“I’m not happy with the weight gain of my bulls – I’m doing it about it”

I am not happy with this number. The plan is for all bulls to be finished under the age of 16 months, so they will need to gain at least 1kg per day in the run up to Christmas.

However, we quickly recognized the problem and I introduced another kg meal/head/day. So you now get 3 kg feed/head/day plus high-quality silage at will. The extra kg of meal is the end ration – a high-energy 14-piece protein corn ration.

I’m gradually introducing masturbation as it takes a while for the cops to get used to it. Up until this year the ration was always in nut form, but this year it costs over €20/t extra so I went for the coarse form.

The bulls will be weighed again at the end of December.

I managed to keep the heifers born in 2021 on grass for a second season. I usually sell them as yearlings in spring, but felt I could get more out of them by keeping them the second summer and getting cheap weed weight gain.

This year I managed to do that and for the past few weeks I’ve been selling them through the markets and slaughtering the heavier ones. After 21 months the heifers are slaughtered with 302 kg carcass R=3-. I am happy with this performance.

At the end of December I will complete a yield monitor for the farm. It’s a requirement of the Future Beef program, but I want to do it anyway.

As a full-time farmer, the beef operation needs to be profitable and the profit monitor will show what is going well on the farm, but also identify areas where I can improve.

It shows the overall performance of the operation and the expenses, and I can then compare my numbers with the other program participants.

Looking back to 2022, the farm’s overall revenue has increased, but spending on fertilizer, flour and diesel has increased tremendously. Finding out the final result will be very interesting this year.

As part of the Teagasc Signpost and Future Beef program, I’ve been thinking more about how to make the farm more sustainable.

For me, making a profit is still my top priority, but I am planning how to generate this profit in a more environmentally friendly way by reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

The focus is on reducing the amount of fertilizer used. In 2023 I go to sow red clover on a silage field that is very dry; 1ha of red clover could produce 25% of my total forage needs without buying chemical nitrogen!

Also, I will incorporate more clover into the dry fields on the pasture block. The P and K need to be addressed first and I need to put more lime on those areas next year.

Clover fixes nitrogen, and any way to reduce dependence on purchased fertilizer is environmentally friendly and lowers input costs.

Reducing the age at slaughter is a medium to long-term goal. Shaving a month less could save 300kg of feed per bull.

If I drive animal performance from weaning to fattening, I think a reduction in slaughter age will be possible.

Next year I’ll start weaning the bulls earlier for cheaper weight gain.

The introduction of these new technologies is a win-win situation for farmers. They have environmental benefits and make operations more profitable in the long run.

I have always been environmentally conscious and will be planting over 100 deciduous trees and more hedges in the future. My goal is to hand over a profitable operation with a low carbon footprint to the next generation in the long term.

Shane Keaveney farms in Ballinglough, Co. Roscommon