Calf rearing

[Woolless]

Got a dairy farm near me with Hereford dairy crosses available. Anyone had experience with them or know if they'd be worth rearing and taking on to finishing?

I've reared a grand total of two and they made cracking, quiet cows. Autumn born and spent their second winter outside with a trickle of cake and they didn't turn a hair, plenty ready to bull in May.

 

[som farmer]

Got a dairy farm near me with Hereford dairy crosses available. Anyone had experience with them or know if they'd be worth rearing and taking on to finishing?

great calves to rear, more valuable with a named sire. Sold a lot of her hfrs to friend, calving down now, lovely and quiet cows, with plenty of milk.
We are rearing some now, along with AA, they require a noticeable amount less food, and will do better than a cont, on grass.
If buying direct off farm, you do have the option of some input, in colostrum, or vaccinated cows etc, agree on that, and the calves are really worth more to you, than av mkt price calves. So when pricing, if farmer plays ball, don't skimp on the price.
Good advice for anyone buying calves in mkt, watch the dealers, if a calf looks cheap, and the dealers are not bidding, its because calves from that particular farm, have caused problems, on farms they have been taken to. And pricing, if a dealer is under bidder when sold, you have usually bought right, they have to make a profit, on the calves they sell. That is, of course, you have fallen out with the/a dealers, because then, they will run you !

 

[TheRanger]

More money to be made on B&W's (not too extreme holstein types), than any beef breed if bought cheap enough.

 

[som farmer]

More money to be made on B&W's (not too extreme holstein types), than any beef breed if bought cheap enough.

also usually the least looked after calves, in the mkt.

 

[Anymulewilldo]

More money to be made on B&W's (not too extreme holstein types), than any beef breed if bought cheap enough.

We used too feed all b&w bulls. 3 weeks old on to 14 months. I’ve found you can’t buy the good b&w cheap enough compared too average blues anymore. I struggle too get a good fresian type b&w below £120, I can get average blues for £200. £80 isn’t much at the other end. Only a few kg extra and the extra few ppk and you are well in front.

 

[Anymulewilldo]

also usually the least looked after calves, in the mkt.

This is true, I get far less issues with the blues than ever we did with the b&w’s. Plus they don’t start riding one another constantly at 10 months old!

 

[Pigken]

This is true, I get far less issues with the blues than ever we did with the b&w’s. Plus they don’t start riding one another constantly at 10 months old!

Do you keep blues entire?

 

[Anymulewilldo]

Do you keep blues entire?

Yeah, don’t cut anything here. Tell a lie, I cut a few poor b&w the other year. Did alright, nowt special. Hanging about too long for my liking though.

 

[SR7]

Yeah, don’t cut anything here. Tell a lie, I cut a few poor b&w the other year. Did alright, nowt special. Hanging about too long for my liking though.

What sort of weight are the blues going into and at what age?
Inside all the time?

 

[Anymulewilldo]

What sort of weight are the blues going into and at what age?
Inside all the time?

In all the time. Full bore corn, straw and a BIT of hay or silage just too keep the rumen working nicely. Aim for 330-350kg DW at 13-14 month. Will kill at 12 months if they are ready and trade is good.