That means the 1st 5 calves in the creep each day got all the feeding surelysorry I assumed adlib when it was a creep feeder
That means the 1st 5 calves in the creep each day got all the feeding surelysorry I assumed adlib when it was a creep feeder
it could be something as simple as looking at that meal you are feeding. is it balanced properly to give you the results you are looking for?I'm just trying to be helpful. How do you suggest i bring my costs down?
I take conacre - that wont change.
I'm a good feeder - that wont change.
I pay electrc, water, insurance etc - that wont change.
I treat animals when sick - that wont change.
Not being facetious, just dont see how its possible to bring costings down?
I sell all my calves at around 8 - 12 months old - depending on the time of year.
They get 2kg of meal at weaning for 2 weeks to get them onto it - then up to 4kg of meal and 6 weeks before they go to mart i try and get them to 6kg per day each.
Usually wean at 7 or 8 months as calving interval is less than 365 days.
Averaging £810 this year for both heifer and bull weanlings averaging 360kg. Top price for both bulls and heifers has been £895 for a ch bull calf he was 395kg at 10 months old and £890 for a lim heifer calf she was 330kg at 11 months old. Lowest price was £800 for bull calves 330kg at 8 months old and £740 for heifer calves 370kg at a year old.
FYI - my costings show me it costs me £700 per year to keep my cow - so not happy with them averages - trying to improve quality through AI breeding - will be happy when my calves average over £900 for bulls & heifers!
I think 400 is about perfect weight for stores these days .Lighter store cattle better p/kg.
Is there any point feeding them up? Normally sell best of ours at 400-450kg at ten months old. Was considering pushing them to 500kg this year. But doesn't look much point.
I think your right aiming to improve your averages.
Look at the ten poorest dlwg calves at weaning and cull the cows if theres not other issues.
That's what I'm doing. That cow producing the poor performing calves will cost same to keep as top one. That should improve profitability of your cows.
Most of our stores are slaughtered by July. So these guys might appreciate higher weights. Not giving them it for nothing though.I think 400 is about perfect weight for stores these days .
But you could say at an average of 240 kg if you put a kilo on cheaper defo worth feeding , turn two quid into 2.40 everyday for little work any other investment as good as that ?Lighter store cattle better p/kg.
Is there any point feeding them up? Normally sell best of ours at 400-450kg at ten months old. Was considering pushing them to 500kg this year. But doesn't look much point.
I’m not following you??Most of our stores are slaughtered by July. So these guys might appreciate higher weights. Not giving them it for nothing though.
If it works it isn't wrongI go completely opposite,probably wrong but works for me.
Just hauled the 18 month ones from grazing today,had about 10 bales of silage a week,real good stuff for the last 3-4 weeks.If it works it isn't wrong
21 month stores!?I go completely opposite,probably wrong but works for me.
Currently feeding no creep or any meal through to 21 month stores.
Pure lims.
No dicking about with creep which takes time and labour and handling,no bought in feed,keep bought in feed costs to near zero.
Cut short term ley and bale nice,lovely stuff and creep the calves to that.
I haven’t got time or inclination to carry bags of feed about.
With beef prices being poor the last few years there’s not been an incentive to throw meal at them.21 month stores!?
Ours are away at ten months, most dead by 16.
How can you afford to keep them for so long!? I'll have double the amount of cattle through in same time.
Think of the damage you are doing to the environment having them releasing methane into the atmosphere. The NBA won't be happy.
I'm only joking! Don't take me seriously.With beef prices being poor the last few years there’s not been an incentive to throw meal at them.
We can’t really grow corn,would have to buy in all hard feed and then the time and equipment to feed them.
Is your system sustainable using arable land which is being depleted and releasing carbon by the tonne from soil degradation?
I would say your system is very sustainable with a very valuable byproduct. Whisky!!I'm only joking! Don't take me seriously.
My arable land is fed on muck that the cattle have produced. The straw for the muck came from the same field. The land is used to grow malting barley. Draff is a by product of distilling barley and this is used to feed cattle. The arable rotation has 5 years of grass in it.
Sustainable. I don't know! Better than some.
You can tell me,near neighbour hauls all his silage 25 miles in round bales by truck to feed to hundreds of sucklers........I'm only joking! Don't take me seriously.
My arable land is fed on muck that the cattle have produced. The straw for the muck came from the same field. The land is used to grow malting barley. Draff is a by product of distilling barley and this is used to feed cattle. The arable rotation has 5 years of grass in it.
Sustainable. I don't know! Better than some.