Contract heifer rearing in TB area?

Winklepicker

Member
Livestock Farmer
Just testing the water here.....

As ex dairy farmers, we are wondering if there is any demand for contract heifer rearing, we have successfully done this before for a local farmer, but the poor milk price 18 months ago killed that! So we're wondering whether there is any demand now milk prices are a bit better.
We supplied forage, concs, bedding, water and labour (inc. weighing), and grass for grazing.
We are based in South Derbyshire

We would have capacity for about 250-300 animals, split 50/50 on 2 units we occupy, these are next door units, one being on straw yards, the other on cubicles.

The unit with straw yards hasn't had a case of TB in over 10 years, whereas the next door unit has had the occasional case.... does this rule this unit out of heifer rearing?

Anyone with any constructive opinions how this could be done, or interested in contract rearing, please get in touch
 

sidjon

Member
Location
EXMOOR
Easiest is to rear for one big farm, but only problem is if you go down and the farm you're rearing for is clear, but if your parlour still works it's not such a problem.
 

Winklepicker

Member
Livestock Farmer
There is a fully funtioning parlour, but not a route we want to go down ideally

... if the worst were to happen and we went down with TB and had to milk the heifers, who'd own the milk and where would it go?
 

sidjon

Member
Location
EXMOOR
You need to draw up a contract before you enter into it to iron out all the problems and what if''s as it will bite you if you don't get it right, probably worth talking to someone local who rears as they will have better idea what can go wrong locally.
 

sidjon

Member
Location
EXMOOR
You can end up with the same problem too, member of family is heifer dealer and buys all ages , but the cheapest are out of tb restricted farm as farmers only want fresh calved and noting else.
 

SFI - What % were you taking out of production?

  • 0 %

    Votes: 81 42.2%
  • Up to 25%

    Votes: 68 35.4%
  • 25-50%

    Votes: 30 15.6%
  • 50-75%

    Votes: 3 1.6%
  • 75-100%

    Votes: 3 1.6%
  • 100% I’ve had enough of farming!

    Votes: 7 3.6%

Red Tractor drops launch of green farming scheme amid anger from farmers

  • 1,294
  • 1
As reported in Independent


quote: “Red Tractor has confirmed it is dropping plans to launch its green farming assurance standard in April“

read the TFF thread here: https://thefarmingforum.co.uk/index.php?threads/gfc-was-to-go-ahead-now-not-going-ahead.405234/
Top