Bodwi Project update: Revising the bull beef enterprise by exploring the potential benefits of homegrown crops

Since weaning in mid-October, the 75 bull calves at Bodwi have adapted well to their diet of grass silage and treated rolled barley. The homegrown barley was treated with Home n’ Dry pellets, an ammonia treatment to produce Alkagrain, an alkaline, high starch feed material with increased protein following advice by nutritionist, Iwan Vaughan. Barley samples were analysed prior and post-ammonia treatment, with the crude protein results summarised in Figure 1.

Figure 1. Crude Protein content (%) of the homegrown barley when a) untreated, and b) treated with Home n’ Dry pellets.

The bull calves weighed 287kg on average at weaning. They are currently fed on big bale silage (ad-lib) and 3kg/head of Alkagrain twice a day. Minerals and vitamins are supplied as required.

The bull beef have been weighed on a monthly basis since weaning, and are achieving 1.5kg daily liveweight gain (DLWG) at present. This correlates with the target of 1.5-1.6kg DLWG from weaning to finishing set by Iwan Vaughan. Their performance since weaning is seen in Figure 2.

Figure 2. Bull beef performance from weaning to-date expressed as average liveweight/head (kg).

Bull beef performance will continue to be monitored up to finishing. The financial effect of introducing homegrown barley to the finishing diet on the cost of production will also be calculated.