Calf Prices

HarryB97

Member
Mixed Farmer
It’s a funny old world, some consider calves as a byproduct and want rid of them, I consider them the cream on the job and probably my favourite part of dairy farming.
Sold 3 Hereford bulls last week, 5-6 weeks old all over £300, can’t understand why there’s so many young calf’s sold for little money,
We buy all our calfs in to rear and quite often 5 week old calves are double the price of 3 week old ones, that's a lot of extra money for very little cost and effort!
 
We buy all our calfs in to rear and quite often 5 week old calves are double the price of 3 week old ones, that's a lot of extra money for very little cost and effort!
That’s my thoughts to as a seller.
That said the older calf’s look fit to go on and it would take a fair knock to lose one, they’ve got strength on their side.
I see a lot of young calf’s in the market that don’t look like they’d stand much of a knock.
 

som farmer

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
somerset
That’s my thoughts to as a seller.
That said the older calf’s look fit to go on and it would take a fair knock to lose one, they’ve got strength on their side.
I see a lot of young calf’s in the market that don’t look like they’d stand much of a knock.
the trouble with keeping calves longer, before selling, you have to keep a 'bloom' on them, otherwise they get knocked, having been on the 'other side', seen all sorts ! Very often, some of the high price calves, look quite a bit older than 41 days ! But, for us, easy calving is the aim, small calves make lower prices, alas. But, with a good dose of BB's to come, in a nice tight group, we will have a go, and get them going ! But, if they start to look stale, you have a choice, take a hit, or keep them for 4/5 months.
 
been selling mine at 3 to 4weeks old through the market , blues heifers just over £200 and bulls just over £250. holstein friesian bull calves from £40 to £70, Have noticed not that many HF calves in the market , is that because they are going to other outlets or farmers are using a lot of sexed semen?
 

lady muck

Member
Location
Ayrshire
What are people getting for the following dairy cross calves please at 2 weeks of age

Angus cross bull

Angus cross heifer

Hereford cross bull

Hereford cross heifer

Thanks

To be honest westwards I was expecting to have to carry our Angus calves and Holstein bulls through to the spring. In Ayrshire if it’s not BB or limmy no one interested. My beef shorthorns were worth nothing last year until grass time then they made good money
 

sidjon

Member
Location
EXMOOR
We’ve just gone down with TB today and it’s unlikely our spring F8J8 cows will be clear next spring so will have 100 dairy males, 50 BB and 100 Herefords to get rid of or rear. What sort of prices have people been getting for these TB restricted animals and at what age/weight? Thanks

Best option rear them for 8 weeks, then Hopkins. Unless you can set up a calf unit on a different holding number to clean them, guessing Buitalaar will be charging to take them next year.
 

sidjon

Member
Location
EXMOOR
Sell them as stong stores to an AFU, you will get near enough the same money selling to an AFU if not a bit more.
Would be surprised, we have been losing £200-£300 tb b/w, that was the difference this year for our tb to clear cattle, unless it suck breed or fit to knock over it may be different.
 

bean

Member
Location
holsworthy
Got a fair few char, sim, bbx tb restricted calves, rang Mccartney's at ludlow (orange market) they said unsaleable, not wanted, no value, is this right or are there customers out there for them, would appreciate any helpful suggestions.
What sort of cows are they out of maybe able to help?
 
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