Trial knocks £40 off cow-wintering costs
UK - QMS funded trial knocks £40 off cow-wintering costs
25 May 2007
2 minute read
New results show that farmers could save up to £40 per cow through outwintering.
QMS has been funding a three-year trial with SAC to investigate the suitability of low-cost, self-feeding outwintering systems for cattle.
Following two years spent investigating various systems at SAC farms on the Bush Estate, the trial was rolled out to three large commercial units to allow farmers across Scotland to see for themselves how outwintering cattle could work in their area.
The latest report from the trial was made available today (Thursday 24th May) at the Lanark Scottish Beef Fayre.
QMS Technical Projects Manager, Johnny Mackey, said: “Given the average position of a negative net margin for suckler cow production when support payments are excluded from the calculation, targeting efficiency work is an important focus for our Research & Development work.
“One of the main aspects of the trial was comparing the costs of wintering spring-calving suckler cows outside in a self-feeding system against the costs of a control group of standard in-wintered suckler cows.
“With savings of up to £40 percow, this work has contributed significantly towards helping move the costs of Scottish beef production to a positive net margin.”
The farms for the third year of the outwintering trial were:
John & Andrew Nelson, Cogarth Farm, Parton, Castle Douglas Durston Family, North Nevay, Balkeerrie Jim Riddell, Nether Coullie, Kemnay
The new report can be found on the QMS website or producers can pick up a copy in person at the QMS stand at one of the upcoming technical beef events – the Scottish Beef Cattle Association Scottish Beef Fayre event at Lanark Mart, the Royal Northern Agricultural Society BeefTech event near Fraserburgh on 31st May and at the Royal Highland Show, Ingliston from the 21st to the 24th June.
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