This article is from page 38 of the 2007-12-18 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 38 JPG
CLARE farmers were warned last week that in order to stay competitive they must be producing top-quality weanling and aim for the top end of the market.
The call was made at an informa- tion meeting on suckler cows in SBE NM ool @
‘For Irish suckling farmers to sur- vive they must produce a quality weanling to aim for the premium end of the market to achieve a realis- tic price to remain competitive,’ said Teagasc adviser Michael Neylon.
Suckling farmers were urged to ex- amine their cost of production and technical inputs for over-wintering their cows and producing a top-qual- ity weanling in spring time.
Mr Neylon also advised Clare farmers to reduce their winter feed- ing costs by late grazing and early turn out to grass, better body condi- tion at housing and reducing replace- ment costs of cows.
He also advised farmers to achieve extra weight gain by improving the breeding of the cows for growth and milk and the use of bulls with extra growth potential. Better grassland management will increase milk and erowth, use creep feeding of meals and grass together with a healthy TRU
Compact calving is also vital. A well-stocked farm with a high output of quality weanlings will protect the future of Clare suckling farmers.
Also speaking at the meeting, Pfiz- er vet Damien O’ Donoghue stressed
the importance of disease control and injecting weanlings, especially for the export trade against IBR and BVD.
On January |, 2008 the €80 per cow Suckling Welfare Scheme will commence and the IFA’s Michael Lynch is encouraging farmers to participate. Application forms will be available early in 2008 and the closing date 1s March 31.
‘IT advise farmers to apply as ear- ly as possible in January to ensure that all the cows are included. The scheme will involve additional pa- perwork, but it should not involve extra work on the farm, as what the scheme requires 1s good animal hus- bandry practices,’ he said.
Joe Burke of Board Bia informed the meeting that live exports are
down 16 per cent on 2006 figures, especially to Spain and Italy. Beef consumption is very solid in Europe and feed-lot owners are restocking.
He stated that beef consumption is increasing and the gap between pro- duction and consumption is getting bigger. Imports from South America are increasing to fill this deficiency at present.