All suckler farmers should consider joining the Beef Welfare Scheme before the closing date of Tuesday 24 September 2024.

Speaking at last week’s young farmer suckler event in Milford Mart, Co Donegal, Teagasc beef specialist Aidan Murray told farmers that there is at least a twofold return on the money invested through the scheme.

Aidan said that at a price of €320 to €350 per tonne of concentrate, the €35 per calf received through the mandatory meal feeding action would fund the purchase of 100kg to 110kg of concentrate.

Every 5kg of concentrates fed to weanlings at a cost of €1.65 per head will typically generate 1kg liveweight gain.

Top-quality weanlings are currently trading upwards of €3.30/kg to €3.50/kg, delivering a twofold return on the investment.

The recommended rate of concentrate supplementation is an average of 1kg pre-weaning and 2kg post-weaning, with a greater return on investment with higher value animals.

Concentrate choice

With regard to selecting concentrates, a simple high-energy feed is ideal, with grass providing weanlings with their required protein intake. Aidan highlighted that it is important to ensure that the concentrate fed includes minerals, with this being a condition of the scheme.

There is greater discussions in this regard in 2024 given the increase in the number of suckler farmers converting to organic farming.

Aidan explained that with organic concentrate costing upwards of €800/t, many farmers are progressing down a route of purchasing a barley or oats and beans mix.

He highlighted two important aspects - an invoice is needed as proof of purchase, while mineral supplementation needs to be provided to calves.

Many farmers in this situation administer boluses, but drench is also sufficient or approved minerals added to the feed.

Vaccination action

The optional vaccination action includes implementing a vaccination programme against clostridial disease and/or calf pneumonia in suckler calves.

There is a payment of €15 per calf under the action and, similar to the meal feeding action, payment is based on a maximum of 40 calves.

Where animals have left the herd and are unavailable for vaccination, a lower number of animals can be entered for the vaccination action relative to the meal feeding action.

For example, in a split-calving herd of 35 cows with 20 calves born in spring 2024 and 15 in autumn 2023, the 20 spring-born calves can be entered for payment if the 15 autumn-born calves were sold without vaccinating. This is completed at application stage.

Scheme recording

Aidan added that 5% of farmers will be subject to an administrative inspection. This will take place with the Department writing to farmers requesting that the scheme action sheet and documentation, including proof of purchase of concentrates and vaccination products, where applicable, be returned.

The scheme action sheet can be downloaded here.