Beef Finishing

Beef Finishing - Lower North Island

Beef finishing systems tend to be based around the age of the animals with rising 1-year olds (R1s) and rising 2-year olds (R2s) having slightly different demands for growth due to their developmental stage. This can be further defined by the primary growing seasons of spring to autumn and wintering.

Successful forage systems will aim to finish as many animals as possible before the second winter in the most cost-effective way.

There are two major influences on the ability of this system to be profitable and achieve finished weights before the second winter:

As with all finishing systems, regardless of forage use, buying and selling prices often define profitability in any one year, meaning winter and summer forages can end up being a fixed cost inside this equation
The age and quality of stock will also greatly influence the ability to finish an R2 before the second winter. Expectations need to relate to the birth age and range and the potential of the genetics

There are two major influences on the ability of this system to be profitable and achieve finished weights before the second winter:

As with all finishing systems, regardless of forage use, buying and selling prices often define profitability in any one year, meaning winter and summer forages can end up being a fixed cost inside this equation
The age and quality of stock will also greatly influence the ability to finish an R2 before the second winter. Expectations need to relate to the birth age and range and the potential of the genetics

GROWING SEASON OPTIONS

SPRING, SUMMER AND AUTUMN

Perennial pasture

Perennial pasture options are often the most cost-effective. Include a perennial ryegrass such as Legion* AR37, Legion AR1, Three⁶⁰, Hummer MaxP^® or Haven MaxP^® tall fescue and Savvy cocksfoot in mixes with legumes and herbs that are suitable for cattle finishing through spring, summer and autumn

Spring sown short term pastures

Short term pastures have a strong role in a rotationally grazed cattle system, these options can include Manta AR37 Italian ryegrass, Mohaka AR37 tetraploid hyprid ryegrass and Atom prairie grass
These grasses are often sown with Relish red clover, Ecotain^® environmental plantain and Choice chicory and are particularly useful for R1 cattle

Summer cropping

Summer cropping options for dryland summer environments suitable for beef finishing include Mainstar and Spitfire forage rapes and Choice chicory

WINTERING OPTIONS

Brassica

One of the primary beef wintering options is SovGold kale. However, in cooler and summer wet environments, growing Triumph and Massie swedes for beef finishing is also a good option
Spitfire forage rape is a good late summer sown winter feed option

Fodder beet

Fodder beet, such as Jamon and Feldherr are a useful tool to feed many animals throughout the winter. R1’s require supplements with a high protein level where R2’s have less of a requirement for protein, though supplementation is still required

Autumn short term pasture

Manta AR37 Italian ryegrass is ideal for R1's which will help management during grazing of wet soils and enable a longer pasture life
Manta Italian ryegrass and Jivet annual ryegrass are ideal autumn sown pastures for fast autumn and winter grazing of R2 cattle where pasture damage may occur and they are sown as part of a shorter term rotation

Cereal

Oats is often used for autumn sown winter feed for finishing cattle, Milton oats is highly suitable for R2’s while Coronet oats is ideal for R1 cattle

* Legion has been bred, selected and successfully tested as a perennial and will function as a perennial ryegrass. Due to a small number of tip awns Legion is certified as Lolium Boucheanum.