High beef prices may lead to replacement shortages

摘要

With commercial beef prices still on the up, fears are being raised that an increase in potential breeding heifers being finished could see a shortage in replacements next year. This is according to vet Maarten Boers, The Livestock Partnership, West Sussex, who says those cashing in now are taking a short term view, resulting in potential longer term problems on farm. "With beef prices being so high over the past six months, many farmers have been finishing heifers and cashing in on them rather thanbulling them and breeding their own suckler cow replacements.