Arla

[frederick]

The situation has improved greatly IMO probably due to sexed semen, Arla's 10 week policy and a change of mindset but there are still a fair amount of calves sold to slaughter that dont cover the cost of semen and a pair of tags

That made me double check because some calves will be going to an orange market and I want them to be old enough to go to any destination. It's 8 weeks not 10.

 

[Bald n Grumpy]

That made me double check because some calves will be going to an orange market and I want them to be old enough to go to any destination. It's 8 weeks not 10.

Yep your right , bit of brain fog

 

[Fergieman]

I would question your point on dairy bull calves being worthless as they are an important part of our business and a side line that has paid dividends over the years especially when we were shut down with tb as we had a ready market for them.

Agreed, here's yesterday's dairy calves.

No doubt someone will be along to say I've sold them at the wrong place, or they will of cost me £100 more to rear, or I would be better with more dairy cows but farm for what suits your farm. They were all b&w apart from 2 lim x.

 

[Happy hillbily]

Sold a 7 week old British Frisian bull calf at market three weeks ago got £280 for him, it all depends on the calf and who is there buying.

 

[dinderleat]

Agreed, here's yesterday's dairy calves.
View attachment 1149437
No doubt someone will be along to say I've sold them at the wrong place, or they will of cost me £100 more to rear, or I would be better with more dairy cows but farm for what suits your farm. They were all b&w apart from 2 lim x.

What age would they be? All our b and w calves are now Angus been averaging 1750 at 22-24m old

 

[Bald n Grumpy]

The post's from @Fergieman @Happy hillbily @bar718 prove the point that dairy bull calves can be a valuable part of dairy farming but listening to people when Arla introduced the under 8 week slaughter ban you'd have thought it impossible

 

[frederick]

The post's from @Fergieman @Happy hillbily @bar718 prove the point that dairy bull calves can be a valuable part of dairy farming but listening to people when Arla introduced the under 8 week slaughter ban you'd have thought it impossible

Only any point in keeping them if you've got spare land and buildings that your cows can't use. Even at today's milk prices I can make significantly more out of a cow than the margin left in a two year Angus at 1750 pounds.

Currently down with TB. Mainly blues and Angus. We might average 70 pounds at about 5 weeks age with the last 30 poorer calves going to an orange market in December for sale at any price post 8 weeks. Still regard the first loss as the best loss. I milk cows not run a beef enterprise.

 

[crashbox]

The post's from @Fergieman @Happy hillbily @bar718 prove the point that dairy bull calves can be a valuable part of dairy farming but listening to people when Arla introduced the under 8 week slaughter ban you'd have thought it impossible

For some businesses without extra available land, it is a real headache, not to be dismissed.

We are lucky, have lots of marginal ground away from the dairy, only good for dry stock.

 

[bar718]

For some businesses without extra available land, it is a real headache, not to be dismissed.

We are lucky, have lots of marginal ground away from the dairy, only good for dry stock.

Our dairy bull calves do not require any land as they are gone by 8 months old.

 

[Farmer Keith]

Only any point in keeping them if you've got spare land and buildings that your cows can't use. Even at today's milk prices I can make significantly more out of a cow than the margin left in a two year Angus at 1750 pounds.

Currently down with TB. Mainly blues and Angus. We might average 70 pounds at about 5 weeks age with the last 30 poorer calves going to an orange market in December for sale at any price post 8 weeks. Still regard the first loss as the best loss. I milk cows not run a beef enterprise.

Plenty of folk milking 200 cows carting silage from all over the spot and slurry in the opposite direction that would be better off with 120 milkers and some beef cattle though. We’ve always been cattle farmers as opposed to dairy farmers and it’s always worked well, less than half the good ground is within walking distance of the parlour here though, we’d end up housed for long periods and losing margin that way.

 

[frederick]

Plenty of folk milking 200 cows carting silage from all over the spot over and slurry in the opposite direction that would be better off with 120 milkers and some beef cattle though. We’ve always been cattle farmers as opposed to dairy farmers and it’s always worked well, less than half the good ground is within walking distance of the parlour here though, we’d end up housed for long periods and losing margin that way.

I would be interested in what profit is actually in @dinderleat 1750 Angus.
If you don't price the machinery supplied by the dairy. Don't price time, don't price the cost of the shed and cost any concentrates at the price the dairy allows you to achieve probably quite a lot. If you price everything in accurately I would be surprised if it was any more than 200-250 a head.

 

[sidjon]

Only any point in keeping them if you've got spare land and buildings that your cows can't use. Even at today's milk prices I can make significantly more out of a cow than the margin left in a two year Angus at 1750 pounds.

Currently down with TB. Mainly blues and Angus. We might average 70 pounds at about 5 weeks age with the last 30 poorer calves going to an orange market in December for sale at any price post 8 weeks. Still regard the first loss as the best loss. I milk cows not run a beef enterprise.

Can I ask why send them to a Orange Market, when they'll end up at the works rather than sending them there yourself?

 

[frederick]

Can I ask why send them to a Orange Market, when they'll end up at the works rather than sending them there yourself?

Because not all of them will I hope their are a few nice anguses and blues.
Moral cowardice, this way I let the market decide rather than me deciding the same fate for all of them.

I will be checking a week after they've gone and will report back. I currently hope well over half will be reared.

 

[sidjon]

Because not all of them will I hope their are a few nice anguses and blues.
Moral cowardice, this way I let the market decide rather than me deciding the same fate for all of them.

I will be checking a week after they've gone and will report back. I currently hope well over half will be reared.

Would meadow quality not be better, as sold into tb units? As you're not jersey cross, would be interesting to see where yours go, but mate sent in 6 Angus Into the orange Market and all when straight to the works, even though he thought they would be above average calves

 

[In the pit]

I would be interested in what profit is actually in @dinderleat 1750 Angus.
If you don't price the machinery supplied by the dairy. Don't price time, don't price the cost of the shed and cost any concentrates at the price the dairy allows you to achieve probably quite a lot. If you price everything in accurately I would be surprised if it was any more than 200-250 a head.

Does it matter what profit he makes —£200 or £20 he still made a profit

 

[sidjon]

Got my promar climate check thing today, what does it involve?

 

[dinderleat]

I would be interested in what profit is actually in @dinderleat 1750 Angus.
If you don't price the machinery supplied by the dairy. Don't price time, don't price the cost of the shed and cost any concentrates at the price the dairy allows you to achieve probably quite a lot. If you price everything in accurately I would be surprised if it was any more than 200-250 a head.

Rough cost would be £500 per year of life grazing marginal land with little cost is key we would have 90 ish acres of which you can’t or wouldn’t want to graze dairy cows on or make silage off. Fattening ration is all home grown aswell so I don’t think we could reduce our costs a lot more. Unless we outwintered on rape, but I’ve got the space in cubicles all be it old type.

 

[frederick]

Does it matter what profit he makes —£200 or £20 he still made a profit

As long as it's additional profit rather than a beef animal taking up a cow space

 

[frederick]

Does it matter what profit he makes —£200 or £20 he still made a profit

As long as it's additional profit rather than a beef animal taking up a cow space

 

[frederick]

Would meadow quality not be better, as sold into tb units? As you're not jersey cross, would be interesting to see where yours go, but mate sent in 6 Angus Into the orange Market and all when straight to the works, even though he thought they would be above average calves

150will have gone to meadow or buitelaar. Thes are ones that didn't make 55kg in time when you only get one collection every three weeks.