- Location
- South shropshire
Anyone running an AFU? , how do they work, worthwhile doing etc ?
Thanks
Thanks
AFU. How do they work?, worthwhile?
- Thread starter Henery
- Start date
Aqu if you want to make the money.
- Location
- South shropshire
AQU ? ..... not heard that one..... please tell me more ?
The Son
Member
- Location
- Herefordshire
Not sure if AQU's are available anymore.
Two types of AFU, grazing and non grazing. Grazing you test everything every ninety days, and have the farm checked annually for boundary fences, to limit transfer with cattle farming neighbours. Non grazing all cattle must be kept in and side must be Badger proofed, this can be electric fencing I think at badger height. I think grazing AFU's are becoming harder to come by and are site specific eg the ground you will be using for grazing is in a ring fence and linked to your main set of buildings, and ideally you have no cattle farmers next to you.
Is it worth it? if you are fattening cattle for 90 days then I guess not really worth the hassle as prices in orange markets are very often no different to normal. If you are prepared to take calves then there is definatley a price differential, but they like you to keep them through to fat as trading TB restricted animals somewhat defeats the object.
You still have to get a licence to move the cattle on farm, not always agreed, especially Wales to England, and generally quite specific to movement date.
I run a grazing AFU, and have done for ten years now taking calves in through to fat, I have one main supplier who is in and out of TB restriction, so I stay restricted and take his calves, you would think that should be an easy win as the calves are going to the same AFU every time, not so, many obstacles are put in place unfortunately. I then get a few odd batches extra over the year from others. For me whilst the test is a ball ache at least its plannable work rather than doing tracing tests all year and going in and out of restriction.
Once you are an AFU you get put on a list that is available to all herds that go under restriction get quite a few phonecalls offering calves. I have done a few deals with members on here which has worked well.
Ring your TB office and see what the score is in your area, I am lucky that my APH officer is helpful and approachable.
Is it anymore profitable than normal trading? Not really but it suits my business.
Two types of AFU, grazing and non grazing. Grazing you test everything every ninety days, and have the farm checked annually for boundary fences, to limit transfer with cattle farming neighbours. Non grazing all cattle must be kept in and side must be Badger proofed, this can be electric fencing I think at badger height. I think grazing AFU's are becoming harder to come by and are site specific eg the ground you will be using for grazing is in a ring fence and linked to your main set of buildings, and ideally you have no cattle farmers next to you.
Is it worth it? if you are fattening cattle for 90 days then I guess not really worth the hassle as prices in orange markets are very often no different to normal. If you are prepared to take calves then there is definatley a price differential, but they like you to keep them through to fat as trading TB restricted animals somewhat defeats the object.
You still have to get a licence to move the cattle on farm, not always agreed, especially Wales to England, and generally quite specific to movement date.
I run a grazing AFU, and have done for ten years now taking calves in through to fat, I have one main supplier who is in and out of TB restriction, so I stay restricted and take his calves, you would think that should be an easy win as the calves are going to the same AFU every time, not so, many obstacles are put in place unfortunately. I then get a few odd batches extra over the year from others. For me whilst the test is a ball ache at least its plannable work rather than doing tracing tests all year and going in and out of restriction.
Once you are an AFU you get put on a list that is available to all herds that go under restriction get quite a few phonecalls offering calves. I have done a few deals with members on here which has worked well.
Ring your TB office and see what the score is in your area, I am lucky that my APH officer is helpful and approachable.
Is it anymore profitable than normal trading? Not really but it suits my business.
sticky
Member
- Location
- Near Stratford upon Avon
Can AFU's trade with each other, move cattle between holdings?