The current status of the beef breeding cow in New Zealand mixed livestock production systems.

R.W. Webby, R.D. Thomson

AgResearch Whatawhata Research Centre, Private Bag 3089, Hamilton, New Zealand.

Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production 1994, 54: 311-314

The total beef breeding cow herd in New Zealand, currently numbers 1.45 million head. Of the total beef herd, breeding cows make up only 30%. In 1975 when numbers peaked at 2.31 million, breeding cows made up 37% of the total beef herd. Despite the decline in the New Zealand breeding cow herd, beef production now exceeds 1975 levels. Per head carcass weights have increased and there is an increasing contribution of beef cattle from the dairy industry. Pastoral land loses to forestry are expected to exceed 500,000 ha in the next decade, much of this from areas grazed by breeding cows.

The beef breeding cow is complementary to the performance of other stock classes. Her seasonal feed demand profile, her ability to utilise surplus often low quality feed, buffer herself against periods of low feeding and to be a source of equity and income stabilisation is highly regarded by farmers. Compared to a traditional self replacing beef breed herd, a dairy beef cross breed herd where all replacements are sourced from the dairy industry will return up to 43% more revenue per hectare. With the development of new technology there is growing potential for the beef breeding cow to compete at all levels of the beef production line.

Keywords: NZSAPAB; beef breeding cow; beef; complementary; new technology; land use.

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Last Updated 25-01-1997