BULL BEEF PRODUCTION: THE 'TUAPAKA' EXPERIENCE

Abstract

A bull-beef system based on buying 8 week old replacement calves and selling bulls at 15-20 months of age was set up prior to the winter of 1983. A commercial venture, it was set up to provide information on calf-to-20-month bull beef systems. Average carcass weights (CW) at slaughter have been 212 kg, 231 kg, 237 kg and 208 kg for the four seasons reported. The margin per ha (sales less replacement costs) in each of those years has been $798, $1380, $875, and $720 respectively. Data collected regularly on average pasture cover and animal livewetght are used to allow management to respond appropriately lo climatic variability, especially through the autumn and winter, and ensure that liveweight (LW) targets are met before summer dry spells. Keywords: pasture cover, target liveweights, profitability