Consistent high performance the key to beef system’s success

The combination of high energy moist feeds and fast growth is resulting in a highly efficient finishing period at Lilburn Estate’s bull finishing unit in Northumberland, producing extremely consistent results in a sustainable and highly profitable operation.

A beef production system that has remained largely unchanged for 25 years, Lilburn Estate’s bulls are slaughtered at just over 13 months of age after an intensive finishing period based on moist co-product feeds, not cereals. After weaning at six months, bulls are finished in seven months and one week – an average lifetime liveweight gain (LWG) of around 1.6kg/day.

Carcases average 365kg dressed carcase weight (DCW) with a 55% killing out percentage, and are predominantly R4s, with approximately 35% Us, depending on breed. Mortality rate is just 2%.

“We’ve tried other systems in the past, but nothing works as well as the moist feed mix we get from KW,” outlines head cattle steward Davey Heads. “In addition to the mix, the bulls have free access to water, rock salt and straw in racks, and get a vitamin and mineral premix that includes Vistacell live yeast and rumen buffer.”

The moist feed mix is created during clamping, with all feeds delivered by KW at the same time. The three feeds – C*Traffordgold wheat-gluten moist feed, Maxibeet sugar beet feed and processed bread – are mixed on the floor in a ratio of 6:2:1 and stacked to a height of around 3m, excluding as much air as possible.

After adding a sprinkle PDV salt, the clamp is then sealed with a layer of cling film and covered with polythene sheet. The mix is ready to feed out immediately, and will keep for up to 18 months.

Rapid beef finishing

“The bull calves come into the finishing unit straight after weaning at six months old, and we split them into groups of 40–50 based on weight,” Mr Heads explains. “They’re kept in straw yards, and stay in the same groups until they go to slaughter.

“The shed holds 700 cattle, and we’re currently finishing 1,240 bulls and 1,000 heifers each year. Each bull eats around 2.6t of the moist mix, which works out at an average of 12kg/hd/day, and you can see how good the ration is by the consistency of the muck and the performance we’re getting.”

In contrast to the rapid finishing for the bulls, any heifers not earmarked as replacements for the suckler herd or destined to be sold as breeding stock follow a more extensive route to slaughter. Autumn-born calves weaned in the spring go out onto good grazing, then spend a second winter on grass silage before heading to the finishing unit for 2–3 months on the same moist mix as the bulls.

Spring-born heifers are overwintered in straw yards on grass silage, with a second grazing season followed by the same 2–3 months in the finishing unit. Typically consuming around 0.8t of the moist mix, the heifers are typically finished by 19-20 months of age, producing carcases of around 310kg DCW.

Moist feed benefits

According to KW nutritionist Dr Anna Sutcliffe, moist feeds have a lot to offer when it comes to efficient beef finishing.

“The main objective when finishing cattle is to combine fast muscle growth with the fat cover needed to meet carcase specification, and for minimum time and cost,” she states.

“Ration energy density and dry matter intake (DMI) are the critical factors determining cattle energy intakes, growth and fat deposition,” she says. “Balanced with the correct amount of protein, the result is faster finishing that requires less feed and produces greater margins per head.”

The C*Traffordgold wheat-gluten moist feed used at Lilburn Estate, for example, contains 13.4MJ ME/kg DM of energy and 20% crude protein. Unlike other moist feeds, the energy from C*Traffordgold comes from a balance of highly digestible fibre, starch and yeast fragments.

Driving feed intake

“Achieving consistently high intakes is essential for efficient finishing,” Dr Sutcliffe continues. “Moist feeds are highly palatable, cut ration dust levels and reduce ration sorting, all of which improve both the level and consistency of intake.

“The digestible fibre also reduces the incidence of acidosis and eliminates most of the typical gut problems and immune challenges associated with cereal-based diets. So you get faster, more uniform growth and finishing.”

The subsequent improvement in carcase consistency increases average carcase value, whilst the more efficient nutrient utilisation generally reduces total feed costs.

“You can tell from the smooth, well-digested muck that the feed value in the ration is going into growth, not being wasted,” she adds. “Moist feeds also require no processing before being fed, and can be clamped outside to free up shed space.

“As for all finishing, a good supply of clean fresh water is essential, plus access to straw to stimulate proper rumen function. But get it right, and the results will outperform nearly all traditional cereal-based rations,” concludes Dr Sutcliffe.