It is important to note that these figures are guideline figures and will vary depending on factors such as feed price, animal performance and the kill-out percentage achieved. Meal is priced at €220/t, silage valued as good quality at €35/t fresh, straw valued at 15c/kg. Traditional diets will be more competitive if silage is valued at €30/t. Sample diets do not Include minerals. Include at 1% for ad-lib meal feeding and 2% when concentrate supplementation is below 6kg per head per day. Feed costs are direct costs and take no account of labour, machinery running etc.

Carcase gain

Carcase gain is essentially what a finisher gets paid on. So when examining feed costs, winter finishers should always express them on a cost per kg carcase or liveweight gain. In a finishing animal, particularly on high concentrates, the proportion of liveweight gain deposited as carcase is quite high at 70% of total – ie 1kg of liveweight gain is equivalent to 0.7 kg/carcase gain. On a silage/concentrate diet, offered at ratio of 50:50, steers deposit 65% of liveweight gain into the carcase gain.

Move animals once fit

As shown above, the cost of achieving a kilogramme of carcase weight on many classes of animals is significantly above current beef prices. The aim should be to slaughter animals once they become slaughter-fit. Feeding beyond this to achieve extra weight will in most cases be uneconomical.