Angus cross Holstein friesian bull beef.

[Beef farmer]

Margin is key, not price.

100% but finishers won't want them at 350kg so price will be hit.
£650/ 6 months old is probably as good as it gets tbh

 

[Anymulewilldo]

100% but finishers won't want them at 350kg so price will be hit.
£650/ 6 months old is probably as good as it gets tbh

If you’ve got the shed space I reckon you’re onto a good thing

 

[Beef farmer]

If you’ve got the shed space I reckon you’re onto a good thing

It's easier block calving tho. There is 220 in that pen, if they had a spread of age of 7 months they would need several pens

 

[Anymulewilldo]

It's easier block calving tho. There is 220 in that pen, if they had a spread of age of 7 months they would need several pens

Be a constant job keeping the hopper full!

 

[Beef farmer]

Be a constant job keeping the hopper full!

Ours are eating 6kg each at the moment. When they start shovelling 12kg in it won't be so flash.

 

[Werzle]

100% but finishers won't want them at 350kg so price will be hit.
£650/ 6 months old is probably as good as it gets tbh

I get what your saying and your system works for you and bulls look very good sorts. We were talking at selling at 12mths though to suit the calving pattern, bulls fat or steers to further finish. Steers sold store at 12 mths 350-400kg would/could be £800-1100 ,eaten alot less feed and get a bigger NS slaughter premium. Not sure how that compares margin wise to bulls but thats what im getting at.

 

[buttercup]

So what the conclusion then....?

 

[Beef farmer]

Do what you want/suits/fits farm

 

[Anymulewilldo]

I get what your saying and your system works for you and bulls look very good sorts. We were talking at selling at 12mths though to suit the calving pattern, bulls fat or steers to further finish. Steers sold store at 12 mths 350-400kg would/could be £800-1100 ,eaten alot less feed and get a bigger NS slaughter premium. Not sure how that compares margin wise to bulls but thats what im getting at.

But to achieve 350/400kg at 12 months, would the steers not have to still be pushed on? The ones I’ve seen in market at that weight for age haven’t done it over cheaply. See more at 14/15m around that 400kg round here.

 

[Werzle]

But to achieve 350/400kg at 12 months, would the steers not have to still be pushed on? The ones I’ve seen in market at that weight for age haven’t done it over cheaply. See more at 14/15m around that 400kg round here.

If they havent been out then yes but could do it on quality forage and some hard feed rather than adlib on hoppers. I agree 400kg is pushing it

 

[harperfarmer]

Out of interest for those doing dairy x beef pushed hard, do you get many feet problems?! Not laminitis as such but more Digital Dermatitis. We always seem to get issues with the reared calves that come in. Suckler bred stuff never a problem. We can usually get on top of it with footbathing through formalin but it's just another job that we could do without.

 

[Anymulewilldo]

Out of interest for those doing dairy x beef pushed hard, do you get many feet problems?! Not laminitis as such but more Digital Dermatitis. We always seem to get issues with the reared calves that come in. Suckler bred stuff never a problem. We can usually get on top of it with footbathing through formalin but it's just another job that we could do without.

Never footbathed a bunch of feeding bulls in my life and 90% of ours are out of the dairy herd

 

[harperfarmer]

Never footbathed a bunch of feeding bulls in my life and 90% of ours are out of the dairy herd

What do you bed them on?!

 

[Anymulewilldo]

What do you bed them on?!

Wheat straw

 

[Beef farmer]

If they havent been out then yes but could do it on quality forage and some hard feed rather than adlib on hoppers. I agree 400kg is pushing it

Top quality forage is dearer than Crushed barley at the moment

 

[buttercup]

Do you crush your own barley

 

[Beef farmer]

No.