Anyone ditched youngstock and regretted it?

[happycows]

As above. I’ve always believed in being responsible for your own replacements but..... I’m way overstocked on youngstock and this summer, although I’ve managed ok has hit home that I can’t continue adding ever more stock without additional land, and I’m not keen on trying too Farm twice the land area, especially when it’ll be away ground which is what’s required.
This winters going too put huge pressure on cash flow if I am buying in enough feed and bedding for all of them.
Delighted with the fleckvieh x and procross I selected from Holland and a trip out for 20 every February too calve April would be easy.
Big decision though. Half of me thinks sell some and keep some but economics and lack of land still a problem just a smaller problem.

 

[som farmer]

As above. I’ve always believed in being responsible for your own replacements but..... I’m way overstocked on youngstock and this summer, although I’ve managed ok has hit home that I can’t continue adding ever more stock without additional land, and I’m not keen on trying too Farm twice the land area, especially when it’ll be away ground which is what’s required.
This winters going too put huge pressure on cash flow if I am buying in enough feed and bedding for all of them.
Delighted with the fleckvieh x and procross I selected from Holland and a trip out for 20 every February too calve April would be easy.
Big decision though. Half of me thinks sell some and keep some but economics and lack of land still a problem just a smaller problem.

we have this debate every month when the feed bill comes, we can buy y/s quite cheaply, and have. but they do not always turn out like they look, for example, bought 6 bullers, bit small, left them round to autumn block, shot one as she grew sideways, not upwards-really weird, vet had never seen anything like it, 1calved in 2 quartr,1 3/4, so a cheap buy was suddenly a dear one. they don't all turn out like that, but we do find our own hfrs turn out much better, and then theres the dreaded tb, what happens if you go down, and can't buy in all the time? you have to substitute compensation for cash flow, and that is not good! so we will continue to have our monthly debate,but on paper, it all adds up.

 

[coomoo]

Snap to both of use. Made even more enticing up here without the same Tb risks

 

[alan6430]

My worry is a lot of people are asking themselves the very same question and I think there will be a lot of dairy youngstock and store bullucks in the market now very soon. (Some of mine will be, we have major fodder crisis)

 

[Macus3]

As above. I’ve always believed in being responsible for your own replacements but..... I’m way overstocked on youngstock and this summer, although I’ve managed ok has hit home that I can’t continue adding ever more stock without additional land, and I’m not keen on trying too Farm twice the land area, especially when it’ll be away ground which is what’s required.
This winters going too put huge pressure on cash flow if I am buying in enough feed and bedding for all of them.
Delighted with the fleckvieh x and procross I selected from Holland and a trip out for 20 every February too calve April would be easy.
Big decision though. Half of me thinks sell some and keep some but economics and lack of land still a problem just a smaller problem.

@happycows how do u find the procross for the robots? Who did u bring them in through? Been seriously tempted by some to run in our robotic herd

 

[Martyn]

Could you consider a heifer rearing contract locally? You have put all the effort in seams bad give it away on what is going to be a poor market place. If it's any consilation many of us including ourselves are going to have a very expensive winter ahead, and our cash flow has already been suffering, a lot of farmers only buying what they despratly need.

 

[happycows]

Only had 1 confirmed tb case in 10 years in a purchased cow in 2008.
My biggest tb risk is in youngstock as they’d be most exposed although the chances of going down are moving in our favour all the time.

I was probably fussy in my selection from Holland but I knew what I wanted, udders had too be perfect for robot and I wasn’t prepared to be steered away from that.
Had them through Bradley Moffat.

Last winter 30 went out and that’s the second time I’ve tried it. Silage not good enough so I put dry food too them. Pester they are not clean enough.
Needs well made probably clamp silage and cubicles for it too add up for who’s taking them in.