Friesian bull beef pays off at Westport

Press, 2 August 1985, Page 21

Friesian bull beef pays off at Westport

The dwindling supply of traditional breeds of store cattle and their wildly fluctuating prices forced Derek and Janet Parsons, of Westport, to move into a Friesian bull beef enterprise seven years ago. They now run 230 spring calves, 65 autumn-born yearlings and 75 rising two-year-old bulls, all mostly Friesians, on a 400 hectare development block they manage at Cape Foulwind. The property carries also 2100 Perendale ewes and replacements. Mr Parsons told the West coast Farmers Conference that the cartage costs of bringing traditional store cattle long distances to the farm had also played a part in the decision to move into Friesian bull beef. The local district, being predominately dairying, provided a good ("but definitely finite”) supply of Friesian bull calves. Before starting bull beef fanning, the wastage of dairy bobby calves had seemed senseless, partiuclarly considering that Friesians were significantly better beef producers than the traditional beef breeds, said Mr Parsons. Bulls supposedly grew about 15 cent faster and more efficiently than steers, and the gradeless export schedule for bull beef meant that bulls could be killed at any time regardless of condition without risking down grading. The bull schedule was also often higher than other grades. The Parsons stipulate that calves bought from rearers must be weaned, healthy, Friesian bulls and no older than five months. Rearers are paid a price per kilogram liveweight between 90 and 150 kg, with the price dropping by 2c a kg for every kilogram below 90. The buying price for calves must allow both parties a realistic margin and also take into account an estimate of what prices are likely to be in other areas, said Mr Parsons. The schedule system allows the Parsons to buy calves unsighted, a big advantage where small lots of calves are scattered over a wide area and are ready at different times, and helps iron out the peaks and troughs associated with the traditional store market. The Parsons have found straight Friesians have a superior growth rate to both pure beef breeds and Frie-sian-beef crosses. The Friesians are also quieter, possibly because the beef bulls have not had as much contact with people. Most bulls are sold in February, which takes pressure off the feed supply for other stock and allows a build up of feed for flushing the ewes and for a winter feed bank. Some bulls are slaughtered at 20 months and others at 30 months, but the proportions sold at each stage are flexible and depend on the current situation.

Trials with Ralgro have shown a small increase in growth rate which generally covered the cost of the treatment, said Mr Parsons. The major advantage of Ralgro lay with behaviour and the prevention of just one death from riding or fighting would justify a box of 240 Ralgro implants. Livewight gains average about o.skg per day in winter and Ikg per day when grass is plentiful. The beast growth rates over a mob are I.3kg a day while individual bulls can approach 2kg a day. Problems with bulls can occur if boundary fences are not 100 per cent effective and there are cows or bulls grazing nearby. Fighting and riding can cause injuries, bulls can dig holes in sandy country, and they can damage farm vehicles. Handling bulls can be exhausting on the odd occasion they are unco-operative and they can endanger humans, but not from intentional aggression.