- Location
- North West
Twins, freemartins is easy but we've had strong well shaped calves shot the next day, so its hard to know.
Restricions on calves?
- Thread starter steveR
- Start date
Twins, freemartins is easy but we've had strong well shaped calves shot the next day, so its hard to know.
farmer on a bike
Member
I'm not so sure it is. Previously more calves were sent off to market, mixed up and then struggled with all sorts of disease that impacted them through out their lives reducing growth rates and increasing cost. Now more farms are rearing their own calves and selling weaned (we are on 2 farms) or selling to buyers who want calves above a set base weight reared to standards that require much greater care and result in healthier calves (our other farm). These calves become more efficient feed converters. Their is plenty of evidence to back up the huge difference in feed efficiency between calves that have had pneumonia for example and those that have not.
- Location
- South Molton
Rearing some of these calves to 8 weeks could have a negative effect on cash flow.
Hoops can cost money.
Some producers have chosen a lower milk price with a lower COP.
- Location
- South Molton
Is there more margin in that route?
- Location
- North West
Already doing my part milking 4 AAX.
farmer on a bike
Member
Whisper it quietly, but so far we are making more money by keeping them, but we are fortunate to have been able to rent a building on another farm capable of taking 200 calves (which is under a separate holding number so could be an isolation unit if required) and we have an autumn herd and a spring herd to fill it twice a year.
- Location
- South Molton
So these animals are housed while with you?
Extra feed
Extra labour
Extra machinery.
Don't forget the beef price is at an all time high.
lazy farmer
Member
- Location
- som/dor border
Listen the guy is obviously trying to do his best to make something of the calves not just dump them in a market and walk away, and I commend him on that
The beef price may be on a high but it’s only a fairly recent phenomenon, those of us who have well grown animals to sell are for once seeing a decent return.
- Location
- Shropshire
Slightly off the original Arla topic, being shut down with TB for the second time in three years has made selling calves a challenge this spring. The main part of the challenge is the paper shuffling required. Our neighbour, who took calves from us two years ago into an isolation unit, applied again as soon as we knew the situation, late last year. Firstly inspections were delayed due to Covid, then the Vet decided that the same modification made two years ago were suddenly not enough to keep out badgers. The subsequent approval inspection was again delayed but finally came through at the end of March. The license, however, simply requires a list of calves moved to be added.
If I want to sell in an orange market I MUST apply 5 working days in advance and list all calves to be moved. Those calves can appear on more than one licence and do not actually have to move on either....
Both systems seem overly complicated and definitely add to stress and delays to the system. Like @Princess Pooper I take pride in rearing healthy strong calves so the almost certainty of sending them to their death at an orange market is heartbreaking.
If I want to sell in an orange market I MUST apply 5 working days in advance and list all calves to be moved. Those calves can appear on more than one licence and do not actually have to move on either....
Both systems seem overly complicated and definitely add to stress and delays to the system. Like @Princess Pooper I take pride in rearing healthy strong calves so the almost certainty of sending them to their death at an orange market is heartbreaking.
- Location
- South Molton
So if everyone goes out and looks for a shed for 200 calves locally...... loads of them around.
So we as dairy farmers are dumping them?
@Cows 'n grass dumped 30 today?
What's the difference between that and dumping them as sticks or stores?
Spot on.... No one can do anything with a lot of the pure dairy bull calves.
THis will continue to be the case unless more dual purpose cows come back in favour, possibly led by the milk buyers?
Well, if you have the id you can do a search?
farmer on a bike
Member
Yep, all of those but also extra profit, so far. Maybe because we have been on a rising beef market. Time will tell. I know I will really gain if we get locked up with TB, compared to the issues we faced in the past.
The calves are in batch’s of 45 fed once a day as soon as possible with access to a cheap barley blend from an Advantage feeder blown in by the feed lorry. Straw is on a muck for straw swap from the farm land around the barn.
farmer on a bike
Member
I can remember Carla Lane ended up taking some “poor baby calves that would have been shot” to her small holding in Sussex, good few years ago now. She would have had to register with CTS to do that. I bet their are others who think similarly with CTS registrations.
d williams
Member
If that’s the case shouldn’t the arla farmer who’s seeing a benefit I presume be made to keep ownership of calf until then ??
farmer on a bike
Member
Think you can only look at stock that you have bred or purchased on bcms
Didn't think you could look to see what your neighbours have got
Didn't think you could look to see what your neighbours have got
farmer on a bike
Member
Why? Potentially the buyer may pay less by choosing to agree to the restriction, so it becomes a win win. If he doesn’t pay less then it suggests a free market sees it as no issue.
- Location
- north Wales
My father buys calves there and refuses to sign any paperwork as he doesn't work for those companiesThought I would ask this here for a bit more clarification.
Herself has bought a few calves this week for the first time in ages, one to suckle on a cow who had a dead calf, and a few more for luckPopped to Shrewsbury and then bought them from Drayton...
What set me pondering was the low prices in Shrewsbury for some 2 month old calves flagged as Arla, fair enough, I know that they are not supposed to go for slaughter as calves, but I wondered what was the law on this?
Then on Wed at Drayton, Herself bought a nice bull calf with an Arla flag, and I was expected to sign a document about the subsequent life of the calf AFTER I paid. Now this is the first time this had happened and set me thinking, if I have just bought a calf in market, what legal right does the owner have to insist that I follow some rule imposed by his milk buyer? Dont ever recall the matter being raised in the conditions of sale....
I seem to recall buying calves with a Tesco sticker that mau have been the same, but no paperwork then...