Improving On-Farm Efficiencies
Improving on-farm efficiencies strongly relates to reduced production costs per kg of beef sold, therefore representing improved profitability for the farm business. Instead of being seen as a burden, lowering greenhouse gas emissions of suckler herds represents a challenge with clear opportunities. Improving livestock productivity helps to reduce emissions.
Improving herd health is an immediate mitigation measure farmers can concentrate on, to improve herd efficiency and reduce emissions from livestock. With funding available under the Scottish Governments Preparing for Sustainable Farming (PSF) programme, focused on animal health and welfare interventions, there is an opportunity for farmers to work alongside their vet to identify health issues which may be limiting herd performance.
Reducing the prevalence of key diseases such as bovine viral diarrhoea (BVD) and Johne’s disease will deliver immediate production gains on farm, while reducing emissions. Studies have shown that Johne’s disease is estimated to increase greenhouse gas emissions by approximately 40% per kg of beef produced. Reduced fertility is also associated with the disease.
Parasitic diseases, fertility, lameness and respiratory disease all impact production efficiency and rates of emissions. A lame or sick animal has a higher carbon footprint; therefore, farmers should look to improve herd health and look at the potential gains for improved health and better disease management.
Increasing calf sales, is another carbon mitigation strategy to consider. Managing and improving fertility of suckler herds is a key way to improving cow margins, which has never been more important with input costs continuing to put pressure on businesses.
Ensuring cow fertility is not compromised is crucial to maximising the number of live calves. This includes good management practices such as selecting breeding replacements from fertile cows, use of EBV’s in bull selection, condition scoring of cows and health planning. Routine annual fertility testing of bulls is something which many herds are undertaking. Sub-fertility is common among bulls – approximately 30% of bulls are subfertile at any time – and a fall in conception rate can be costly. For those farmers who may have purchased a new stock bull at the recent autumn bull sales why not take advantage of the funding available for bull fertility testing through PSF?
Reducing the prevalence of key diseases such as bovine viral diarrhoea (BVD) and Johne’s disease will deliver immediate production gains on farm, while reducing emissions. Improving health and actively looking at reducing disease challenges within your herd is one of the most important factors famers have within their control to reduce emissions.
Sarah Balfour
SAC Consulting
Taken from PCHS News 2024
Posted by SRUC Veterinary Services on 14/08/2024
