calf rearing questions

[cooksey]

am looking into rearing calves preferably not on contract! but still only selling on at 12 weeks due to only being geared up for taking calves on to that age! now is there much demand for dairy bull calves of this age or is this a stupid idea? any input is welcome even if its to say dont bother!

 

[Lovegoodstock]

Been out of dairy for a few years, we kept all females dairy and beef for dairy and beef herd, normally sold bull calves to neighbour at 10 days, cant remember why but we had a batch we reared to weaning, maybe they were under tb restrictions and couldn't buy, but sold them at 12 weeks to mart and remember it would not have covered the cost of powder the extra made. To be honest straight off the cow they have that bit of bloom, bright in the coat, even done well they don't look as bright at 12 weeks, don't want to be overly miserable, and only my experience, but would have thought a contract thing was the only way to stand a chance

 

[Zippy768]

You are hoping to rear dairy x beef bull calves? Not friesian bulls right?
3 months might be pushing it as you'll of only just weaned them.

 

[Jon.S]

We started doing it about 12 months ago. 12 weeks might be pushing it as they seem to like them stronger. Don't bother trying to go on contract as they like to take a nice chunk for doing sod all.

 

[cooksey]

We started doing it about 12 months ago. 12 weeks might be pushing it as they seem to like them stronger. Don't bother trying to go on contract as they like to take a nice chunk for doing sod all.

What age are you taking yours onto?

 

[Jon.S]

180-220kg is what I'm aiming for. Thy re a bit stronger to move by then. Where would you look to sell them from bala?

 

[cooksey]

would be hoping to find someone to buy them as a batch to save market costs and hopefully meaning the price is better.

 

[Zippy768]

180-220kg is what I'm aiming for. Thy re a bit stronger to move by then. Where would you look to sell them from bala?

Where do you look to sell them?

 

[Jon.S]

We try to do them privately. Suits us better really with no commission or haulage and no time lost in markets. We collect all our calves off local dairy farms so we spend enough time running round anyway.

Chap i know of who rears calves for a living set his own website up and sells them all off that but he does do mostly Angus and Hereford. Apparently meadow quality were on his yard trying to buy off him a couple of weeks ago!

 

[Henery]

Wynnstay are involved with a scheme to rear and finish black and white bulls, they have a meeting in Oswestry tomorrow night to explain all.... looks good, too good I would say
Worth asking the question though.

 

[Hummin-Cummins]

It can be financially rewarding if done well, we aim to get calves eating 1-1.5 kgs of concentrates a day by 6 weeks old and get them weaned soon after, once milk is reduced they seem to fly on solid food and grow like hell!
We only do heifers mostly angus but have done batches of blues over last 12 months- find blues eat alot more per day even though worth more money, no more money hits my pocket once sold.
My best tips would be.

1. Buy good calves from as good a source as u can get (preferably all off same farm with high health status)

2. Don't skimp on input cost i.e buy good quality milk powder and a good quality course mix or cake pellets.

3. Keep a very close eye on calves ( check temperatures daily for early signs of pneumonia etc)

4 keep your feeding kit clean, u will see a vast difference in performance from feeding troughs and water tanks that our cleaned out regularly.

Hope this helps,

H-C

 

[gone up the hill]

It can be financially rewarding if done well, we aim to get calves eating 1-1.5 kgs of concentrates a day by 6 weeks old and get them weaned soon after, once milk is reduced they seem to fly on solid food and grow like hell!
We only do heifers mostly angus but have done batches of blues over last 12 months- find blues eat alot more per day even though worth more money, no more money hits my pocket once sold.
My best tips would be.

1. Buy good calves from as good a source as u can get (preferably all off same farm with high health status)

2. Don't skimp on input cost i.e buy good quality milk powder and a good quality course mix or cake pellets.

3. Keep a very close eye on calves ( check temperatures daily for early signs of pneumonia etc)

4 keep your feeding kit clean, u will see a vast difference in performance from feeding troughs and water tanks that our cleaned out regularly.

Hope this helps,

H-C

How much cake do you give them once they are fully weaned?

 

[Zippy768]

It can be financially rewarding if done well, we aim to get calves eating 1-1.5 kgs of concentrates a day by 6 weeks old and get them weaned soon after, once milk is reduced they seem to fly on solid food and grow like hell!
We only do heifers mostly angus but have done batches of blues over last 12 months- find blues eat alot more per day even though worth more money, no more money hits my pocket once sold.
My best tips would be.

1. Buy good calves from as good a source as u can get (preferably all off same farm with high health status)

2. Don't skimp on input cost i.e buy good quality milk powder and a good quality course mix or cake pellets.

3. Keep a very close eye on calves ( check temperatures daily for early signs of pneumonia etc)

4 keep your feeding kit clean, u will see a vast difference in performance from feeding troughs and water tanks that our cleaned out regularly.

Hope this helps,

H-C

Is the rearing something you do on the side or is it a main source of income? How many do you rear to sell a year?

 

[Zippy768]

We try to do them privately. Suits us better really with no commission or haulage and no time lost in markets. We collect all our calves off local dairy farms so we spend enough time running round anyway.

Chap i know of who rears calves for a living set his own website up and sells them all off that but he does do mostly Angus and Hereford. Apparently meadow quality were on his yard trying to buy off him a couple of weeks ago!

Understand that you try to do them privately. A third party can make an easy buck just by knowing someone who wants calved and someone who has some to sell.
Whose the chap you know with the website? How many do you rear a year?

 

[Hummin-Cummins]

How much cake do you give them once they are fully weaned?

For the angus heifers we keep them on adlib- make own course mix with rolled barley, oats, wheat, micronised beans and peas, flaked maize, soya and minerals, - was costing about £180 a ton wen valuing cereals at £120 but obviously costing more now! We do this untill they are a good size (up to 16 weeks) then slowly introduce a good quality dry silage / haylage and cut them back to 2kgs a day of concentrate, mind u they need to be 'doing well' (usually sweating) before u change them over as can slow the growth rate fairish!

Majority of them are sold on for suckler replacements and we keep some ourselves make top notch cows!

Blues are left on adlib till sold usually try an get them gone between 4-6 months

H-C

 

[Northeastfarmer]

For the angus heifers we keep them on adlib
H-C

Don't they go like dumplings?

 

[Hummin-Cummins]

Is the rearing something you do on the side or is it a main source of income? How many do you rear to sell a year?

Only doing as another source of cash flow really, try and do 150 a year, usually in batches of 25 but been known to do more - but gets a bit time consuming feeding time then!

Have been approached to rear for various calf companies but not sure if i want the tie and possible hassle

H-C

 

[gone up the hill]

Only doing as another source of cash flow really, try and do 150 a year, usually in batches of 25 but been known to do more - but gets a bit time consuming feeding time then!

Have been approached to rear for various calf companies but not sure if i want the tie and possible hassle

H-C

Sounds like you are doing a really good job and have a decent system in place so imo you are better off carrying on as you are for several reasons.

 

[Hummin-Cummins]

Don't they go like dumplings?

On the adlib or silage ????

H-C

 

[Northeastfarmer]

On the adlib or silage ????

H-C

Mainly the adlib...heifers, Angus', and adlib sounds a recipe for a dumpling