Contract Rearing Dairy Heifers

[Thick Farmer]

+1 to this!

We looked into rearing heifers a couple of years ago.
We've got loads of space ( about an acre under cover of modern cattle sheds ) all unused.
People just won't pay enough to make it worth while for me!
If I wanted to work for no return - I'd still be milking my own cattle - not rearing yours!

We have decided to go down the b&b pig route - having done the number crunching - there is just no comparison!

Would have liked to do that, but i think I'm too far West for them and transport costs will be too high

 

[Thick Farmer]

Sorry to restart this old thread again, but it's taken me all year to get my act together and finally it looks like the heifer rearing job will be starting soon.

Has anyone got any further tips on what to do or don't do?

Also any advice on the rate to charge?

Thanks.

 

[Derrick Hughes]

Are they dairy heifers

 

[Thick Farmer]

Are they dairy heifers

Yes. Likely to be taking them from 3 months of age through to a few weeks before calving.

 

[yin ewe]

We pay £1/head/day from 8 months up to 15 months. We provide meal and vet, rearer provides housing, sawdust, fodder and looks after them. Done it this way for over a year now and am very well pleased with the results.

 

[Thick Farmer]

We pay £1/head/day from 8 months up to 15 months. We provide meal and vet, rearer provides housing, sawdust, fodder and looks after them. Done it this way for over a year now and am very well pleased with the results.

I'm hoping for a bit more than that...

 

[yin ewe]

I suppose if your taking them right through to calving then you could get more, although at 3 months old they wont eat that much silage. We get ours when they are ready to AI so the rearer doesn't have any hassle with heat detection etc.

 

[Princess Pooper]

http://www.dairyco.org.uk/resources...mation/health-welfare/heifer-rearing-report-/

and get a weigh crush if you haven't got one already. Depending how good you think you are at heifer rearing, put it into the search box on the DairyCo website there are some very good reports to read

 

[Derrick Hughes]

Yes. Likely to be taking them from 3 months of age through to a few weeks before calving.

The last lot I did nearly 10 years back I paid him 70 for the calf and sold them back a month from calving at £1000 2 year old just under

Biggest worry, - summer mastitis , used to fly them every summer month and TB which we never had but what would happen if they went down a month from going home and ready to calve

 

[Thick Farmer]

The last lot I did nearly 10 years back I paid him 70 for the calf and sold them back a month from calving at £1000 2 year old just under

Biggest worry, - summer mastitis , used to fly them every summer month and TB which we never had but what would happen if they went down a month from going home and ready to calve

The problem with doing it that way is that my cash flow is still going to be as crap as it is now, as a beef producer.

TB could be a problem, but I have 4 holdings so could most likely link one of them to the dairy farm by getting him to put the fields onto his iacs form - same as summer grazing really.

 

[Derrick Hughes]

Done quick sums then if you don't get £1-90 day ish you'd be better off doing beef , £1 day is shurly a joke

 

[Princess Pooper]

The problem with doing it that way is that my cash flow is still going to be as crap as it is now, as a beef producer.

TB could be a problem, but I have 4 holdings so could most likely link one of them to the dairy farm by getting him to put the fields onto his iacs form - same as summer grazing really.

Not sure what is happening in Wales but in our area in England linked holdings will not be permitted going forward.

 

[Thick Farmer]

Not sure what is happening in Wales but in our area in England linked holdings will not be permitted going forward.

Same story in Wales, but obviously there will be a way forward.

 

[gone up the hill]

Done quick sums then if you don't get £1-90 day ish you'd be better off doing beef , £1 day is shurly a joke

It needs to be £2/ head a day to cover costs and leave a profit margin be that beef or dairy stock.

£1 day must be in old money surely????

 

[Kiss]

People still do it for £1a day I just buy a bag of milk powder on top

 

[Derrick Hughes]

Ok £1 day 18 months 500 how many can I send ,, anyone take a 1000

 

[Kiss]

The lower figures have to be calf to calving

 

[Derrick Hughes]

The lower figures have to be calf to calving

So you can rear a beast to two years old for £500 and make a profit

 

[Kiss]

Where do you get £500 from?

 

[Derrick Hughes]

Where do you get £500 from?

I kept mine just under 18 months calves at 2 years