British Cattle Breeders Club Conference held in Telford from the 20th to 22nd January 2025

A focus on fat – and placing merit on cows who gain condition while suckling a calf – could be the key to a sustainable and profitable beef system.

That was the message delivered by award-winning Shetland beef farmer Jamie Leslie and Aberdeen-Angus Cattle Society CEO Robert Gilchrist at the British Cattle Breeders Conference in Telford.

Mr Leslie, who runs one of the most northerly beef herds in the UK, told the conference breeding for fat was key to the success of his 90-cow Aberdeen-Angus suckler herd.

The outwintered herd is run alongside a 900-ewe commercial sheep flock, and a leader follower grazing system is in place with the cattle used to reset pasture behind ewes and lambs all summer.

“Our cows must be able to thrive by grazing grass for nine months of the year,” said Mr Leslie.

“By selecting for cows that easily put on condition in our system, we can then use that energy reserve later in the season, when grass quality is low, to reduce our costs.”

He said a one-point drop in Body Condition Score (BCS) from weaning to a month pre-calving saved him 400kg DM of feed per cow – something which has transformed what cows he selects for and how they are managed.

“We aim for cows to have a BCS of at least 4 at weaning and averaged 4.3 last year,” added Mr Leslie.

“We want cows who produce a nicely suckled calf, whilst getting nicely fat; this means they winter cheaply.”

Sharing data for last year, he said his cost of production – excluding a rent equivalent cost for owned land – was £1,017 for a 600kg finished steer. This is based on a suckler cow cost of £645, a cost of £279 for taking the weaned calf to turnout, and £93 for keeping the calf from a year-old in March until October.

Mr Gilchrist said Mr Leslie’s focus on breeding for fat could easily be mirrored by other farmers – and deliver multiple benefits.

He said the industry’s previous move towards breeding leaner cattle had led to unintended consequences, including higher finishing costs, increased cow costs due to higher feed requirements, and reduced fertility.

Mr Gilchrist told the conference: “Luckily, the perils of over selection for lean were recognised in the mid-2010s and fatter animals were moved to sit on the right-hand side of the Estimated Breeding Values (EBV) grid.

“We are now seeing a return to native breeds as farmers see the benefits of genetics that support higher intramuscular and back fat – namely lower finishing costs, less reliance on concentrate feeds, and a lower age at first calving.”

He added: “While margins are tight, sustainable models of suckler beef production are more important than ever.

“This can be achieved by choosing the right animal for your system and for most beef producers, selecting genetics that naturally offer higher fat, will align with sustainability and profitability goals.”