Introducing a three-way suckler cross increases output value

Tamlaght, Enniskillen, County Fermanagh

• 210 acres grassland

• 100 cow suckler herd

• 50 breeding ewes

David Henderson

Beef Shorthorn Sim Lim - the complementary mix

Introducing a three-way suckler cross is the way to go for Northern Ireland producer, David Henderson. “Beef Shorthorn, Simmental and Limousin genetics are proving to be a very complementary mix,” he explains. “Together they’re helping us to maintain a low input, low cost, closed herd, whilst that genetic diversity is increasing output value, all of which is essential to stepping up profitability and ensuring the enterprise’s future viability.

“We introduced Beef Shorthorn to the Continental cross herd in 2012 to reduce mature cow size, enhance maternal traits, improve temperament and expand our market options,” comments David who farms with his wife Iris, and with part time support from son, Neil.

“Beef Shorthorn has helped to maintain a uniform red and white herd and at the same time, enabled us to redress imbalance. Our Continental cows were getting too big at an average 750kg, they were losing milk and demonstrated poor temperament. Nowadays we are breeding 650kg cows which are more suited to our heavy clay soils, they’re proving they can produce just as good a calf, have plenty of milk and are subsequently more efficient. What’s more they are easy fleshing and thrive on a grass silage diet.”

In 2019, the three-way cross herd performance stood at 103% calves reared including three sets of twins from 97 cows and 100 calves, 100% calved within six weeks and largely remained unaided.

“Introducing Beef Shorthorn to the mix has also enabled us to put our eggs in more than one basket and helped us to spread the risk by extending our market options,” David explains.

“For starters, we continue to remain focused on producing a uniform crop of calves,

we wean at nine to 10 months when we aim for the male calves to average 400kg, and we trade them privately to finishers across multiple units. We have tracked their finished performance on the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) web site. For example, we recently checked out 157 head by a mix of our own sires. Overall, we found that the Beef Shorthorn crosses finished almost one month quicker than the other cross breeds.” See table 1.

“Nowadays we are annually finishing at Tamlaght up to 15 Beef Shorthorn sired cattle for the Glenarm Shorthorn Beef scheme which trades with top end London restaurants and stores,” he explains.

“We are taking steers and some heifers to between 320kg and 380kg deadweight at 21 to 23 months in return for a premium - it’s a worthwhile exercise.

“We are also finding that the females have added value as replacements - a roan Beef Shorthorn cross heifer is much sought after. Until recently, most farmers wouldn’t have considered native bred cows, whereas nowadays they’re coming back saying whilst Beef Shorthorn crosses are not the biggest cows in the world, they are very happy with the quality calf they’re producing; added to that, cow temperament is improved.

“Our own heifer replacements are sufficiently grown at 15 months and 400kg to 430kg to put to the Beef Shorthorn bull,” he explains. “We select these replacements on 200-day weight, conformation, legs and feet and temperament.”

The Hendersons run a high health herd which they say is attractive when it comes to selling replacements. “The herd remains firmly closed apart from buying in high health breeding bulls; our preventative health plan includes for all cows to be vaccinated for BVD, Lepto and scour; calves are vaccinated for pneumonia after housing.”

Living in an area with an average 1.25 metres rainfall, means farming cattle with the ability to thrive off ensiled forage is absolutely essential, says David. “The first group of 35 cows and calves in March, is turned out late April and the remainder calve outdoors from mid-May. The entire herd - cows and calves are rehoused after around five months. Depending on the weather, 2019 was exceptionally wet and we had to rehouse some after four months.

The Hendersons are members of DAERA’s Business Development Group which brings together small groups of farmers and growers to consider how knowledge, cooperation and innovation can improve the performance of their businesses. David says the networking and opportunity to share is really useful. “We’ve recently learnt a lot more about grassland management, silage production and reseeding which are now among our current priorities,” he says. “Direct drilling has replaced conventional ploughing and reseeding, since it is more suited to the wet unpredictable weather. We are now aiming for our silage to analyse D70, ME 11%, and CP 15%.”

David adds: “Going forward I believe we have to be prepared to tweak our farming businesses and not be afraid to adapt to what the market wants. We are currently happy with our system and the diversity that Beef Shorthorn has introduced; I’ve worked with sucklers virtually all my life and I’d say if you want to continue something you enjoy, then there are ways and means to make things work.”

Maintaining a low input, low cost, closed herd with Beef Shorthorn Sim Lim cows