Calf rearing costs..

[Aspiring Peasants]

the 6 week weaning, came with the proviso, had to be eating 2 kg of conc, so really, if they are eating 2kg, they should be ok to wean. And to be fair, OM always weaned at 42 days, and the calves always did ok. But then hfrs calved at 3yrs, not 2.

Back in the day, I thought it was 2lbs of concentrate rather than 2kgs?

 

[som farmer]

Back in the day, I thought it was 2lbs of concentrate rather than 2kgs?

2kg, of quality food. That is why we reduce volume of milk, to encourage clean water, and starter pellet intake, asap.

if they have a gut full of milk, they are slow to get started, literally no desire to look for anything else. Reducing volume, doesn't mean reducing powder, just making your milk 'stronger'.

on lb v kg, an uncle of mine kept his bulling hfrs, wintered on straw, and 4lb of cake, and make them clear up, all the straw. Then wondered why his hfrs wouldn't be big enough to calve at 24 months. Nor would listen, when told stems of the straw, had no nutritional value, and it wasn't 4 lbs, it was 4kg's.

on straw, l assume a third wastage. We do feed more hay, or haylage, earlier now. The problem with hay, its to variable in quality. Always used to feed the best soft hay, that smelt lovely.
today, feeding a 'rougher' ryegrass hay, gives roughage, and a more consistent diet.

 

[Suka]

Two bags of powder is about £120 but they have to have 1 bag anyway so it’s an extra £60 quid which for the bloom it gives them isn’t the end of the world I think he’d easily get that back when he sells them . When you squeeze a cows tit milk comes out not nuts

You are so right. A cow's udder is big and that's your clue for what calves need - milk, and plenty of it.

 

[som farmer]

as l said before, buying straight off farm, is great, but trust is needed.

bought a big bunch off 1 farm, pre-warned there could be 'problems', so only paid a large deposit, as requested.

calves duly arrived, less 7 strong lim calves, and plus 5 new born AAx. And problems with haulier loading. We will simply knock the price of 7 strong calves off, add a much smaller amount for new born's, which were calves we never looked at, we had a list of calves for sale, priced from that list, as in age, sex and breed.

and deduct a figure, for the hauliers waiting time, they knew his arrival time, he left 3.5 hours after that.

if we get asked to buy again, next spring, it will be eyes very open, or no thankyou.

pity, really good calves, paid a very fair price, and being flexible over dates etc, then you get shat on, really not on. Trust needs to be on both sides.