CEREAL beef producers could make £26 more a head finishing Holstein bulls on a 12-month system compared with Continental crosses.
According to researcher Simon Marsh, at Harper Adams University College, Continental crosses recorded superior performance but made less margin than the Holsteins because of the big difference in calf price.
"Holsteins left a gross margin before Beef Special Premium payments of £154 per head compared with £128 a head for the Continental crosses," he said. "At around £30, good Holstein calves are really cheap at the moment, as are cereals, so this is a bull finishing system well worth looking at."
Mr Marsh added: "There is a good demand for manufacturing beef at the moment and this is what the Holstein provides, which should help displace imported manufacturing beef."
In the trial, the Continental cross bulls had higher slaughter weights and better carcase conformation grades and killing out percentages, yet for all the performance superiority the Holsteins made more money.
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