Calves wanted !!

[Gotpigs]

Hello I'm after 2/3 calves off milk. Cheap has they will be my first !

 

[Ballygreenan]

Cheap ain't necessarily good, ye get what ye pay for!!

 

[Gotpigs]

Just want something to learn with to begin with. Not fussed bout making money on them.

 

[Ballygreenan]

I appreciate that Gotpigs, but take this as the (free) first part of the learning process.

A 'cheap' calf is usually cheap for a reason, what you're looking for is VALUE FOR MONEY, which is a slightly different thing.
If by buying, lets say, 2 good calves you should be able to turn a better profit per head in a given amount of time than 3 cheap calves, which COULD POTENTIALLY cost you money due to ill health and poor performance!

 

[Gotpigs]

Would I be better goin to livestock market for some. ! Maybe chelford ?

 

[Thick Farmer]

I'd buy them weaned if I was you - less likely to die and usually cheaper in the long run.

 

[bovine]

Any dairy farms around you shooting B&W bull calves? There are some farms that will give them away if you pay for the tags.

 

[Gotpigs]

Cheers pal

 

[Qman]

I would like to be a heart surgeon and wonder if anyone would let me practise on them?



What I really mean is, you more or less say you don't know much about rearing calves, so you will have a few cheap ones and if they die you won't lose much money. I think before you start farming you should learn a little about it before you practice on live animals.

 

[Yale]

Cheers pal

Is there a local agricultural college where you could volunteer to help rear a batch of calves with a stockman to learn the routine and signs of illness.

You would learn more and it could well cost you less.

 

[Shep]

Rearing Calves is a skilled job and probably one of the harder jobs in livestock to do well. If you really want to do it, get calves that have had plenty of colostrum, from someone you know, I wouldn't take calves home from a mart if they were free! as you know nothing of the their first 6 hours of life. Lastly get someone who knows what they're doing to take the odd look at them now and again.

 

[The Son]

Where are you, I do 330 calves per year on milk powder and would be more than happy to show you round and talk about the rearing process. PM if interested

 

[Gotpigs]

Hey Qman you tool ! Iv looked after calves for last 2 year ! Just not my own. I know my stuff, I ant no new wonaby. I'm after some of my own instead of lookin after other peoples. I'm still learning but want to set out on my own. Everybody got to start some where

 

[Qman]

My apologies Gotpigs, I thought you were starting and didn't know what you were doing.

So many people think farming is easy and get a few animals for their large gardens. Usually they haven't a clue and the animals suffer.

I think more animal suffering is on hobby farms than proper ones. I've heard a hobby farmer wondering why her ewe has died at lambing time, it had something coming out of it's rear when I went to work is what she said.

People shouldn't be allowed to farm animals unless they have been trained in animal husbandry IMO.

 

[jojo]

Angus x heifer in market yesterday made £28 nice looking thing just a bit small good place to start if ur not to fused on breed and just want something to get you a start good luck

 

[Princess Pooper]

Would I be better goin to livestock market for some. ! Maybe chelford ?

That of course depends where you are... put your location in your profile. If possible, buy privately, you can ask questions about them and they have not been through the germ and virus soup at market. If you put your location people can see if they are near you and if it's worth replying to sell you some!

 

[Gotpigs]

Which market was that ! I normally go to either selby or chelford when I'm buying pigs, not sure which is best for buyin calves !!!

 

[Gotpigs]

I'm from Sheffield area. Would defo be open to some offers to people to sell me a few if possible.

 

[TelesnaAg]

if your not fussed about making money you will love farming !!!

Ant..

 

[Strawberry roan]

I'm from Sheffield area. Would defo be open to some offers to people to sell me a few if possible.

I'd try and get a batch of three from a local dairy farm, regardless of sex or breed that are a simalar age. They'll stand the best chance then especialy if he a good chap and kept them past a month old or so. They'll be old enough to turn out in spring if you crack on soon. Be on the look out for snot and coughs after a week or so. That's my limited experience. The right farmer , the right healthy calves and a fair price regardless of breed and you might be away.