According to Teagasc, weanling-to-beef steer and heifer finishers will require up to €4.67/kg to break-even in 2022.
The state agency has published budgets for winter finishing steers, weanling-to-beef for heifers and steers, bull beef and an autumn-to-autumn steer system.
Its weanling-to-beef budget looks at purchasing a 300kg continental steer and a 280kg continental heifer.
According to Teagasc’s Aidan Murray, given weanling prices and the length of keep involved, it is harder to estimate a potential return with this system.
“You are trying to forecast a high beef price in 12 to 18 months’ time,” he remarked.
The state agency highlighted that finishers must maximise performance at grass and minimise the indoor feeding period on silages to control costs.
It acknowledged that this system requires high management levels at all stage. Poor management can result in high veterinary and medical bills.
Also, in this system, animals are sensitive to ADG over 450-500-day period.
Weanling-to-beef finishers
Bullocks | Heifers | |
Purchase weight October (kg) | 300 | 280 |
Feeding period days – first winter
– At grass
– Second winter
Silage required for 2 winters (in T)
Meals – first winter (kg/head/day)
– Second winter (kg/head/day) |
160
200
125
9
1
4.75 |
160
150
60 (at grass)
3.5
1
3 |
Liveweight at sale (kgs) | 685 | 550 |
Age at slaughter (in months) | 24 | 20 |
Carcass weight (kgs) | 377 | 296 |
Purchase weight | 300 | 280 |
Assumed purchase price (€/100kg liveweight) | 294 | 307 |
Purchase price (€/head) | 882 | 860 |
Plus costs: €/head
– Variable costs – Fixed costs |
631 238
|
327 168 |
Total costs (€) | 869 | 495 |
Break-even selling price required (€/head) | 1751 | 1355 |
Break-even selling price required (€/kg carcass) | 4.64
Spring 2023 |
4.57
November/December 2022 |
Impact of autumn 2021 price on break-even price required
Bullocks | Heifers | |
Lower weanling prices autumn 2021:
– € per 100kg liveweight – Breakeven price required €/kg carcass |
284
4.57 |
297
4.47 |
Assumed weanling price autumn 2021:
– € per 100kg liveweight – Breakeven price required €/kg carcass |
294
4.64 |
307
4.57 |
Higher weanling prices autumn 2021:
– € per 100kg liveweight – Breakeven price required €/kg carcass |
304
4.73 |
317
4.67 |