Csec heifer - keep or road?

[sjewart]

Had a heifer with a dead calf last weekend. She calved 12 days early, calf been dead 24/48 hours.

Stand to lose quite a bit of money on her if sold fat so considered bulling her and giving her another chance.

She's a right good heifer but on the day it transpired she was long inside but not overly wide. The calf definitely wasn't small (averaged sized) but couldn't come out back so csec. Was an endy decent bull calf so she bred well.

She went stone mad when we were handling her but that's totally out of character. Had her 15 months and she's nornally quiet enough you could walk right up to her.

Keep or road? I only run a few so a loss like this is devastating to me financially.

 

[CharcoalWally]

Let her go. Take the hit. What if it happens with her again, given that she's not "overly wide?

Now , if you only run a few and can't afford this, then it's time to think about this system. She's one of these terminal types if I'm right? For your small numbers, that's already the 2nd C section that I remember you with? These types are always going to bring increased risk to a small business. Leave that to the big boys and let them fool around with the numbers .

Buy yourself more maternal heifers that give you a greater chance of natural calvings. Cut the vet bills. Play the percentage game and try to stack it in your favour. Perthshire and Aberdeenshire are great potential markets for these heifers.

By the by, if she went mental at the calving , I'd definitely have her down theroad. Not good for you or a future customer .

 

[Angus77]

feel your pain, for me a c-section is not an automatic cull offence, but temperament issue at calving is.

For me I would cut my losses now, but only you can make that call. If you are prepared to do the same next year, take a chance, but if not, send her down the road.

 

[Stewartry hill]

If she's under 30 months you will lose a lot less than keeping a year doing the same

 

[sjewart]

Let her go. Take the hit. What if it happens with her again, given that she's not "overly wide?

Now , if you only run a few and can't afford this, then it's time to think about this system. She's one of these terminal types if I'm right? For your small numbers, that's already the 2nd C section that I remember you with? These types are always going to bring increased risk to a small business. Leave that to the big boys and let them fool around with the numbers .

Buy yourself more maternal heifers that give you a greater chance of natural calvings. Cut the vet bills. Play the percentage game and try to stack it in your favour. Perthshire and Aberdeenshire are great potential markets for these heifers.

By the by, if she went mental at the calving , I'd definitely have her down theroad. Not good for you or a future customer .

Thanks @CharcoalWally. Fattening her and getting her away was my original plan. Its only as times gone by I wondered about other possibilities more financially friendly.

I did make a good bit of money on the last csec and even better than that is her new owner is delighted with her, the calf she has at foot - AND she's in calf again.

Iv already bought my heifers for next year so can't immediately change my strategy but I think in future il consider pelvis checking all purchases before putting in calf. If not suitable they can go store or fat.

I suspect the reason she went mental was there were 3 grown men (2 unfamiliar) pushing her around. She's back to her usual temperament now but it has made me a bit wary.

 

[sjewart]

feel your pain, for me a c-section is not an automatic cull offence, but temperament issue at calving is.

For me I would cut my losses now, but only you can make that call. If you are prepared to do the same next year, take a chance, but if not, send her down the road.

I think it'll come down to 2 things. Firstly I have to be 100% sure her temperament is back to normal and secondly when I'm PD'ing again I will get my regular vet to check her pelvis. If he says no she's gone.

 

[sjewart]

If she's under 30 months you will lose a lot less than keeping a year doing the same

Yes I can get her away just under 30 months. Checked the drugs withdrawal and all OK there [emoji106]

 

[Northeastfarmer]

Get gone

 

[sjewart]

Get gone

Thanks that was my initial decision and yeah its still the right one. Thanks all [emoji106]

 

[Northeastfarmer]

Thanks that was my initial decision and yeah its still the right one. Thanks all [emoji106]

Get the vet to do pelvic measurements on your bulling heifers before you bull them if you’re getting a lot of trouble

 

[sjewart]

Get the vet to do pelvic measurements on your bulling heifers before you bull them if you’re getting a lot of trouble

Yeah that's what I was saying to @CharcoalWally. Too late for my next batch which are in calf but I think with the next lot of purchases il get vet to pelvic check before
bulling. If too narrow I can always sell store or fat.

 

[sjewart]

@CharcoalWally @Stewartry hill @Angus77 @Northeastfarmer

So we've established she goes.

Anybody guess what's she's worth fat? She'll be going away in 8 weeks time (end Aug). Very easily fleshed. Haven't weighed her since bought but guessing she'll be 680/700k.

 

[Northeastfarmer]

@CharcoalWally @Stewartry hill @Angus77 @Northeastfarmer

So we've established she goes.

Anybody guess what's she's worth fat? She'll be going away in 8 weeks time (end Aug). Very easily fleshed. Haven't weighed her since bought but guessing she'll be 680/700k.View attachment 688554View attachment 688556View attachment 688558

Should be £2

 

[sjewart]

Should be £2

Sorry @Northeastfarmer should have said she'll be under 30 months. That £2 still stand? Is that live weight or deadweight price?

 

[Northeastfarmer]

Sorry @Northeastfarmer should have said she'll be under 30 months? That £2 still stand? Is that live weight or deadweight price?

Yea I know but she’s had a ceaser...it might make more, if you send her dead you’d get cow price

 

[sjewart]

Yea I know but she’s had a ceaser...it might make more, if you send her dead you’d get cow price

Plan is to send her direct to abattoir. Guessing deadweight will be around 394kg. No be cow price as she'll be away under 30 months. Maybe I'm misunderstanding something [emoji85]

 

[Northeastfarmer]

Plan is to send her direct to abattoir. Guessing deadweight will be around 394kg. No be cow price as she'll be away under 30 months. Maybe I'm misunderstanding something [emoji85]

I’m pretty sure if they see she’s had a ceaser they’ll pay her out as a cow...I could be wrong

 

[unlacedgecko]

Plan is to send her direct to abattoir. Guessing deadweight will be around 394kg. No be cow price as she'll be away under 30 months. Maybe I'm misunderstanding something [emoji85]

I read on a thread earlier if the abattoir twig she’s had a calf (c section scar or name on passport) they pay cow price...

 

[sjewart]

I’m pretty sure if they see she’s had a ceaser they’ll pay her out as a cow...I could be wrong

Ohhhh. I thought age was the be all and end all. That's interesting. Didn't know that.

 

[sjewart]

I read on a thread earlier if the abattoir twig she’s had a calf (c section scar or name on passport) they pay cow price...

Thank you. I didn't know that.