Irish farmers are being encouraged to take a closer look at the potential losses hidden within their herds this grazing season and make every kilo count while cattle are at grass.

This is especially important given current market conditions.

While cattle prices remain strong by historical standards, farm gate returns for both steers and heifers have fallen by an average of €0.40/kg deadweight over the past 12 months.

The latest market outlook also points to continued pressure on demand, with consumer spending remaining cautious.

This means the focus for many beef businesses is not simply on producing more output, but on protecting margin by making every kilo sold as profitable as possible.

The cost of underperformance is becoming harder to ignore, confirmed Crystalyx Ireland’s David Morgan.

He added: “There are many hidden losses that can quietly undermine productivity, reducing margins and the number of saleable kilograms.

“But many of these issues can be reduced through better foresight, nutrition and earlier intervention."

The Crystalyx representative continued: “Buying in more cows isn’t necessarily the answer.

“The bigger opportunity lies in making the most of the stock already available and controlling any losses hiding in plain sight.:

He went on to pose the question:

“Why add another cow just for the chance of another calf, when there is often more value in improving performance from the cows already in the herd?”

Performance

Ensuring that cattle are performing optimally from the start of the grazing season can help avoid setbacks later and ensure the best possible use of grazed grass.

Morgan said: “Once performance slips, it’s much harder to get it back.

“The real value is in helping cattle at grass use forage more efficiently as early as possible to improve your chances of increased daily liveweight gain and improved calving rates.

“If a suckler farmer can increase his herd output from 90 calves per 100 cows to 95 calves from the same cows, it’s a case of getting more saleable kilograms for close to the same input costs.

“This is where the forage-support feed lick Crystalyx Cattle Booster can help support forage intake and digestibility at grass to fight these hidden losses.”

Health data

Morgan also emphasises the importance of tracking and using the right data to support decisions.

He explained: “Many farmers are already collecting comprehensive animal health data for their supplier audits or environmental grant schemes.

“Knowing where stock is performing well, and where there may be room for improvement, makes it easier for farmers to target support and achieve better outputs for essentially the same input costs.”

Energy boost

Meanwhile, last year’s weanlings and early born spring calves are being turned out to pasture at the present time.

Research has confirmed the absolute imperative of providing an additional energy source to these animals in order to maximise daily growth rates. Crystalyx Cattle Booster meets this requirement exactly.

Morgan further explained: “Fresh grass is never a totally balanced feed for cattle, at any time of the grazing season.

“One very effective way around this problem is to put Crystalyx Cattle Booster feed blocks out with stock. They have been specifically formulated to nutritionally complement the grass available to cattle of all ages.

“The end result is a significant increase in daily growth rates and overall improvement in animal performance.