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Time to cash-in on high beef prices.UFAC press release: May, 2006With the export ban being lifted, there are now prospects for large profits to be made from beef production. But these returns will only be achieved if the stock are fed and reared correctly. Since calves have previously been slaughtered due to low profitability, many farmers now need to take a fresh look at ways of getting the best out of rearing calves through employing the latest nutrition, says Francis Palmer, nutritionist with specialist supplement manufacturer, Ufac-UK. He points out that cattle have routinely been reared in beef-lots and fed economically, should now be looking for better feed conversion and growth rates to optimise performance and returns, especially since fixed costs have crept up. In the past, these producers have frequently targeted the surge in prices before Christmas and Easter, for example, but since these surges are likely to disappear with the prospect of high returns all-year-round, growth, rates, feed conversion and carcase quality will become increasingly important. With an anticipated shortage of beef - rumoured to be worrying the supermarkets! - Mr Palmer advises producers to source good calves and feed them well to produce well-finished beasts to easily meet their targets in good time. The very young calf, he points out, requires a high-quality specialist feed which includes amino acids, protected glucose and rumen stimulants to be fed alongside high-quality milk replacer. This should be followed by high nutrient density dry feeds and excellent quality forage to achieve the fast growth and efficient feed conversion needed during the growing phase. Specialist slow-release proteins, such as Ufac's Promega, should be included, as Francis Palmer advises against paying too much reliance on background protein from cereals and oil-seed by products. Selected fat products can be included to provide extra energy to speed frame and muscle growth, while Omega-3 fatty acids, EPA and DHA, have been shown to increase bone growth. Trials have shown that the inclusion of fats in the diets of crossbred beef can increase daily liveweight gain by as much as 0.32 kg per day between 200 and 500 days, reducing the period to finish by 58 days and actually saving on overall feed costs. During the finishing period diets need to contain high levels of starch and palm oil to give firm, white fat and build up conformation muscle texture while conferring good condition scores and bloom. Selecting the right energy in the form of starch and fats will also lead to a high killing-out percentage, completing the package for profitable beef," he commented.
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For further information contact UFAC-UK... Note to EditorsUfac-UK Ltd is the leading specialist UK manufacture of energy, protein and omega 3 supplements. The company has been supplying nutritional supplements to the animal feed industry for over 35 years.
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