Essentials for sucklers V basics to survive.

[topground]

To turn a profit from sucklers means spending as little as possible on them while selling a calf once a year that its self has cost the minimum to produce.
Obvious isn’t it?
So what are the essentials?

Spring calving so enough grub to see the through the winter but they probably need to lose some condition as they would in the wild so they are not over fat at calving. Is there any point in feeding too quality forage to dry cows?
Plenty of good quality grass in front of them after calving so they are in a rising plane of nutrition to feed their calf and be ready to get back in calf within 3 months.
Salt lick with trace minerals.
Magnesium if staggers is an issue.

What are the salesman inspired add ons you can do without?

 

[harperfarmer]

To turn a profit from sucklers means spending as little as possible on them while selling a calf once a year that its self has cost the minimum to produce.
Obvious isn’t it?
So what are the essentials?

Spring calving so enough grub to see the through the winter but they probably need to lose some condition as they would in the wild so they are not over fat at calving. Is there any point in feeding too quality forage to dry cows?
Plenty of good quality grass in front of them after calving so they are in a rising plane of nutrition to feed their calf and be ready to get back in calf within 3 months.
Salt lick with trace minerals.
Magnesium if staggers is an issue.

What are the salesman inspired add ons you can do without?

I'd possibly argue that your first statement isn't necessarily accurate. It's possible to be too tight and avoid spending when it will generate a better return and profit than not spending. Creep feeding is a good example.

 

[Macsky]

There a good market for weaned calves in September here, calve beginning April into beginning of May, but when you see the money that buyers spend on late May even early June born calves you do wonder if you could hold the bull in a bit longer! Keep the cows just requiring a maintenance diet through the worst of the winter, plus plenty grass about by the time they do calve to see them right.

 

[pauld]

Don't underestimate the cost of mains water. Suckler cow can drink £30 to £50 a year. One of the best things I've done is dig a well and put in roof water collection.

 

[Dave6170]

I can’t justify the cost of a mixer wagon. Just use the shear grab and bucket. Barley and minerals with a pail

 

[tinsheet]

Invest in your pastures not your feed rep.
Breed cattle that work for you not show-ponys.

 

[Henarar]

Spring calving so enough grub to see the through the winter but they probably need to lose some condition as they would in the wild so they are not over fat at calving. Is there any point in feeding too quality forage to dry cows?

good quality forage is no more expensive to produce than poor quality

 

[Moss192]

good quality forage is no more expensive to produce than poor quality

If ever there was a statement that should be press released yearly.

 

[Henarar]

If ever there was a statement that should be press released yearly.

and good quality forage produces good quality and quantity milk which produces good quality calves

 

[Sleepeasy]

good quality forage is no more expensive to produce than poor quality

Not really poor quality silage at 10t acres will be cheaper to produce per t than high quality 5t acre silage

 

[Moss192]

Not really poor quality silage at 10t acres will be cheaper to produce per t than high quality 5t acre silage

But its feed value is still cheap ….

 

[Sleepeasy]

But its feed value is still cheap ….

But the arguement is dry cows don’t need high quality silage. They still going to need 25-30kgs of feed a day if it’s high quality or not. So it would be cheaper to feed poor quality silage

 

[Henarar]

But the arguement is dry cows don’t need high quality silage. They still going to need 25-30kgs of feed a day if it’s high quality or not. So it would be cheaper to feed poor quality silage

Have limited dry cows, suck cow is there to feed its calf

 

[bendigeidfran]

Not really poor quality silage at 10t acres will be cheaper to produce per t than high quality 5t acre silage

At a grassland dinner one year and they gave the prize for best silage, and as the prize wining farmer walked up, his mate shouted what are you going to do in late febuary when you run out of silage?
Show them the cup?

 

[Whitepeak]

But its feed value is still cheap ….

Until you have to supplement it with bought in concentrates...

 

[Aspiring Peasants]

My system has been refined to, cows only get grass or silage depending on time of year, silage made from 1 big cut. Calves get creep in winter, (it’s more cost effective to feed concentrate to the calf than the cow). Calve all the year round because you get more output per cow and reduce risk of disease, market volatility. Continental x cows, the calves are worth £200 more and LIMI bull. Calving ease is a priority controlled by nutrition and pelvic scoring of any heifers and carefully buying outfits. Only small number now, wish I could have more and less sheep

 

[Pan mixer]

Things have been a bit easier calving-wise this year feeding hay after weaning (end Feb to calving in April) Hay was late- made for CS reasons and wasn't all that nice looking but the cows ate it.

That was cheap hay when you add on the value of the CS payment.

 

[Kiwi Pete]

To turn a profit from sucklers means spending as little as possible on them while selling a calf once a year that its self has cost the minimum to produce.
Obvious isn’t it?
So what are the essentials?

Spring calving so enough grub to see the through the winter but they probably need to lose some condition as they would in the wild so they are not over fat at calving. Is there any point in feeding too quality forage to dry cows?
Plenty of good quality grass in front of them after calving so they are in a rising plane of nutrition to feed their calf and be ready to get back in calf within 3 months.
Salt lick with trace minerals.
Magnesium if staggers is an issue.

What are the salesman inspired add ons you can do without?

Essential (to me) is a minimum 6-8 months grazing in front of us, and water for them to drink.

Quality forage depends on the cows, some need it some do not, quantity has a quality all of its own. If you have the right cows all you need to do is keep that big furnace full of forage and let them get fatter and fatter so they can melt aplenty - that's the cheapest form of supplementation, fat

Many pour supplements into cows that are a waste of a perfectly good shadow, so you can always take comfort that you won't be the first to go broke with cows.

 

[Aspiring Peasants]

Essential (to me) is a minimum 6-8 months grazing in front of us, and water for them to drink.

Quality forage depends on the cows, some need it some do not, quantity has a quality all of its own. If you have the right cows all you need to do is keep that big furnace full of forage and let them get fatter and fatter so they can melt aplenty - that's the cheapest form of supplementation, fat

Many pour supplements into cows that are a waste of a perfectly good shadow, so you can always take comfort that you won't be the first to go broke with cows.

Never have 6 months grazing ahead, difference in climate

 

[serf]

At a grassland dinner one year and they gave the prize for best silage, and as the prize wining farmer walked up, his mate shouted what are you going to do in late febuary when you run out of silage?
Show them the cup?

Brilliant