E/LMS 12603: Breeding Systems And Modern Technology

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There are a lot of breeding systems that can be used for farm animals. The best breeding system to improve production is not always achieved without modern technology.

The number of calves and the weight of weaner calves sold determine the income in a cattle production system. If the main production goal is to produce one newborn animal per cow per year then the income goal is to sell these calves and non-productive cows at the best price.

The number of calves weaned as well as their weaning weights are the results of all the work done during the rest of the production cycle. It is now time to convert this result into money which is the driver for sustainable and profitable cattle farming operations.

The profit generated is calculated through a very simple equation:

Profit = Income (kg produced x price) - Expenses

A cow unit is used as an example to explain the basic calculation of the possible profit that can be obtained:

Ten cows produce eight calves per year (80% calving success rate).
Four of the calves are bull calves and are sold at weaning when they weigh 220kg. The price obtained is R20/kg.
One of the heifer calves weighing 200 kg is also sold at weaning at R18/kg.
The three heifer calves are kept as replacements for the cows.
One two-year-old heifer that didn’t grow well or didn’t fall pregnant is also culled and sold.
The two cows that didn’t produce a calf during this year are also sold. They weigh 450kg and the price obtained is R15/kg.
The cost of supplementary feeding was R600 per cow for the year and the cost of medicine, dip and vaccine was R50 per cow.

The profitability calculation is simplified as an example for training purposes but contains all the principles the livestock handler, whose primary role is to prevent production losses, must understand.

Basic Profitability Calculation for a 10 Cow Production Unit

Income	Quantity		Weight		R per kg		R per animal	Income	% of Income
Bull calves	4		220		R20		R4 400	R17 600	44%
Heifers 1	1		200		R18		R3 600	R3 600	9%
Heifers 2	1		300		R17		R5 100	R5 100	13%
Cows	2		450		R15		R6 750	R13 500	34%
Total Income	8							R39 800	100%
Less
Expenses		Quantity		Unit		Unit Cost		Expense	% of expense
Supplementary Feed		10		Cows		R 600		R6 000	42%
Animal Health		21		Herd		R75		R1 556	11%
Transport		12		Month		R125		R1 500	10%
Other expenses		12		Month		R450		R5 400	37%
Total Expenses								R14 456	100%

								Profit	GP%
Profit								R25 344	64%

Average Monthly Income								R2 112

	Loss		% of Profit
Loss of Calf	R4 400		17%
Loss of Cow	R6 750		27%

Profit = Income – Expenses

60% of income comes from the sale	40% of incomes from the sale of cull animals (non-productive heifers and cows).
The loss of one calf (R 4 400) not successfully weaned and sold will decrease the probability of this production unit by nearly 20%.	The loss of one cow (R 6750) must be deducted from the possible profit, resulting in a 25% reduction in profit.

Source: Afrivet – Livestock Handler Training Manual Module 12 Pregnancy diagnosis and weaning of calves

Beef cattle farmers have a very extensive breeding system going. They test the progeny of the bulls (they want to use in their breeding plan) in a well-structured way. They use production traits such as daily growth rate, weaning mass and a lot of meaningful production aspects in a national progeny-testing scheme.

E/LMS 12603 Livestock Production Animal Breeding

Breeding Systems And Modern Technology