Estimated reading time: 6 minutes
- Pat Bailey and his son, Wade, run a Beefmaster stud and commercial herd at Lily Park farm
- The farm consists of open veld and dense bushveld, and the Baileys manage their grazing through a rotational system.
- Their stud, Impact Beefmasters, is managed the same way as the commercial herd.
- They manage two breeding seasons – one in the summer and the other in autumn.
- The open veld is used for the cows and calves in summer.
Data can’t fix what selection broke, and your grandpa knew it.
– CattleToday.com
Pat Bailey and his son, Wade, run a Beefmaster stud and commercial herd at Lily Park farm, about 30km from Stutterheim in the Eastern Cape. They firmly believe the Beefmaster breed complements almost any other cattle breed in crossbreeding programmes.
“In the past we had commercial cows that we crossed with Beefmaster bulls, and they have always performed well thanks to hybrid vigour,” says Pat, who bought their first Beefmaster bulls in the late 1980s after seeing the success achieved by Graeme Hart, a pioneer of the breed. “Today, our herd is probably among the oldest in the country. We moved from Komga to Lily Park in the Kei Road area in 2010, and I’ve been very fortunate to farm alongside Wade.”
The farm consists of open veld and dense bushveld, and the Baileys manage their grazing through a rotational system. Their stud and commercial cattle run together, with no special treatment for the stud cows – they must produce off the veld just like the commercial herd. The only difference is that the stud animals are registered with SA Stud Book.
A challenging area
Wade, who recently turned 40, joined his father on the farm in 2008 after completing his studies at Cedara College of Agriculture in KwaZulu-Natal. “It’s a massive privilege to farm alongside my father,” he says. “Yes, farming has its ups and downs, but it’s a lifestyle one adapts to. We farm on mixed veld, including thick bushveld, which can make rounding up the cattle tricky.”
Their average annual rainfall is around 800mm, a factor that unfortunately contributes to the heavy tick populations in the area. Ticks remain one of their biggest challenges, requiring frequent dipping, which can take a toll on the animals.
During periods of drought, they make use of chicken litter to boost plant growth and improve soil health. They source the litter from Chicken Litter Logistics, which obtains it from Anca Chicken, a well-known family business based in Stutterheim.
The Beefmasters, however, seem to meet these challenges exceptionally well considering the good conception rates, the ease with which they rear their calves, strong weaner weights, and overall good body condition. “We try to improve all the time, and for us Beefmaster is the breed that performs best under our conditions,” notes Pat. “At the end of the day, if you farm a breed that you truly like, it will work with you.”
Their stud, Impact Beefmasters, is managed the same way as the commercial herd. “There are no extra privileges,” Wade affirms. “It’s rewarding to see our stud bulls perform well in other herds, but that is not our main focus. Our real goal is to produce and supply good commercial bulls to local producers.”
Breeding and cattle health
The physical structure of a bull plays a major role in their selection process. As Pat puts it: “If we like the look of a bull and believe he will perform well in our herd, we go for him.” All their bulls undergo annual fertility tests and are also tested for trichomoniasis before every sale. This sexually transmitted disease can be spread during mating and is a known cause of infertility in cattle herds.
They manage two breeding seasons – one in the summer and the other in autumn. Approximately 70% of the herd is mated in summer and 30% in autumn. “We put our bulls with the heifers from 1 November to 15 February, and with the cows from 1 December to 28 February,” explains Wade. “Our autumn mating season runs from 1 April to 31 May. We generally work on a ratio of one bull to 25 to 30 cows.”
The cattle receive a phosphate lick in spring/summer after the first rains, and a protein lick during the dry winter months. The cows and calves also get a chicken litter supplement in the dry months. “Chicken litter has helped us through several droughts in recent years.
“We inject our cows twice a year with multiminerals and vitamins, and once a year in winter with vitamin A. Calves are dosed for worms at two to three months old. They are vaccinated against clostridium at around five to six months, and again two weeks after the stress of weaning.”
The open veld is used for the cows and calves in summer. After weaning, the cows are moved into the bushveld when the tick challenge is less severe. “We farm in a virulent redwater, heartwater, and gallsickness area. When animals contract a disease in the bush camps, it can be difficult to locate them. Fortunately, our cattle are well adapted to the diseases present on our farm.”
Buy and sell the best
Their marketing strategy centres on their annual production sale and the sale of weaners to local feedlot agents.
During our discussion on how to start cattle farming on a limited budget, Pat offers sound advice: “As you begin farming cattle, it is wise to invest in the best bull you can afford. If possible, look for a bull that is suitable for artificial insemination, as this can help advance your breeding programme.
“It is also important to study the animals’ pedigrees and, to a slightly lesser degree, their performance figures. Your environment plays a significant role too, so don’t let the numbers alone influence your decisions.” – Carin Venter, Plaas Media
For more information, contact Pat Bailey on 082 327 2486 or Wade Bailey on 084 549 8280 or mcdiff@gmail.com.
