120ha of grass

[Beefsmith]

After some suggestions as to what you’d suggest for a livestock enterprise for this area. It’s arable at the moment but 15 miles from base so we are thinking of grassing it down. It’s not presently fenced but does have decent hedges. 90ha has water. There’s no sheds and funds wouldn’t allow sheds to be built. There’s 7 fields in total. It’s grade 3 soil which with the distance is making arable questionable hence this post. I’m thinking something along the lines of buying young stock in and finishing them on grass? But seriously have no idea about livestock in general. We are not looking at doing an fbt on it for tax reasons so need to be actively involved. We have a very old loader that could be based over their in a neighbours yard.
One idea we had was an a short term let for hay/silage making between February and July then we graze it with bought in lambs August to February before selling them direct off the field?

 

[sticky]

Red clover leys, sell first and second cut and then fatten store lambs until December then shut the gate.

 

[Northeastfarmer]

Still be better off renting it out and letting someone else blow their brains out

 

[Fendt65]

Shake your neighbours hand on the way out the gate

 

[No wot]

Countryside stewardship option , 2 yr legumus grass mix but can only top not remove for fodder , forage or graze , £200 per acre , 5yr agreement , put 50% in that option , grass down other 50 % with legumus mix too , because you then can move the legumus mix option on to this other 50% afer 2 yrs , there is also grant for fencing which will nearly cover cost of post and netting fencing , ,then as you say let on grazing licence the 50% that Isn't in the legumus mix option, obviously you'd have to get the water sorted , I wouldn't let for hay or silage and sell your p & k indices down the rd

 

[unlacedgecko]

After some suggestions as to what you’d suggest for a livestock enterprise for this area. It’s arable at the moment but 15 miles from base so we are thinking of grassing it down. It’s not presently fenced but does have decent hedges. 90ha has water. There’s no sheds and funds wouldn’t allow sheds to be built. There’s 7 fields in total. It’s grade 3 soil which with the distance is making arable questionable hence this post. I’m thinking something along the lines of buying young stock in and finishing them on grass? But seriously have no idea about livestock in general. We are not looking at doing an fbt on it for tax reasons so need to be actively involved. We have a very old loader that could be based over their in a neighbours yard.
One idea we had was an a short term let for hay/silage making between February and July then we graze it with bought in lambs August to February before selling them direct off the field?

Where are you?

Put it all into a leguminous grazing mix. Cut the 90ha into 90 paddocks with electric polywire and put water in each paddock/use mobile troughs.

Intensive beef grazing.

 

[Northeastfarmer]

Where are you?

Put it all into a leguminous grazing mix. Cut the 90ha into 90 paddocks with electric polywire and put water in each paddock/use mobile troughs.

Intensive beef grazing.

And how much will that cost in fencing?

 

[Norfolk Hill Farmer]

I would have thought the 15 mile distance would be more of an issue for a livestock venture, than an arable one.

 

[Andrew1983]

Share farm it with a keen youngster?

 

[More to life]

Just let it out

 

[Stewartry hill]

For that amount of land you would have 1000 ewes or 300 store cattle would really need someone on site or not far away

 

[S J H]

All depends on location surely?

 

[LAMBCHOPS]

After some suggestions as to what you’d suggest for a livestock enterprise for this area. It’s arable at the moment but 15 miles from base so we are thinking of grassing it down. It’s not presently fenced but does have decent hedges. 90ha has water. There’s no sheds and funds wouldn’t allow sheds to be built. There’s 7 fields in total. It’s grade 3 soil which with the distance is making arable questionable hence this post. I’m thinking something along the lines of buying young stock in and finishing them on grass? But seriously have no idea about livestock in general. We are not looking at doing an fbt on it for tax reasons so need to be actively involved. We have a very old loader that could be based over their in a neighbours yard.
One idea we had was an a short term let for hay/silage making between February and July then we graze it with bought in lambs August to February before selling them direct off the field?

Your idea is very sensible although i would graze between Middle September to middle of April. Sept due to more store lambs available to buy and April the lamb price will peak.

 

[Pennine Ploughing]

Do you have an AD plant near by

 

[unlacedgecko]

And how much will that cost in fencing?

Well, 1ha is 100m x 100m. Assuming the 90ha is 9 paddocks x 10 paddocks.

The first paddock will take 400m of fencing.
400m cumulative.

The next 17 will take 300m of fencing.
5,500m cumulative.

The remaining 72 paddocks will require 200m of fencing.
19,900m cumulative.

I'd purchase 21,000m of low resistance copper poly wire (£50/1,000m). £1050

Plastic posts at 1/10m, I'd purchase 2000. (£1/post). £2000

I'd then purchase 200 wooden posts for corners and strainers (£4/post). £800

I'm confident I could map and fence such a piece of land in 8 days. (£300/day) £2400

Total fencing spend £6,250

You'd also require 5 X water troughs, 5000m of water pipe and some fast fix hydrants. £6,500

Total spend £12,750.

Once fenced and set up each ha will be capable of producing 1,000kg of lw gain. Budget 8,00kg to be conservative.

Dovecote Park growing cattle contract pay £1.60/kg of lw gain. That's an income of £1,280 per ha, or £115,200 across the 90ha system. Makes £12,750 on infrastructure look like spare change.

Use the other 30ha for silage and wintering.

 

[Northeastfarmer]

Well, 1ha is 100m x 100m. Assuming the 90ha is 9 paddocks x 10 paddocks.

The first paddock will take 400m of fencing.
400m cumulative.

The next 17 will take 300m of fencing.
5,500m cumulative.

The remaining 72 paddocks will require 200m of fencing.
19,900m cumulative.

I'd purchase 21,000m of low resistance copper poly wire (£50/1,000m). £1050

Plastic posts at 1/10m, I'd purchase 2000. (£1/post). £2000

I'd then purchase 200 wooden posts for corners and strainers (£4/post). £800

I'm confident I could map and fence such a piece of land in 8 days. (£300/day) £2400

Total fencing spend £6,250

You'd also require 5 X water troughs, 5000m of water pipe and some fast fix hydrants. £6,500

Total spend £12,750.

Once fenced and set up each ha will be capable of producing 1,000kg of lw gain. Budget 8,00kg to be conservative.

Dovecote Park growing cattle contract pay £1.60/kg of lw gain. That's an income of £1,280 per ha, or £115,200 across the 90ha system. Makes £12,750 on infrastructure look like spare change.

Use the other 30ha for silage and wintering.

And what’s the net profit on the 90ha

 

[Farmer Fin]

Fattening boys must be rolling in cash!

Though plastic posts were closer to £10 per post.

 

[unlacedgecko]

And what’s the net profit on the 90ha

Depends on the fixed costs doesn't it. I'm not party to the OPs business so don't know.

 

[unlacedgecko]

Fattening boys must be rolling in cash!

Though plastic posts were closer to £10 per post.

On eBay, Rutland 84cm posts £135 for 120 including delivery.

I'm sure buying 2000 would attract further discount if you can negotiate.

Fattening cattle is a different game from growing cattle.

 

[Northeastfarmer]

Depends on the fixed costs doesn't it. I'm not party to the OPs business so don't know.

I meant on your intensive beef enterprise...the OP is looking for suggestions