In this week’s calf focus we have the results from the first year of the Teagasc dairy calf to beef trial in Grange.

While farm performance is good and weight gains are on target, the financial results are disappointing. A net margin of €3/ha for the low AA system (low terminal traits) €64/ha for the high AA (high terminal traits) and €256/ha for the Holstein Friesian before any land charges and labour are included means farmers operating this system will lose money.

The cost of production for the Angus dairy beef steer system was €3.56/kg excluding land and labour costs. The trial, which was set up in 2017 to develop a blueprint for dairy beef production, grew 14.4t of grass DM/ha in 2019.