1. Beef & Sheep Indicator Farm Programme & RoadMAP An overview Wed 30 Oct 2013

2. 22 Indicator Farm Programme – Overview Project collaboration between 2 major retailers Farms in Scotland, England, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland 3 visits per farm each over 2 years + tel / email contact To strengthen links and security within the supply chain

3. 33 Beef & Sheep RoadMap – Overview What is it? –Self-check questionnaire that helps pull out key action areas to improve profitability / efficiency / sustainability (developed by SAC Consulting) –Currently focusing on actions that are practical and easy to implement What does it cover? –The ‘Three E’s’ –Animal husbandry, Soils & Nutrients, Energy, Biodiversity & Water, People

4. 44 Beef & Sheep RoadMap - Example YesNoN/A

5. 55 Key Focus Areas Soil and Grass –Compaction issues, clover & grass establishment and rejuvenation Feeding –Forage analysis, ration formulation, target setting and feed budgeting Fertility –Bull MOT, Heifer bulling weight & period and analyse calving pattern

6. 66 Key Focus Areas Less than ½ analysed silage A similar number formulate rations (but not necessarily the same farms!) Only 7 Indicator Farms have a process of monitoring weight gain against daily liveweight gain target to achieve sale weight/date – and as per ration formulation. Less than ½ incorporate clover at a rate above a typical GP grass mix Only 20% actively test dig to identify soil compaction

7. 77 Beef & Sheep RoadMap - Example

8. 88 RoadMAP action plan An Action Plan is generated through completion of the Beef & Lamb RoadMAP Opportunities raised through the Action Plan are only of benefit if they are adapted for your farm Actions might include…

9. 99 RoadMAP action plan Increased DLWG @ grass Improved silage quality Improved grass mngt Utilisation, rotational graze +£2,000 Cut earlier Improve grassland mngt +1,000 for 1ME

10. 10 RoadMAP action plan Reduce age at slaughter Rationing control CP% Rationing Weighing cattle +£1,000 in fixed costs Formulate rations Tailor to forage and stock +£1,200 saving in CP

11. 11 RoadMAP action plan Nutrient management plan Tighten calving interval Increased calves reared Soil sampling Yield monitoring Targeting manure +£4,000 FYM value Cow fertility Bull MOT Selecting of replacements +£2,000

12. 12 RoadMAP action plan TOTAL ~£8,000

13. 13 Benefits Identified Others 1.Sward rejuvenation 2.Monitoring performance 3.EBV’s 4.Monitor fuel use 10min over-mixing x2 loads/d over winter = + £600 fuel

14. 14 Benefits Identified 1.Engagement is different from implementation 2.There are different levels of implementation “Taking a silage sample does not save money in itself” 3.Adoption limited by farm factors and the weather 4.Biological systems – doesn’t necessarily happen quickly

15. 15 Thank You