternal traits rather than going towards terminal genetics which are also not totally suited to grass finishing. Chasing more growth and muscle may be losing more than you realise, indicating muscle and fertility do not work well together.

The industry still has a lot to do regarding fertility and it is incredibly important that it is focused on. There is a need to provide easy kept, fertile cows to be put to Continental sires to allow earlier finished cattle below 400kg deadweight with the correct level of fat cover.

The need is to meet the demands of the commercial breeders who wanted a cow for the environment which can produce a calf for the marketplace. Shorthorns can do it.

The Shorthorn assets:

• Breeding – ability to produce functional females the industry desires • Breeding – can provide heifers that can at two years old • Fertility – coping with reduced bulling periods • Forage – maximise forage based rations • Feed - reduced reliance on expensive concentrates • Housing – ability to outwinter or grazed deferred grazing etc • Grazing – maximising performance at grass • Finishing - finish with required fat cover at grass

Farming is currently one of the most scrutinised sectors which continues to face many societal and environmental challenges. There is continued pressure on the viability of livestock, food security concerns and the role they play in the environment, biodiversity and what effect they have on carbon emissions.