Bossfarmer
Member
- Location
- between Perth and Inverness
interested to see peoples opinions on this
Most profitable cow system
- Thread starter Bossfarmer
- Start date
Milking them
- Location
- Scotland
Suckled calves... Because I have no other choice 
- Location
- Devon
Surely the answer would be to sell whenever the market was high but in reality it will be based on the system used.
If you are geared to selling calves at 8 months old, you probably need rid to be ready for the next calving. I'm sure this is the most profitable suckler system as it leaves the the finishing to the experts on efficient systems but if you fear calving with your sheds full of last years stock because you can't sell due to TB, this may not be an option.
If you are geared to selling calves at 8 months old, you probably need rid to be ready for the next calving. I'm sure this is the most profitable suckler system as it leaves the the finishing to the experts on efficient systems but if you fear calving with your sheds full of last years stock because you can't sell due to TB, this may not be an option.
dinderleat
Member
- Location
- Wells
Sell the suckler’s buy in weaned calves you will loose less. All being serious if your profit is less than your bps why bother?
- Location
- Hertfordshire
60,000 head on 1m acres in Australia....
Hilly
Member
- Location
- Scottish Borders.
All that glitters is not gold ? How much dose a person need ?
- Location
- Fife
I'd be content with 60,000 head on 1mil acres...
Hilly
Member
- Location
- Scottish Borders.
Even it was loosing you 2 dollars per head ? Just because something is big dose t always mean it makes money ? I’d rather make a Living of six cows as 60 ooo cows
- Location
- Fife
True enough. More likely to make a living off the 60,000 though.
Hilly
Member
- Location
- Scottish Borders.
I’ve no idea.
Suckler cows are unusual in that traditionally they have not been a method of making spare cash to live on. If you want cash, then you need to work for a living - hens, calf rearing, pigs, retailing whatever you can produce and retail.
But Suckler Cows have historically been a way of building up wealth, and when the time comes to cash them - to buy out a sibling, to buy land, to provide a retirement sum at the farm sale - they are usually the most valuable asset to sell.
Always remember that there isn't much value in a field of stubble or even in a flock of run-of-the-mill ewes. But a herd of good cows with calves at foot has long been the equivalent of camels to an Arab Gentleman.
But Suckler Cows have historically been a way of building up wealth, and when the time comes to cash them - to buy out a sibling, to buy land, to provide a retirement sum at the farm sale - they are usually the most valuable asset to sell.
Always remember that there isn't much value in a field of stubble or even in a flock of run-of-the-mill ewes. But a herd of good cows with calves at foot has long been the equivalent of camels to an Arab Gentleman.
Hilly
Member
- Location
- Scottish Borders.
Or a black n white cob to a gypo
Exactly. But an Arab Gentleman would be out of his depth at Appleby.
Bossfarmer
Member
- Location
- between Perth and Inverness
at what ppl would be equivalent to sucklers?
Bossfarmer
Member
- Location
- between Perth and Inverness
the concern with selling suckled calves is that unless you push them hard with protein etc then theyll struggle to do much more than cover the cost of the cow for the year, keeping them on to over £1000 a head seems sensible as theyre already settled into their environment and will put weight on quicker than if moved to another holding, also the cost of feed from pushing the calves on, if they eat half a tonne of feed at 230/t it soon adds up
- Location
- Devon
Absolutely. That is why it is probably best to continually assess their cost and sale value and try to aim to sell at the best advantage which could be at any point depending on weather, markets and other circumstance. Most of us won't have that luxury as by maximising your facilities, you are normally limited to when you can sell.
Cowcalf
Member
- Location
- North of Scotland
system has to suit your ground and what you can grow or buy at favourable prices , no one system suits all
I'd chance milk at 20ppl over suckers. Neither would be good