Bull beef production on hill country
P.R. Journeaux; A.F. McRae and W.J. Parker
Advisory Services Division, Ministry of Agriculture and
Fisheries, Whangarei and Department of Agricultural and Horticultural
Systems Management, Massey University, Palmerston North
Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production.
1987, 47: 119-122
The viability of a number of bull beef production systems
integrated with sheep, within summer dry and summer wet hill country
environments were examined using a spreadsheet feed budget simulation
model. A survey of commercial hill country farmers was also undertaken
to identify on-farm problems and opportunities. The study demonstrated
that bull beef systems can be profitably integrated with sheep on hill
country, and that farming bulls for beef on hill country is likely to
increase.
Survey farmers had few problems with bull misbehaviour and had achieved
liveweight gains similar to or higher than those used for modelling
purposes throughout the year, although not consistently during the
autumn and winter. These farmers could improve profitability by setting
up a separate wintering area for bulls or integrating their grazing with
ewe hoggets rather than older sheep.
Keywords: NZSAPAB;
Bull beef systems; hill country; feed budget modelling
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Last Updated 03-05-1997
