Farmer Focus: First batch of calves growing well

We are well into the new year here at Glen Farm. The first batch of calves has now moved on to finishing units. Mortality was less than 3% and daily liveweight gains were 200g/day above target, so I’m really pleased, especially as it is our first ever batch.

Homebred ewe lambs were scanned last week at 105%. These were tupped later this year and are much bigger as a result, which will hopefully make lambing them easier.

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They scanned at 120% last year after being kept on forage rape. A result of 105% on grass is a more cost-effective option now we have acquired much more winter grass that we can paddock graze.

The plan is to continue to breed and buy in more batches of ewe lambs each year to build numbers up to about 800 ewes. Hopefully this will enable us to maximise the farm’s potential both in terms of margin a hectare and also margin a square foot of shed space with the calf enterprise.

We need to make the best use of what we have before looking for more land or shed space.

Simplicity and ease of management are very important here as there are several enterprises and not a lot of staff. I’m also finally starting to learn that machinery rarely makes you any money and the focus needs to be on investing in livestock.

I managed to take a day off and go to the NFU Conference down in Birmingham last month with two other younger members of the Stafford branch. First, it was very generous and forward-thinking of the branch to send some younger members down; and second, it was a great insight in to what’s happening in the wider world of agriculture at the moment.

A lot of emphasis was on the “British” brand, which I agree needs to be strengthened and championed worldwide. However, in my opinion, not enough was said about the need for us to improve as farmers. Efficient farming also improves margins, quality and value. Surely that should be an important part of our brand? It’s something I’m working on improving here anyway.

Every penny counts, especially when you have rent to pay.

Jim Beary contract rears 900 calves a year and has a growing flock of Aberfield cross New Zealand Romney’s on a county council farm. He also runs a contract gritting enterprise in the winter.