How to optimise beef cattle production

Optimisation of the environment is the single most important requirement for sustainable beef production, according to animal scientist Hennie Snyman. For that to happen, the implementation of precision farming principles is of the essence, he says.

- Hennie Snyman

Beef cattle production is often regarded as a lesser part of diversification on a crop production farm, with the animals being kept on marginal soils, grazing and grain stover. However, given the current economic realities and challenges, it can no longer be considered a lowinput and low-income concern.

“The cattle component, while it has the potential to add considerable value to any diversified farming operation, irrespective of the size thereof, can be a highly lucrative source of income through effective management and the implementation of basic precision farming practices,” says Hennie Snyman, an animal scientist from Parys in the Free State.

“Commercial beef cattle production has developed beyond a low-input concern that is kept on the fringes of the main business, and should be managed as such.”

ANIMALS AND THE ENVIRONMENT

According to Snyman, the implementation of precision beef cattle farming principles does not have to be an intricate affair. It calls for common sense, good planning and keeping track of the interaction between the animals and their environment.

“Without effective planning, no business will survive in the long run. My motto is that while it is good to do the right thing at the right time, it is more important to do the right thing correctly at the right time.

“This markedly cuts down on any margins of error in favour of sustainability and profitability. Without the necessary information and data, beef cattle producers will be very hard-pressed to make informed and valid decisions,” he says.

Snyman says an environment conducive to optimal production is non-negotiable.