Graze or conserve

[DRC]

Just wondering what would be the most profitable on grassland.
I’m buying a few cattle now, ready for spring turnout and summer grazing. The chap I bought them off, suggested I should keep them a second winter and sell at 18 month old, but that would mean making fodder for them from some of the grassland. This costs as I have to use a contractor for mowing,baling and wrapping.
I’ve a mind to buy more cattle to graze the whole area, it’s only 32 acres in 4 fields , so could be grazed rotationally as one group.
This worked well last year with 65 in calf heifers that I’d been wintering.
Even in the drought we had last May/ June , I kept moving them around every few days and they did very well. Better than set stocking.
This approach would mean selling in the autumn at 14/15 month old, but would cut the cost of making silage and mean I could carry more stock. I could then leave sheds empty until after Xmas before restocking with Weanlings again on straw and nuts.
Up to now I’ve got 36 blue heifers aged 5/6 months, but could go up to 60/70.
What would you do.
@Henarar

 

[Henarar]

first up would like to say they look nice and well farmed
if you have to use contractors for every bit of silage making I would think about selling before winter
you could look at buying fodder though ?
if you have a regular direct supply of calves, I would be tempted to sell early as you say and have a break then start again at least for the first lot and see how it pays
if you don't spend as much on them they don't have to make so much

 

[sticky]

if you keep them going forward all summer then at 15 months they will be just about right to go into someones finishing yard.

 

[DRC]

first up would like to say they look nice and well farmed
if you have to use contractors for every bit of silage making I would think about selling before winter
you could look at buying fodder though ?
if you have a regular direct supply of calves, I would be tempted to sell early as you say and have a break then start again at least for the first lot and see how it pays
if you don't spend as much on them they don't have to make so much

The chap I bought them from had done a good job and has other batches in the pipeline .

 

[Henarar]

The chap I bought them from had done a good job and has other batches in the pipeline .

half the battle really finding the right place to buy at the right fair price

 

[DRC]

half the battle really finding the right place to buy at the right fair price

Finding decent sized bunches is difficult. I'm fed up of the local market selling ones and two's.

 

[neilo]

Buy silage in at the £15/bale that seems to be the limit of it’s value most years perhaps, and maximise your stock numbers? If you can’t find the silage, you could always make the decision to sell them in the Autumn, or take through the winter on straw (as you have it) or hay and ad-lib liquid feed.

 

[Kevtherev]

Grazed grass is the cheapest feed
Sell straight off grass in autumn??
Any barley being fed?

 

[DRC]

Grazed grass is the cheapest feed
Sell straight off grass in autumn??
Any barley being fed?

No barley kev, as I've sold all my grain. Bought in nuts.

 

[same crap different day]

They should sell well for finishing or bulling in the autumn most blue heifers are sold as vet checked breeders in Shrewsbury stores , but usually I can't compete for them as one finisher only buys bluex heifers and doesn't like losing them.

 

[hendrebc]

Whats the TB situation over there? You might end up stuck with them anyway
Id sell before housing them a second winter if it was me no point adding extra costs. If your mostly arable you might appreciate the muck from a second housing period though

 

[DRC]

They should sell well for finishing or bulling in the autumn most blue heifers are sold as vet checked breeders in Shrewsbury stores , but usually I can't compete for them as one finisher only buys bluex heifers and doesn't like losing them.

That's worth knowing

 

[DRC]

Whats the TB situation over there? You might end up stuck with them anyway
Id sell before housing them a second winter if it was me no point adding extra costs. If your mostly arable you might appreciate the muck from a second housing period though

TB is about, but touch wood we've never had it.
Muck isn't a requirement as I do a muck for straw swap with a neighbouring pig farm and have slurry from there.

 

[Renaultman]

Buy silage in at the £15/bale that seems to be the limit of it’s value most years perhaps, and maximise your stock numbers? If you can’t find the silage, you could always make the decision to sell them in the Autumn, or take through the winter on straw (as you have it) or hay and ad-lib liquid feed.

This for me, also look for alternative feeds, treated straw, barley, roots etc. If you think there is profit in keeping them and you can afford to. Go for it.

 

[DRC]

This for me, also look for alternative feeds, treated straw, barley, roots etc. If you think there is profit in keeping them and you can afford to. Go for it.

I have all those things, and could shorten the winter on stubble turnips untill sheep arrive. I'd have to be convinced it wasn't just better selling the barley and excess straw.

 

[multi power]

Sell before winter, let someone else worry about housing

 

[Renaultman]

I have all those things, and could shorten the winter on stubble turnips untill sheep arrive. I'd have to be convinced it wasn't just better selling the barley and excess straw.

And that, is the million dollar question.

 

[neilo]

I have all those things, and could shorten the winter on stubble turnips untill sheep arrive. I'd have to be convinced it wasn't just better selling the barley and excess straw.

Every bit of straw will be baled next year, so it won’t be worth much anyway.

 

[DRC]

Every bit of straw will be baled next year, so it won’t be worth much anyway.

The trades collapsed already, according to @gone up the hill !