Finishing for beef

 

• Finished British White steers and heifers will produce an outstanding carcase for butchers wanting top-quality beef

• Selling boxed beef direct to customers can be an excellent way to retain the most profit from finished animals

• Aim for a 'handy butcher's weight' of 280kg - 300kg dead

• British Whites should achieve grades between O+3 and R4L; more fat is achievable with time but make sure to suit the finish of your beasts to the customer

 

Pedigree breeding stock

 

• Registering your animals with the Society opens up your customer base to those looking for bulls and females for pedigree breeding

• Attending Society-supported shows and sales will get your herd noticed and boost your audience

• A range of advertising options are available from the BWCS to help market your pedigree stock

• Contact the Society or check the latest sale reports for a guide to pricing your cattle for sale

 

Live market trading

 

• Selling stock through a live market can be beneficial, as long as you have realistic expectations

• Rarer breeds (including the British White) may achieve a lower price than the equivalent weight/conformation continental or more popular native breed; buyers tend to stick to what they know

• Cattle with reduced body condition or poor conformation will likely achieve a disappointing price in a live market

• Keep an eye on price trends at your local mart; well grown and finished cattle will sell best but try to choose the right time for the type of stock you are selling

 

Using a terminal sire

 

• If pedigree breeding isn't for you, add value to the progeny of British White cows by using a terminal (outright beef breed) sire and selling calves as stores or as finished cattle

• British White females are super sucklers which will wean excellent crossbred calves

• Terminal-sired calves from British White dams will display outstanding hybrid vigour for high daily weight gains and good health traits