TIPS ON DAIRY & BEEF CATTLE PRODUCTION

• By Admin
• 19th September, 2021

Dairy-beef is large ruminant produc-
tion system combining beef (meat)
and dairy (milk) in cattle manage-
ment. Pure dairy cows (Holstein
Friesians, Dairy Swiss and others)
are crossed to a pure beef bull such as Beef
Master, Bonsmara, Brahman, Charolais, Her-
eford, Simmentaler and Drakensburger, and
others.
These breeds are selected based on the cli-
matic conditions of the country concerned.
Lesotho has high altitude and topographic
areas.

The country is characterized by chilly
winter seasons more especially in the moun-
tainous regions.
The rangelands constitute 70% of the land in
the country. The rangeland conditions of Le-
sotho are very poor due to overstocking and
poor management. Lesotho is divided into
four regions which are the Lowlands, Foot-
hills, Senqu Valley and the Mountains.
All the above mentioned breeds can do well
in the Lowlands (the temperatures are good
since all these breeds can easily adapt). Brah-
man cannot perform well in the mountainous
regions due to cold temperatures.
Brahman cross can perform better in the
mountains. Mafeteng district is the most suit-
able area for the Brahmans because it is found
in the lowlands and forget not that this breed
is Bos indicus (humped). It is more adaptable
to hot and dry climatic conditions.

Holstein Friesian is a large framed and heavi-
est milk producer in the world. Under good
management, a dairy cow can be milked for
a period of 10 months and left for 2 months
prior to calving (7 months pregnant). In dairy
production, we do not have a breeding season
(the cows are bred for the whole year).

In beef production, we have the breeding sea-
son (November to January). The reason being
that during calving, the season will be warm
and there will be plenty of feed for the sur-
vival of suckling cows and calves. Dairy – Beef
production has a breeding season like beef
production.
Let’s assume that a farmer has 10 Holstein
Friesian cows and one beef bull (Beef Master).

The average milk production is 30 litres a day.
The selling price is M6.00 a litre. An assump-
tion is that the costs will be calculated for two
years because we want to estimate the overall
income for both milk and beef. We are going
to sell the calves as yearlings.
The income from milk and beef production
can be calculated as follows;

MILK PRODUCTION SALES
30 LITRES X 10 (COWS) X M 6.00 = M 1,800.00
M 1,800.00 X 30 (MONTH) X 10 (MONTHS MILKING) = M 540,000.00 (Income collected annually)
M 1080000.00 income collected for two years

BEEF PRODUCTION SALES
A beef yearling weighing 500 kg plus is about M 15, 000.00
M 150, 000.00 for sales

TOTAL COSTS
LUCERNE = M 95.00 X 4(BALES) X 30 (DAYS) X 10 (MONTHS) = M 114,000.00
M 228, 000.00 COST FOR TWO YEARS

DAIRY MEAL = M 340.00 (50 KG) X 2 (DAYS) = M 680,00
(One bag takes 2 days for 10 cows.
(30 (days) x 10 months x M680.00) / 2 = M 102,000.00
M 204,000.00 for 2 years

BEEF FATTENING
Beef ration (50 kg) = M 300.00
Lucerne = M 95.00
Chop (50kg) = M100. 00
Costs of ration formulation
(M 300.00 X 10) + (M 95.00 X 24) + (M 100.00 X 40) = M 9,280.00 per month (fed at adlibitum)
They will be introduced to the ration at the age of 7 months, meaning that they will be given
formulated ration for 5 months to reach 12 months of age.
5 Months X M 9,280.00 = M 46,000.00

MEDICATION
Around M700.00 per cow per annum
M 700.00 x 11 = M 7,700.00 (M 15,400.00 in 2 years)

ITEM COSTS
FEED FOR COWS 432,000.00
FEED FOR CALVES 46,000.00
MEDICATION 7,700.00
TOTAL COSTS 485,700.00
TOTAL REVENUE
MILK 1,080,000.00
BEEF 150,000.00
TOTAL REVENUE 1,230,000.00
PROFIT 744,300.00 (Two years production cycle)

- Mr Maseli Leche is a farming consultant with over 20 years’ experience in Agriculture. Mr Leche has a Diploma in Animal Health & Hus-
bandry (LAC), Diploma in Livestock Auctioneering (SA College of Auctioneering), BSc Agriculture General (Animal Science – NUL), BSc in
Applied & Agricultural Economics (UFS), BSc Hons in Applied & Agricultural Economics (UFS).