Head-Cut Alkalage Shows Great Beefing Potential
07/11/05

photo courtesy of www.jennifermackenzie.co.uk

English cereal beef producers could double their gross margins by feeding head-cut wheat alkalage in place of rolled barley, according to the latest English Beef and Lamb Executive (EBLEX) trials.   And the potential gains may be even greater for heifer finishers, given the diet’s apparent ability to reduce carcase fat levels.

The trials, conducted by Harper Adams University College with Belgian Blue x Holstein bulls and heifers reared from 265kg, compared rolled barley rations from conventionally-harvested grain with diets based on harvesting the top 20-25 cm of wheat crops at approximately 70% dry matter, cracking the grains and ensiling them with a urea-based additive.

Both bulls and heifers finished on this cracked head-cut urea-treated (CHCUT) wholecrop wheat took longer to reach slaughter condition than those on rolled barley. However, they recorded heavier liveweights at slaughter and heavier carcase weights. The fact that CHCUT wheat-fed heifers, in particular, recorded significantly lower carcase fat levels suggests the diet offers the opportunity to take them to heavier weights without becoming over-fat, so avoiding under-weight penalties.

The daily dry matter intakes of both bulls and heifers fed CHCUT wholecrop wheat were higher than those on rolled barley, and the feed conversion efficiencies lower. Nevertheless, very much lower unit feed costs - £63/t DM for the wholecrop wheat ration vs £107t/DM for the barley mix – meant valuable economies in cost per kg carcase gain.

Across all the animals, therefore, the gross margin for CHCUT wholecrop wheat feeding at £58/head was almost double that of the rolled barley at £30/head. Although the longer feeding period reduced the gross margin/head/year advantage, very much higher yields from the wheat meant an overall gross margin/ha more than double the rolled barley regime.

Head Cut Alkalage Trial Results  (Harper Adams 2005)

* Excluding headage payments or SFP

In addition to these direct benefits, EBLEX suggests the potential for head-cut alkalage to increase cereal dry matter yields improve cropping flexibility, simplify cereal storage and processing and reduce the risk of digestive disorders make the system well worth exploring for many English producers.

A copy of the ‘Alkalage Project Final Report’ can be found on the EBLEX website www.eblex.org.uk