Calf trade....

[happycows]

Calf trade seems to have slumped lately. Is there a underlying reason or just seasonal??
I have some shed space, plenty of time and my milk as cheap as milk powder. I'm April to Oct calver so my facilities are all empty at present. Would go ad lib on heatwave milk feeder.
Could put together 30 really nice continental heifers for less than £5k.
Would be looking to sell them in May. Worth a punt??

 

[Northeastfarmer]

They aren't coming to as much when finished with new grids ect...less people want to feed those extreme shaped ones and there's a lot of pneumonia about at the minute

 

[Northeastfarmer]

be looking to sell them in May. Worth a punt??

You know what Del Boy would say don't you...

 

[rc mx110]

Calf trade seems to have slumped lately. Is there a underlying reason or just seasonal??
I have some shed space, plenty of time and my milk as cheap as milk powder. I'm April to Oct calver so my facilities are all empty at present. Would go ad lib on heatwave milk feeder.
Could put together 30 really nice continental heifers for less than £5k.
Would be looking to sell them in May. Worth a punt??

dealer in carmarthn said nobody has the money to pay for them atm, althought trade was slightly improved last week. He reconed trade hopefully would pick up again in new yr

 

[Old Tip]

Ideal Phnumonia weather and folk not wanting extra work this time of year plus the lack of ready cash will all be having an effect I guess

 

[milkloss]

Ideal Phnumonia weather and folk not wanting extra work this time of year plus the lack of ready cash will all be having an effect I guess

Thought there might be a bit of cash sloshing around now many have had bps or is it in with on hand out with the other?

 

[Old Tip]

No BPS here or any sign of it around here, only met one person that's had theirs

 

[Northeastfarmer]

Thought there might be a bit of cash sloshing around now many have had bps or is it in with on hand out with the other?

The old man said calves were the cheapest he's seen in ages on Friday...a lot were taking them home

 

[had e nuff]

The old man said calves were the cheapest he's seen in ages on Friday...a lot were taking them home

First time in 3 weeks that ive missed as was selling today at darlo. Bloody typical!! Brian Ruth got 34 apparently.

 

[Northeastfarmer]

First time in 3 weeks that ive missed as was selling today at darlo. Bloody typical!! Brian Ruth got 34 apparently.

Always the case and someone always takes advantage...stowed out with them as well

 

[yellowbelly]

Worth a punt??

Must be. You're buying when nobody wants 'em (pretty much bottom of the market) and selling when everybody wants 'em (when everybody realises they've got grass). The biggest problem, as has been said, could be pneumonia but surely this damp, murky weather can't last all winter

 

[had e nuff]

Always the case and someone always takes advantage...stowed out with them as well

Stores at darlo on fire today so was worth missing Leyburn i suppose.

 

[Northeastfarmer]

. The biggest problem, as has been said, could be pneumonia but surely this damp, murky weather can't last all winter

It won't but it can claim some casualties whilst it's here

 

[had e nuff]

Must be. You're buying when nobody wants 'em (pretty much bottom of the market) and selling when everybody wants 'em (when everybody realises they've got grass). The biggest problem, as has been said, could be pneumonia but surely this damp, murky weather can't last all winter

Vaccinate them, def worth the extra expense.

 

[Northeastfarmer]

Vaccinate them, def worth the extra expense.

Gave mine their second jab of riosoval last week...feel a lot happier now

 

[had e nuff]

Gave mine their second jab of riosoval last week...feel a lot happier now

Only used intranasal on mine. Got the odd one coughing a bit but none ill and all grubbing ok. How much does it cost roughly to double inject them. Would give them longer cover.

 

[Northeastfarmer]

Only used intranasal on mine. Got the odd one coughing a bit but none ill and all grubbing ok. How much does it cost roughly to double inject them. Would give them longer cover.

Cost us £13 per calf for both doses...yes gives them a lot longer cover

 

[J 1177]

First time in 3 weeks that ive missed as was selling today at darlo. Bloody typical!! Brian Ruth got 34 apparently.

Brians there every week. He will have to fill his new calf shed up.

 

[gone up the hill]

Calf trade is on its knees but so is the stirk trade and that is what happycows end market will be, many usefull suckler bred heifers around at the moment from £330/ 500 head, these cattle would have been worth £150/200 head more 12 months ago, weaned average 4 month old dairy x beef heifers are currently only worth £250/300 head max.

As for next year, Brexit will cause a lot of uncertainty so I wouldn't like to forecast which way trade will go for anything but the very best animals in the calve/ stirk rings.

I would say the current stirk and calve trade is the lowest for many years and prices are more akin to the 1980's than 2015.

Now is the time to buy calves without a shadow of a doubt.

 

[J 1177]

Looking at the leyburn report it seems the top end calves are still making decent money but the plainer stuff is through the floor. Correct me if im wrong.