I thats it
Member
I'm very seriously considering going from AYR calving to an autumn block, has anyone on here done this without selling off a large portion and buying back autumn calvers, any advice?
from AYR to Autumn Block
- Thread starter I thats it
- Start date
We just calve from August to March which work quite well, then have a break from it from April to July
Just stop serving for 9 months. Cows will milk away on just fine
We ran a split block for a couple years - those that don't get incalf in the autumn slip around into the spring block with a beef bull.
After a couple years we had a nice block of spring calvers that we sold and bought some autumn calvers.
One thing I would say is that if I was doing it again I would have sold the lot and bought in.
Would have done the job a lot quicker and arguably put more money in my pocket.
After a couple years we had a nice block of spring calvers that we sold and bought some autumn calvers.
One thing I would say is that if I was doing it again I would have sold the lot and bought in.
Would have done the job a lot quicker and arguably put more money in my pocket.
I thats it
Member
that's what I'm considering but when I see a cow bulling it'll be difficult not getting it served
I thats it
Member
One thing I would say is that if I was doing it again I would have sold the lot and bought in.
Would have done the job a lot quicker and arguably put more money in my pocket.[/QUOTE]
That's what I fancy doing but getting agreement from the powers that be would be difficult
Would have done the job a lot quicker and arguably put more money in my pocket.[/QUOTE]
That's what I fancy doing but getting agreement from the powers that be would be difficult
That's what I fancy doing but getting agreement from the powers that be would be difficult[/QUOTE?]
Are you thinking of changing breeding as well?
I thats it
Member
I'm going down a cross breeding route currently
Depends a bit on your current health status. If it's nothing special, sell and buy in isn't a big deal. Beefys proposal is probably the best, although some cows won't milk round very well, you just have to manage the fattys and carry them until you get the pattern you want. There will be a cashflow problem initially though.
Depending on TB area I would buy in. The cattle you're buying will be 10 years ahead of where you start now.
I thats it
Member
currently going down a fleck x hols then for 3rd cross brown swiss or a Scandinavian red. I'm not really a grass rat fan.
- Location
- Derbyshire
Out of interest, why are you making this decision? I am not querying it at all, it makes sense. I am just interested to know what straw broke the camel's back.
If I were you, I would see if you can visit other farms who have recently made the leap, maybe join a discussion group if you can. There are lots of people going from AYR to ABC at the moment and I went to a meeting about it about 12 months ago.
betweenthelines
Member
- Location
- southwest
Wasn't there a thread on here a couple of months ago about a farmer who had a very long CI and his cows milked very well?
This would fit in with what Beefy said about letting the cows milk on.
This would fit in with what Beefy said about letting the cows milk on.
buffalo_soldier
Member
- Location
- cumbria
When converting from Ayr a much higher replacement rate rate should be expected.
More to life
Member
- Location
- Somerset
Do you already have high fertility cows if not buying in will be cheaper
it's not over
Member
- Location
- thunder rd co.antrim
I think the theory is a lot different than the practical. Better cows more likely to slip, end up with the lower performers breeding in time and rearing replacement from them
- Location
- Pembrokeshire
Most people have a big bunch of heifers served to calf at the right time and then let all the cows slip round
I thats it
Member
as I'm trying to up numbers we do have plenty of young hiefers, I'm thinking possibly best to calve all hiefers in the autumn and really concentrate on getting them back in calf do that for 4 years and then just cull out the few older end that are still out of the block
My guess would be that will be the most expensive option. Taking a bit of pain for the next 4 years, or loads for 1 year