Contract Calve rearing

[Smokey16]

Hi everyone me, my partner and sister rear calves from 2weeks old till they are 5/6month old we have reared 300 calves so far this year for him he told me half way through rearing the last bunch he has to drop the price what he pays us to 45pence aday per calve. He supplies the milk powder blend and straw. Just wondered if anyone else rears calves for other farmers and if do how much do you get paid

 

[Woolless]

Perhaps you should invite him to rear his own calves, with immediate effect?

 

[unlacedgecko]

Perhaps you should invite him to rear his own calves, with immediate effect?

Quite.

He'd have been picking his calves up within 24hrs.

 

[unlacedgecko]

Hi everyone me, my partner and sister rear calves from 2weeks old till they are 5/6month old we have reared 300 calves so far this year for him he told me half way through rearing the last bunch he has to drop the price what he pays us to 45pence aday per calve. He supplies the milk powder blend and straw. Just wondered if anyone else rears calves for other farmers and if do how much do you get paid

What everyone else pays is pretty irrelevant.

Work out your costs. Then work them out again being realistic with labour and losses. Put an acceptable margin in, and that's your charge rate.

If your current customer is not happy with that rate, find a new customer.

 

[Smokey16]

What everyone else pays is pretty irrelevant.

Work out your costs. Then work them out again being realistic with labour and losses. Put an acceptable margin in, and that's your charge rate.

If your current customer is not happy with that rate, find a new customer.

We look after his calves really well and turn them around. we haven't lost any no scour or pneumonia

 

[ringi]

Work out what it would cost you to buy the 2 week old calves and milk powder etc, along with what you can sell them for at 6 months. Then remember to deduct a amount the represents how much it is worth to you for someone else to take the risk of macket prices changing.

I expect his costs have increased and he is trying to keep his profits the same by getting you to work for less, so see how much you could otherwise sell your time for.

If he has dropped payment for the calves you are allready rearing then clearly he does not respect you so you should just ask him to collect his calves giving him no more notice then he gave you.

Unless it takes less then 2 minutes per calve per day it would clearly cost him more to employ a member of staff then he is offering to pay you, he would also need to pay for buildings etc as well.

 

[Werzle]

Hi everyone me, my partner and sister rear calves from 2weeks old till they are 5/6month old we have reared 300 calves so far this year for him he told me half way through rearing the last bunch he has to drop the price what he pays us to 45pence aday per calve. He supplies the milk powder blend and straw. Just wondered if anyone else rears calves for other farmers and if do how much do you get paid

How much were you getting paid?

 

[Smokey16]

About 0.40/0.45pence aday

 

[Estate fencing.]

About 0.40/0.45pence aday

That’s less.

 

[Smokey16]

That’s less.

What you mean

 

[Estate fencing.]

What you mean

I thought you said he is now paying 45p but was paying 40p/45p.

 

[Smokey16]

Sorry its about 45p aday

 

[unlacedgecko]

Sorry its about 45p aday

What was he previously paying?

 

[Werzle]

I have never been any good at riddles

 

[Smokey16]

What was he previously paying?

He was paying 60p aday

 

[unlacedgecko]

He was paying 60p aday

25% reduction when inflation is running at 10%!?!

I'd have 2 words for him. The second one if "off!"

 

[Werzle]

He was paying 60p aday

Is he buying the calves for you to rear? Your electric bill for heating the milk will be rising fairish so i dont see its justified to drop your rate. If he is buying the calfs they have dropped in price so his margin hasnt altered but he expects yours too.

 

[Guiggs]

Tell him unfortunately he doesn't get to dictate what you charge and due to inflation your rates have gone up to 66p a head as of the day he told you he would pay 45p otherwise he has 24 hours to collect his calves and you will be keeping x number back until he has reimbursed you fully.

 

[gone up the hill]

What does the 45p a day cover?

Just labour and Elec/water/shed/insurance costs or losses and meds/vet as well??

You need to tell him that it needs to go upto 70 pence a day or else these are the last calves you will rear for him.

Plenty of demand for calve rearers that do a very good job like you are clearly doing and may be an idea to set up a TB unit and buy TB2 calves and rear/test and sell as weaned calves!

Hearing that TB units are swamped with calves currently and are actually having to turn them away!

 

[Zippy768]

You ought to be raising your price to rear them, not having it dropped.
Do not be a busy fool