3 week old Angus and Hereford calves, out of crossbred cows, well reared and will be a decent size for age. How much should we ask? Always do price across the board for bulls and heifers; last year was 120 bulls, 90 heifers. Same buyer for three years, he collects within a couple of days of when we want, want a fair price for both parties. Find market averages a bit misleading.
Calf prices
- Thread starter DairyNerd
- Start date
TheRanger
Member
- Location
- SW Scotland
Seen some AA x grass rat bulls make £190ish at Carlisle this week, similar age. Heifers would be £50-£80 less presumably. Herefords a bit less again.
You’re probably not far away at last years price plus 10% if they’re taking the good the bad and the ugly.
When you say crossbred do you mean monty/fleck/NR or jersey/Kiwicross?
You’re probably not far away at last years price plus 10% if they’re taking the good the bad and the ugly.
When you say crossbred do you mean monty/fleck/NR or jersey/Kiwicross?
- Location
- somerset
we have agreed to take all calves off a 450 flying herd, unless TB interferes.
herd not xbred, av sized cows, AA calves, £100 across the lot, at 3/4 weeks, BVD tested, and vaccinated v pneumonia. Reckon that's a fair price, he decided it, as he pointed out, he doesn't have to p1ss about going to mkt every week, no hassle, no calves making £5 etc etc
but, calves from grass rats, can differ greatly, from £1 upwards !
Decent sized xbreds, are better. I would think, £130, as an average, is good for you, if he takes the lot, good or bad.
herd not xbred, av sized cows, AA calves, £100 across the lot, at 3/4 weeks, BVD tested, and vaccinated v pneumonia. Reckon that's a fair price, he decided it, as he pointed out, he doesn't have to p1ss about going to mkt every week, no hassle, no calves making £5 etc etc
but, calves from grass rats, can differ greatly, from £1 upwards !
Decent sized xbreds, are better. I would think, £130, as an average, is good for you, if he takes the lot, good or bad.
@TheRanger bit of a mix, we have Irish Freisian, Kiwi Freisian and Jersey in the mix. 550kg average at a guess. I will try and upload some photos.
What TB status are you that has a lot to do with price we seem to pay alot more in yorkshire for tb4 calves than in the midlands were there tb1 and such
- Location
- somerset
from a calf rearers point of view, an extra couple of £, spent on a 'better' AI bull, is definitely worth doing.
again, with hereford bull, and xbred cows, you can get some unusual markings appear, those calves, never make their money, until 18 months plus, when you can see their potential finished quality.
l like herefords, and run them as sweeper bulls, and put up with the odd markings. 3 yrs ago, used a 3/4 hereford bull, by default, and his calves were fantastic, he was only used as a stop gap, and we killed him, mores the pity.
again, with hereford bull, and xbred cows, you can get some unusual markings appear, those calves, never make their money, until 18 months plus, when you can see their potential finished quality.
l like herefords, and run them as sweeper bulls, and put up with the odd markings. 3 yrs ago, used a 3/4 hereford bull, by default, and his calves were fantastic, he was only used as a stop gap, and we killed him, mores the pity.
I think its more than reasonable to ask 40 quid more this year. Fats up 200 quid after all
But that was thier value.
Was clean beef not £5 this time last year?
Thought is was 4.65. But often wrong
Really? I sold all AAX out of the shed here last year for £250, so I think I was caught.
- Location
- somerset
its what they would make in mkt, that sets the price, and they don't average £170, there's always a few that drag the price down. We always buy on an average price. And the local markets reports all indicate the small 'grazing type' calves, are trading at lower prices, with some under £5
while store and fat cattle are riding a high price, that may, or may not, continue. The abattoirs are trying to cut it back, mkt is keeping it up. My opinion, for what its worth, is the higher prices will stay, its low cattle numbers, that will keep them up.
unless they can import enough, at a lower price, to satisfy demand. Not sure they can.
Holsteinfriesian90
Member
- Location
- Cornwall
I normally think to expect £20-£30 less if selling off the farm for transport and auctioneers fees.
serf
Member
- Location
- warwickshire
Id have thought they worth that 20-30£ not to have the disease risk !
Think @Devon lad and @Cows 'n grass have both sold calves a sedgemoor to give you a idea
- Location
- S E Wales
from what I can see calf trade is not as good and very variable/unpredictable compared to last year, good calves to cheap considering the price stores are making IMO
I'd have been disappointed with the price you got.
lazy farmer
Member
- Location
- som/dor border
We have sold ours for £90 a calf at 7- 10 days old. Cows vaccinated and we use the Angus AI bull our main buyer requests.
everybody wins. He gets a calf well colostrumed and we get to put a lot of calves through not the biggest shed in a short time with little disease risk.
everybody wins. He gets a calf well colostrumed and we get to put a lot of calves through not the biggest shed in a short time with little disease risk.
Well they made what they where worth to the buyers. Markets are the lions den.
That’s the problem with markets, yes you can set a reserve but then you have to drag them home again. I won’t to know what I’m roughly getting before something is sold. With the markets commission, haulage and wasted time they need to make substantially more than selling privately!