Overcoming our unique calf-rearing challenges

This week’s Focus concentrates on the skill of calf-rearing. It is an area that often gets overlooked on farms, particularly with lower value bull calves on expanding dairy farms where labour is a constraint. This is despite the fact that the first 12 to 14 weeks of a calf’s life will ultimately determine how well it performs throughout the remainder of the production system. A calf that fails to reach a 12-week weaning target of 100-120kg will fail to hit all further weight targets, including weight at slaughter or breeding.

As Ciarán Lenehan reports, hitting targets in the beef system is key – there is simply no room for error. His figures show the top-performing dairy-bred steer systems generating profit margins of just €50 per head, assuming a very modest calf price of €70 per head, which is half the actual cost for the last number of years.

Outside of Ireland, we have seen the development of specialised calf-rearing units where the core business is to specialise in bringing calves from 14 days through to 14 weeks of age. The sheds are designed accordingly and production systems are incredibly well refined. Of course, these units are facilitated by a year-round supply of calves. The seasonal calving profile of our national dairy herd, with over 85% of cows calving from January through to mid-April, presents a real barrier to the establishment of similar units in Ireland.

As such, we have seen a much more ad hoc approach taken to the rearing of calves moved off dairy farms. In many cases, the dairy-beef system is operated as a bolt-on to the main enterprise. It means that among many beef farmers, the basic skills of calf-rearing are not well established. Sheds used for rearing are often not suitable, having been designed for an alternative use, and the infrastructure to facilitate the correct and efficient mixing and feeding of milk is not in place.

As the number of pure dairy-bred calves coming on to the market increases, we should question the suitability of the structures currently in place. A planned response is needed – one that ensures we avoid any potential welfare issues.

So, where should we start? The first port of call is to try to maximise the value of the calf coming from the dairy cow. Ciarán Lenehan’s figures show significant potential to add value for both the dairy and beef farmer by moving from pure dairy-bred beef systems to traditional beef crossbred systems – a move that could be facilitated through sexed semen. It is a technology that we cannot afford to ignore any longer given its potential to improve the profitability of dairy and suckler farmers. Our farmer-owned breeding stations cannot be allowed to dictate the pace on this issue.

Of course, a key factor in determining value is calf health. Few farmers are not aware of the importance of calves receiving adequate levels of colostrum. Yet when blood tests are carried out to determine immunity status, many calves are found to be deficient.

Responsibility clearly lies with the farmer on whose farm the calf was born to ensure – whether it is a bull or a heifer calf – management during the first 14 days is of a standard that delivers a healthy animal. Is it time to start monitoring the mortality rates or immunity status of calves sold off farms? Do we need to provide farmers with a certificate based on the previous year’s mortality figures in order to create better awareness of the issue and provide those buying calves with a level of comfort?

Another area where the dairy farmer can influence the value of the calf is the recording of sire details to allow identification of bulls best suited to dairy-beef systems or producing progeny for the suckler herd. Given the tradition of using teams of young clean-up stock bulls, it’s a complex issue but one that requires a solution. As Patrick Donohoe reports, we understand a dairy cow welfare scheme is being teased out – it deserves careful consideration by the minister.

Moving beyond the farm gate, there is a definite need to improve management techniques in trading and rearing of calves. Shed design and layout is of course important but we have seen how simple setups work well on dairy farms.

Ultimately, the difference between average and excellent performance is attention to detail, specifically in hygiene, regular feeding, bedding and general husbandry. At the very least, for farmers considering dairy calf-to-beef, we should have a national best practice calf-rearing demonstration unit in place so farmers can learn the basics. Johnstown Castle appears to have gone quiet in this regard in recent years.