Dairy cross calf prices

[pappuller]

3 calves and a cull cow buys your replacement or not quiet?

Yes, but it was better in march when 60 calves bought me 20 August calving heifers and the culls took us to Jamaica lol.
Hopefully wont need to trouble the dairy sales now till next summer unless tb waves it wand in my direction in a fortnight.

 

[cornishfarmer]

Don't sell calves, how is grade worked out?

 

[nelly55]

I think we were quoted over £100 a calf to buy in black whites,and sell back at £2.90 kg deadweight at 12 months.Prefer to buy direct off farm ,than calves stood in market etc all day.Couldnt make the figures add up as cattle lightweight at slaughter.

 

[pappuller]

I think we were quoted over £100 a calf to buy in black whites,and sell back at £2.90 kg deadweight at 12 months.Prefer to buy direct off farm ,than calves stood in market etc all day.Couldnt make the figures add up as cattle lightweight at slaughter.

I know Buitelaar pay tidy money off farm for b&w calves @farmertom sells a few to them

 

[Sid]

View attachment 567656

4 calves we sent on Monday last week, two twin bulls no bigger than a pair of collie dogs.View attachment 567690

Are these clean or Tb restricted prices?

 

[pappuller]

Are these clean or Tb restricted prices?

Clear here at the moment, testing in a fortnight, values will drop 30/40% for calves under restriction but it is a limited market.

 

[multi power]

What's your method of perfect blue calves @3 weeks
My calves don't have the same bloom they used to and I think it's because I'm on powder now and not cow milk?

Nothing wrong with powder, but needs to be high quality

 

[pappuller]

Nothing wrong with powder, but needs to be high quality

You wont get the bloom on them in such a short space of time as you will with mothers own.

 

[jondear]

Can only dream of selling calves with Fffffing tb.Nearly a year now.

 

[multi power]

You wont get the bloom on them in such a short space of time as you will with mothers own.

I don't think I can argue with that, mother nature is hard to beat
Having said that some of the best calves I reared were on powdered milk, lots of it

 

[pappuller]

I don't think I can argue with that, mother nature is hard to beat
Having said that some of the best calves I reared were on powdered milk, lots of it

We've tried all types but always go back to whole milk

 

[supercow]

On the current trade if they are smart you need to be getting £300 for heifers and 370 for bulls as a min..

Weaned Blue bulls at 16 weeks are now around the £530/550 mark, other breeds around the £500 mark.

Saw some utter shite BB bull calves sold the other day and they made £220 ( 10 days old )

Trade mostly being pushed by dealers!

We sold 2 blue hiefers for 220£ on farm 2 weeks old are you saying we got a good deal? But sold 3 weaned limmys for 350 which were on cows which I thought could have got more for. Most farmers overvalue calves on the farm makes it awkward for the buyer I feel. Never really get a true market value unless not sold at a market in my opinion! Taking a few to Carlisle tomoro see how we get on

 

[gone up the hill]

We sold 2 blue hiefers for 220£ on farm 2 weeks old are you saying we got a good deal? But sold 3 weaned limmys for 350 which were on cows which I thought could have got more for. Most farmers overvalue calves on the farm makes it awkward for the buyer I feel. Never really get a true market value unless not sold at a market in my opinion! Taking a few to Carlisle tomoro see how we get on

Depends on the grade of the calves but you would defo not buy weaned Lim calves for £350 down here currently!

 

[happycows]

I'd agree on quite a few getting carried away with inflated prices but there's no doubt calf trade is good.
Not sure if i'm the only one but out of 10 there's usually 3 beauties, 5 average and a couple that let the side down. Auctioners are brilliant at pushing how great the trade is for the best. Averages tell a better picture and at the end of the day it's the average that matters that's paid in to the bank.

 

[Rossymons]

I'd agree on quite a few getting carried away with inflated prices but there's no doubt calf trade is good.
Not sure if i'm the only one but out of 10 there's usually 3 beauties, 5 average and a couple that let the side down. Auctioners are brilliant at pushing how great the trade is for the best. Averages tell a better picture and at the end of the day it's the average that matters that's paid in to the bank.

Quite often they'll print a list of high prices against the number sold. I always take away the highest numbers and work out a new average - it usually reflects a fairer picture of where things stand.

 

[supercow]

Depends on the grade of the calves but you would defo not buy weaned Lim calves for £350 down here currently!

I did kick myself a wee bit there, but an all inclusive holiday in Spain helped me get over it..they were hiefers aswell

 

[Sid]

I did kick myself a wee bit there, but an all inclusive holiday in Spain helped me get over it..they were hiefers aswell

Maybe you could have had an extra week if sold better?

 

[supercow]

Agreed, could have taken them to the market and got 50£ extra per calve, minus transport, time, and market fees there wouldn't be a lot in it when it comes to money in the bank. The calves were on cows aswell and they needed off the cows as the cows were starting to struggle feeding them