Heifer rearing

Nh6050

Member
we have some empty sheds so debating rearing heifers.
Can take 70 bulling heifers or in calf heifers.
And 20 calfs through to weaning.

What prices would you be looking to pay ??
Silage top quality.
All cake bought by owner would be on cubicles. And can be fed by a set of oop feeders so no wasted cake.
And the young calfs. Powder cake and straw bought by owner.

Would it work??
 
we have some empty sheds so debating rearing heifers.
Can take 70 bulling heifers or in calf heifers.
And 20 calfs through to weaning.

What prices would you be looking to pay ??
Silage top quality.
All cake bought by owner would be on cubicles. And can be fed by a set of oop feeders so no wasted cake.
And the young calfs. Powder cake and straw bought by owner.

Would it work??

I’d pay £10 per head a week for incalf heifers for winter keep. I’d want silage good enough that they’d not want cake and they’d need too be kept well bedded for that.
My cousin did mine at that last winter but on loose housed.
He said it never covered the cost of his time by the time he’d paid for everything, repaired his borehole pump that froze and paid someone to spread dung out the sheds.
 

dinderleat

Member
Location
Wells
I’d pay £10 per head a week for incalf heifers for winter keep. I’d want silage good enough that they’d not want cake and they’d need too be kept well bedded for that.
My cousin did mine at that last winter but on loose housed.
He said it never covered the cost of his time by the time he’d paid for everything, repaired his borehole pump that froze and paid someone to spread dung out the sheds.

He’s doing it again this year then? He would of made more just selling the straw.
I would of said cubicles would be the only way to do it which would keep costs down.
Making it simple is the key.
 

pine_guy

Member
Location
North Cumbria

Really need to get my VAT return done, But to fill you in a bit. I bought my own heifers to bull last year. Bulled them with a limxBB bull. Calved them down and sold them 7days + depending how they looked. Best made me a lot of money. Poor ones probably lost money. But I have some fantastic healthy calves in my beef system which meant I didn't have to trawl the marts buying, which would offset a good bit of the time spent faffing with the heifers. but they were all quite milkers, and we could feed calves at the same time as milking. I need to punch the numbers, but I would be surprised if they haven't paid better than store/fattening cattle. Downsides, I haven't managed to sell many at home, so had to sell in the marts which I found very hit and miss trade wise and commission spoils it a bit. Also when we had a flood of calvings and were milking 9 heifers on one unit and then had a mastitis problem wasn't a fun time. But I have started buying heifers to bull again which I guess speaks for itself. As with any system where you a trading in livestock, the key is not to pay to much for them at the start! I have a better understanding now of what sells better freshed calved and will be pickier buying heifers.
Feel free to quiz me if you are interested and have questions.
 
He’s doing it again this year then? He would of made more just selling the straw.
I would of said cubicles would be the only way to do it which would keep costs down.
Making it simple is the key.

He was buying straw or just about anything else he could find too bed them up. The cattle were only 150 yards away so had my beady eye on them. Had to pull him up couple of times on bedding.
I'd say cubicles would be the only way to show much margin but he has no slurry system.

Don't think he will be doing it again. He'd spent £20k on a new shed and i think he thought he was going to be able to have a nice easy winter tending 40 bullocks every morning for a hour and enjoy the rest of the week spending his £400.

I'd agree with @pine_guy trade can be hit and miss and the best will show a good profit but average and 3/4'd can blow that profit on a bad week.
 

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