What to consider before move from beef to dairy

摘要

Although the number of farmers considering a move from beef to dairy is still small, interest is growing and expected to rise further in the coming months, experts suggest.It sounds counter-intuitive to consider moving away from beef in a year when deadweight prices have hit highs above E4/kg, says Andersons Centre consultant Oliver Hall.But concerns over the government’s Environmental land Management (ELM) scheme and erosion of farm support could put many UK beef farmers in a difficult financial position.Historically, beef units have relied more heavily on support payments than other sectors to maintain profitability. Figures show that when support payments are removed, the average suckler herd lost E135 a cow in 2020.This has focused attention on the long-term prospects for the sector. But switching from beef to dairy requires a major investment, both financially and in a change to working practice. Because of this, the need for rigorous research and planning cannotbe over-emphasised, says Kite Consulting's David Keiley.