click to enlarge

Cowin Limousins Producer Report

The Cowin herd of pedigree Limousins, established just 3 years ago by Dyfan and Carol James of Bryn Iwan, Carmarthanshire is already achieving outstanding feed conversion figures, well ahead of published breed weight averages. (See chart)

This years batch of bulls is on target to achieve a staggering 650kg at 400 days, compared to last years calves which achieved 590 kg’s, this against the breed weight average of 556 kg’s. All of these farm figures are supported by Signet (MLC) who have recently classified the 03 calves in the top 25% of UK genetics, with 9 of the calves classified in the top
10%.

“In 2001 we bought top quality cows from the Drysgol, Banon and Pedran herds with the idea of having the best female stock we could afford, onto which we would use top AI sires” says Dyfan. “As the main part of our
business is selling breeding bulls, it is essential for us to monitor growth rates as we need to know which bulls are giving us the best results at each stage of growth.”

Predominantly July calving but also with a few planned to calve each in November and December, the 40-strong herd of cows and home produced heifers were served last year to a variety of AI sires including Jockey, Moero, Nenuphar, Malibu and Ionesco.

Bulls are sold at Carlisle and Builth Wells as well as from the farm, with an unrecorded 19 month old bull winning its class at the recent breed sale at Carlisle. Weaned at 7 months (compared to 10 months for the commercial beef steers) the bulls are fed with a calf rearing blend which is 16% protein and straw, this is gradually lowered to 13.5% protein which is a blend made for pedigree bulls as they reach 400 days.

QLF Super 40 is offered to all stock via a lick tank, in a creep feeder to young stock from 3 months of age, with typical consumption rates of 0.75 litres/head /day at 7 months reducing to 0.5kg/day at 18 months of age. This mineralised sugar-rich protein source is included to provide readily-available sugars for energy and as a source of RDP and the vitamin and mineral pack assists rumen function and general fibre and protein digestion.

“Visitors to the farm always comment about the “showroom” condition of our stock and we are convinced that the QLF Super 40 gives our cattle a
healthy, shiny coat and improves body condition”, comments Mr James.

As well as using top genetics Mr James is convinced that it is the fine-tuning of inputs which has lead to such excellent feed conversion rates, measured at a peak of 3kg/ day between 400 and 500 days. For example, to maintain top condition and growth rates, all of the cattle receive 3-monthly trace element and vitamin drenches containing zinc, copper and selenium as well as being fed a by-pass protein complex.

“All animals in the programme are weighed every 100 days so we find this a convenient time to handle them and to administer the trace element pack” comments Dyfan. David Thomas provides nutritional advice on
the farm and is delighted with the performance achieved so far.