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MONITOR

British Simmental Monitor Farm Series: Beef Focus & Insights

What are the secrets to success for high-achieving beef production?

Part 1

Quick Answer

The British Simmental Monitor Farm Series is a collaborative initiative between Farmers Weekly and Harper Adams University, focusing on beef production. This series follows suckler beef producer Ian Willson over 12 months, detailing his strategies and successes. It aims to provide insights into high-achieving beef production, covering topics like fertility management, weaning weights, and optimizing cow size.

Farmers Weekly has teamed up with Harper Adams University for a new Beef Focus Farm Series. During the next 12 months, we will be following suckler beef producer Ian Willson of Warsop Vale…

How does Ian Willison achieve one calf per cow every year?

Part 2

In the second part of the Farmers Weekly/Harper Adams beef focus farms series, we take a look at how Nottinghamshire farmer Ian Willison manages fertility in his herd…

How does Ian Willison achieve high weaning weights?

Part 3

Suckler producer Ian Willison is hitting weaning weights way above the national average…

Beef focus farm: How cow size affects performance

Part 4

Running an efficient suckler operation hinges on good management of an appropriately sized cow, which for Nottinghamshire producer Ian Willson means leaving room for flexibility…

Efficient finishing helps to hit beef carcass specs

Part 5

A careful feeding strategy is paying dividends for one Harper Adams Beef Focus Farm in the East Midlands, where carcass weights now beat the AHDB targets by 48KG…

Why is good growth crucial to calve heifers at 24 months?

Part 6

The economic benefits of calving heifers at two years old are well known. Micheal Preistley finds out how ian Willison is achieving growth rates of more than 1KG/day to enable him to bull heifers at 13 months…

Why breeding values make a difference

Part 7

Careful attention to the figures has helped a Harper Adams Beef Focus Farm in Nottinghamshire get great results from both terminal and maternal bulls…

Reduce waste to help maximise beef margins

Part 8

Margins at Williamswood Farm, Nottinghamshire, are dictated by changes in farm management and not in beef price, Harper Adams Beef Focus Farmer Ian Willison tells Micheal Priestley in our final update..

Frequently Asked Questions

1 What is the British Simmental Monitor Farm Series about?

The Monitor Farm Series is a collaboration between Farmers Weekly and Harper Adams University, focusing on a beef farm. It follows suckler beef producer Ian Willson over 12 months, detailing his strategies and successes. The series aims to provide insights into high-achieving beef production.

2 What specific beef production topics are covered in the Monitor Farm Series?

The series delves into various aspects of suckler beef production, including fertility management for one calf per cow per year, achieving high weaning weights, and optimizing cow size for efficiency. It also covers efficient finishing strategies to meet carcass specifications, achieving early heifer calving at 24 months, and the impact of breeding values.

3 How does the Monitor Farm Series provide insights into improving herd performance?

The series highlights practical strategies that have led to significant improvements, such as hitting weaning weights above the national average and beating AHDB carcass targets. It also details how Ian Willson achieves growth rates of over 1KG/day to enable heifers to calve at 24 months, demonstrating tangible benefits for beef farmers.