Heifer in calf when not supposed to be.

Matt · Sep 27, 2013

Sold a heifer a while back. Had phone call to say they just dragged dead calf out of her, and as she was a bit small knocked her about but she was standing after a day or so and they did not administer any drugs. Farmer wants to know what am going to do about it. My thoughts are after going back through dates was that she got in calf at about 8 months. The only chance she I can think of her been served was a young bull calf. And this was only a week before she was sold. My thoughts were maybe she stole bull at his place if a animal got out, or maybe he got a steer not castrated right. As he did say it was a small calf. Now if I had of seen a small heifer in calf that we had bought I would of got her jabbed to try to induce her. Then if the previous owner had paid for drugs and a bit toward extra feed. Can't help thinking if she had popped out a calf and was doing well they might not of said nothing. So not having this happen to us with anything bought in or home bred don't know what's normally expected.

pauld · Sep 27, 2013

Happens all the time. Like you say people will keep quite if they get the bonus of a live calf.
He should have asked you to take the heifer back when he realised it was in calf at its current value.
For this reason I only ever sell steers and not heifers store - these fatten easier anyway. A few of my sucklers are ones that decided to become teenage mums.

As to what you should do. If you are at fault offer to buy her back at what you were paid plus £1 a day keep.

If the basis of fault is not conclusive stand your ground as he could have brought it to your attention earlier.

M-J-G · Sep 27, 2013

pauld said:
Happens all the time. Like you say people will keep quite if they get the bonus of a live calf.
He should have asked you to take the heifer back when he realised it was in calf at its current value.
For this reason I only ever sell steers and not heifers store - these fatten easier anyway. A few of my sucklers are ones that decided to become teenage mums.

As to what you should do. If you are at fault offer to buy her back at what you were paid plus £1 a day keep.

If the basis of fault is not conclusive stand your ground as he could have brought it to your attention earlier.

+1, Exactly right! He has either kept her until now to see if he could benefit from the fact she was in calf, or to see if it was maybe a calf of a breed that you don't have and he does.

If he's got an eye in his head at all he will have spotted a heifer that was in calf 2-3 months ago, if he was that bothered he'd have contacted you then, it's only because he's at a loss that he's bothered you now.

Tamar · Sep 27, 2013

I sold what I thought was a 2 year old maiden heifer to someone last year. Unfortunately it must off gone through our pond into the cows with the bull and returned without me knowing.

Subsequently 7 months after I sold her, she started to calf and sadly died because the farmer hadn't noticed her!! (Although she was running with his 10 cows and calves!)

He rang me up to see what I was going to do about it. I just decided to return his money but I bet if he had a live calf out of her he wouldn't of paid me the extra an in-calf heifer was worth.

I think he was expecting me to pick up the invoice for the disposal costs as well.

Hilly · Sep 27, 2013

Angus heifers are terrible for this, I jag all mine now as a bit of an insurance just incase.

Hilly · Sep 27, 2013

Tamar said:
I sold what I thought was a 2 year old maiden heifer to someone last year. Unfortunately it must off gone through our pond into the cows with the bull and returned without me knowing.

Subsequently 7 months after I sold her, she started to calf and sadly died because the farmer hadn't noticed her!! (Although she was running with his 10 cows and calves!)

He rang me up to see what I was going to do about it. I just decided to return his money but I bet if he had a live calf out of her he wouldn't of paid me the extra an in-calf heifer was worth.

I think he was expecting me to pick up the invoice for the disposal costs as well.

I Know a man who used to buy store heifers to fatten and ended up building a herd of 50 suckler cows through naughty heifers and bulls.

Downtrodden Dad · Sep 27, 2013

I have seen both sides of this happen to me. A long time ago sold a heifer store, the guy said it was in calf so paid up at auction advice cant remember how much exactly.
This year I bought a pure bulling heifer which turned out already in calf and luckily calved herself at 18 months old, a little heifer sired by bull unknown. Given that older heifers calving at the right time can be a disaster I decided to keep her even though it wasn't the way I would have intended it to work out. I should point out the seller was happy to take her back but she beat us to it by calving. Anyone who says it should of been spotted earlier doesnt calve limmy heifers.No belly very little bag.
With regard to the OP if the claim is genuine, and it could be, pay up you sold a store heifer and that's what it should be. Can't see many of my customers thinking they've got a bargain if one turns out in calf and doesn't do your reputation any good either.

Recoil · Sep 27, 2013

I sold a store heifer who turned out to be in calf. Gave the buyer £100 on advice from auctioneers. Can't remember what happened to calf, whether it was born or not.

Spartacus · Sep 27, 2013

We sold some a while ago and two or three 6-8 month old suckled calves ended up calving, must of had a broken set of burdizzos as we got a new set n never had a problem since. First we knew of them was at the auction the following year when the buyer came and told us, didn't expect anything off us and still bought heifers off us that year too.

RFCforme · Sep 27, 2013

According to the rules of the institute of auctioneers and appraisers which most auction companies use, the buyer has six months from date of sale to inform you that the heifer is in calf .After that they can not make any claim against you

Thick Farmer · Sep 28, 2013

When I sell mine as stores I specify when they are in the ring that there will be no comebacks if they are in calf. Always give a tenner luck and let the buyer get on with it.

M-J-G · Sep 28, 2013

Thick Farmer said:
When I sell mine as stores I specify when they are in the ring that there will be no comebacks if they are in calf. Always give a tenner luck and let the buyer get on with it.

I like a lot of your rules TF!

Thick Farmer · Sep 28, 2013

martin gribbon said:
I like a lot of your rules TF!

I learned the hard way! After collecting an in calf heifer from a guy in North Derbyshire years ago and paying him £1 a day for keeping her on top of what he'd paid I decided to start a 'no comebacks policy'.

Hilly · Sep 28, 2013

Thick Farmer said:
I learned the hard way! After collecting an in calf heifer from a guy in North Derbyshire years ago and paying him £1 a day for keeping her on top of what he'd paid I decided to start a 'no comebacks policy'.

Me too I reckon there is more money in them being incalf for the buyers than them not !! only problem is calving them.

Downtrodden Dad · Sep 28, 2013

I know sh!t happens, but if I bought an in calf store with your no comeback policy it would be the last.

Nearly · Sep 28, 2013

£4 a shot for Genestran when we check the ear tags before loading. Sorted.

Thick Farmer · Sep 28, 2013

Downtrodden Dad said:
I know sh!t happens, but if I bought an in calf store with your no comeback policy it would be the last.

What? You would just pack up buying stores?

Downtrodden Dad · Sep 28, 2013

no just yours

Thick Farmer · Sep 28, 2013

That's not a problem. Mine have no guarantee fro that reason. I'd rather take (sometimes) less money and have no comebacks.

GenuineRisk · Sep 29, 2013

Nearly said:
£4 a shot for Genestran when we check the ear tags before loading. Sorted.

Good policy but not foolproof. If a heifer was jumped by bull day before or even two, that won't work - believe me, we have proof of it!

Heifer in calf when not supposed to be.

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