Suckler cow future?

[Werzle]

The time to finish an animal is an interesting one.
16-18 months vs 30 months.
1 requires some concentrate and the other requires animal maintenance for double the time and carrying twice as many growing cattle on the farm.

I'm more keen on the idea of getting them away young and having fewer cattle on the farm.
Finishing cattle at over 2yo means there is potential to be carrying close to 400 cattle on a 100 cow suckler finisher unit for a part of the year.
At a time of fert silage and straw being at a premium I do wonder if having all those cattle on a farm in the UK makes sense.
Maybe different on a 10,000 acre ranch.

Although i dont think the eating quality of the meat is great, finishing bulls at 12-16 mths and hfrs at 14-16mths has its benefits on stocking rates but only heavy fast growing breeds like the char will do it

 

[M-J-G]

Although i dont think the eating quality of the meat is great, finishing bulls at 12-16 mths and hfrs at 14-16mths has its benefits on stocking rates but only heavy fast growing breeds like the char will do it

We've finished and retailed beef from several breeds and of pretty much all ages of cattle and as long as they can get a good enough fat cover to hang for a month or so, breed and age makes no difference as far as I can see.