Confessions of the Sheep/Beef Cattle/Pig Addicts

[Rich_ard]

We use two loaves a day,it never gets time to mold.

Do you walk out the door with a loaf in your pocket for dinner

 

[AftonShepherd]

Calve at 36 months

Have calved at 24 months up until now but the owners want to head towards outwintering and massively reducing hard feeding so they'll struggle to grow big enough. We don't have the acreage of good ground to grow decent forage crops so they're only on deferred hill grazing and bales to supplement where required.

As don't want to calve twice a year, 36 months is the next option and they're not costing much other than lost opportunity to get there.

 

[unlacedgecko]

Have calved at 24 months up until now but the owners want to head towards outwintering and massively reducing hard feeding so they'll struggle to grow big enough. We don't have the acreage of good ground to grow decent forage crops so they're only on deferred hill grazing and bales to supplement where required.

As don't want to calve twice a year, 36 months is the next option and they're not costing much other than lost opportunity to get there.

Bull them to calve at 24 months still and see what happens. You can always retain empties to calve at 36 months.

 

[Rich_ard]

Bull them to calve at 24 months still and see what happens. You can always retain empties to calve at 36 months.

Or fatten the emptys and pick a few more out for next year

 

[AftonShepherd]

Bull them to calve at 24 months still and see what happens. You can always retain empties to calve at 36 months.

Tried that last year with a handful and disappointed with them, their calves and their getting back in calf compared to previously so consciously holding this batch back. Never say never about going back to 24 months if it doesn't work any better.

 

[Rich_ard]

Have calved at 24 months up until now but the owners want to head towards outwintering and massively reducing hard feeding so they'll struggle to grow big enough. We don't have the acreage of good ground to grow decent forage crops so they're only on deferred hill grazing and bales to supplement where required.

As don't want to calve twice a year, 36 months is the next option and they're not costing much other than lost opportunity to get there.

I never have much feed either. Make them work for you. Unless you have a few thin ones you aren't pushing them!!

 

[AftonShepherd]

Wouldn’t be too concerned about actual weight as long as they are well grown .
.7-0.8 kg/day might be as much as you would get if rough grazing

All 12 are averaging between 0.64 and 0.67kg since start of July and have neither been anywhere fancy nor had anything other than a handful of mineral tubs.

 

[unlacedgecko]

Tried that last year with a handful and disappointed with them, their calves and their getting back in calf compared to previously so consciously holding this batch back. Never say never about going back to 24 months if it doesn't work any better.

If you're reducing nutrition then the fall out rate will increase. It's more stress on the animals.

But there will still be individuals within the cohort that succeed. Start keeping bulls out of 3rd calvers that calved at 24 months and again at 36 months (2+3 cows). Use them across the rest of the herd and, relatively speaking, you'll have an adapted herd that calves at 24 months on the new routine.

 

[AftonShepherd]

If you're reducing nutrition then the fall out rate will increase. It's more stress on the animals.

But there will still be individuals within the cohort that succeed. Start keeping bulls out of 3rd calvers that calved at 24 months and again at 36 months (2+3 cows). Use them across the rest of the herd and, relatively speaking, you'll have an adapted herd that calves at 24 months on the new routine.

Might well be the most efficient way forward but I won't be breeding my own bulls anytime soon.

Got a decent flock of these

at the top of the hill to take the commercial pressure off!

 

[livestock 1]

Might well be the most efficient way forward but I won't be breeding my own bulls anytime soon.

Got a decent flock of these
View attachment 1149303
at the top of the hill to take the commercial pressure off!

Everything else is insignificant in comparison

 

[livestock 1]

Typical Monday here mule ewes in amongst neighbours swale tup, 3 tups gone wrong with various problems, daughter been ratching on with someone ran into a metal bollard and mashed her nose (school photos Wednesday) the mrs jammed my finger in the trailer door

 

[Anymulewilldo]

Typical Monday here mule ewes in amongst neighbours swale tup, 3 tups gone wrong with various problems, daughter been ratching on with someone ran into a metal bollard and mashed her nose (school photos Wednesday) the mrs jammed my finger in the trailer door

is that all?
Hope the little un is alright

 

[livestock 1]

is that all?
Hope the little un is alright

Oh the day is still going we are off to collect some electric chairs for the oldies next job
Yes sure she will be fine not seen her yet

 

[livestock 1]

Ps Not electric chairs to kill them ones to help them stand up

 

[livestock 1]

 

[sheepwise]

For bulling next summer to calve at three.

Get them bulled now before they get too big. Let them go round to spring calving for their second calf. Will keep your cow size down and heifers will get back in calf easily at start of spring cycle.

 

[thorpe]

View attachment 1149316

22.5 hrs WTF!

 

[livestock 1]

22.5 hrs WTF!

£30 odd per hour just to talk shyte

 

[AftonShepherd]

Get them bulled now before they get too big. Let them go round to spring calving for their second calf. Will keep your cow size down and heifers will get back in calf easily at start of spring cycle.

Not really set up for late summer/autumn calving but definitely something to consider if they end up too big as cows.

 

[RMSLLOYD]

5300 lambs Welshpool today. Down 20p on the week. Avg £2.51