what breed of cows have you got ?
If you tell lies you'll get caught out eventually
- Thread starter M-J-G
- Start date
- Location
- somerset
mongrels, but we are dairy, we actually have at least 10 breeds represented, but the theory applies to all cattle, correct feeding, correct condition, something has been 'overlooked' in many pure breeds, been following this thread, with interest. How many beef bulls, have stayed on suckling cows, for an extended time ? In fact, what is the fertility like, in bull breeding herds, block calving, in dairy, has made a huge financial saving, somewhere between 1 and 2 pence a litre, and, now is pushed for suckler herds. By going to a block, all management traits improve, but you do have to be ruthless, bad fertility cows, have to go.
It's a bit different on the uphill end of the suckler spectrum.
We can't put bulls on the common, so the cows only get about 5 weeks july/aug to bull.
It'd be pretty savage to cull anything that missed.
(Have a catch up with an autumn calving session)
And even then, those that slip are putting on condition to raise a buster next time.
(I realise that sounds weird to a lowland/dairy farmer, but Galloway cows adrift out on the peat live very cheap, but near to the edge, and a year off isn't necessarily wasted time.
If she still isn't producing, and is become a whale...bingo, she's turned into cash!
I'd love to see 100% calving, but know it's a meaningless pipedream, so work what I've got.
Woolless
Member
- Location
- Berwickshire, Scottish Borders
When do the cows run on the common?
Typically go out mid May-still with a few calving-, back in mid-late July to bull.
Out again late/end Aug, back whenever the weather drives em back , typically late Nov-mid Dec
With timing restrictions etc, several nowadays are running bigger breeds, autumn calving, and putting up dry cows in the spring
our herd conception rates wouldn't be as good as yours but the main reason we don't tend to cull cows till they don't get in calf, in a dairy there would be other reasons.
what you need is AI then a British blue bull for sweeping, tis about the only thing that will put shape in to mongrels
- Location
- somerset
not disagreeing with you, the cost saving in block calving, is in the 'work' distribution, first, calving, nothing much else on, so full commitment, same with service, you can give 100%, as you fully focus on that, then everything follows on, all cows/calves same stage, all can be fed same ration etc,our herd conception rates wouldn't be as good as yours but the main reason we don't tend to cull cows till they don't get in calf, in a dairy there would be other reasons.
what you need is AI then a British blue bull for sweeping, tis about the only thing that will put shape in to mongrels
But, as suckler margins are tight, isn't it more important for each cow, to have/rear a calf, every 12 months, not every 13 or 14 months ?
last year, we used 1 straw of AA, and 1 of BB, each service, worked well, but this year, 1 of BB, and still worked well ! As your fertility increases, you can use more beef AI, where the bulls used, are of a much higher quality, than we could afford. Although, reflecting on this threads title, perhaps should say, hopefully, better than we could afford !!!!!
but, how much would a good BB bull cost ? Then, how many straws of semen, could you buy, for the same money.
exmoor dave
Member
- Location
- exmoor, uk
Slightly different moor grazing times to you and no autumn calving, but likewise, give everything one chance to miss a year, often not really the cows fault.
Too much knowledge in the old girls to cull unless they've done something really naughty.
The Government cull enough of the cows as it is
I remember the old AI charts when I wasn't very old, we had BF cows and most held to first service with AI I think a couple time we had a clean sweep, then we kept a Sim cross BF bull of our own and he had them coming round at about 11 month average, he seemed to get anything in calf, turned nasty in the end though but we still have some of his breeding.
We sell our British blue bulls for around £1800 or less depending on the time of year what bull they are or if they are younger but I am sure a "good" one would be far more than that
NZDan
Member
- Location
- Broomfield, New Zealand
Yes but those football clubs and race horse owners don't buy one horse or footballer, they buy 20, and discard 19 of themI know it’s slightly (very) different but plenty of footballers and race horses are bought for what they will produce in the next year or two not instantly be fit for purpose
NZDan
Member
- Location
- Broomfield, New Zealand
Do you restrict the mating on the heifers so that they all have a head start? Becoming very common about here to just give yearling 20 days with the bull and cull any that don't hold, it fair sets the herd up for the future.
No. Heifers bulled at 27 odd months to calve at 3 y/o.
Very few skip that first go - although rearing the first calf at 3 is a trial on the hill, meaning they often slip back 6 months then.
We have tried hardfeeding the South Devon first calvers through early summer with good effect, but it isn't practical with the Galloways on the common.
- Location
- somerset
this tells the story, of where cattle breeding, has taken a wrong turn, in both beef and dairy cows, fertility has not been catered for. I to, can remember those charts, a third repeat, was very last chance, most cows held 1st or 2nd, if empty after that, barren. As we always had plenty of hfrs, we were nearly 'looking' for reasons to barren a cow ! Feet, was the other failing, those old friesians, didn't need trimming much, only time they needed it, was usually infection, or a stone.I remember the old AI charts when I wasn't very old, we had BF cows and most held to first service with AI I think a couple time we had a clean sweep, then we kept a Sim cross BF bull of our own and he had them coming round at about 11 month average, he seemed to get anything in calf, turned nasty in the end though but we still have some of his breeding.
We sell our British blue bulls for around £1800 or less depending on the time of year what bull they are or if they are younger but I am sure a "good" one would be far more than that
- Location
- somerset
heard jagerbomb owners went bust, also heard there was a part BB bull on farm, found by a drone flying over the farm, whether correct, or not ? But came from a limmy breeder.
- Location
- North of Perth
If you mean the breeder of the bull they are still farming.
- Location
- Perthshire, Scotland
Owner or breeder?
M-J-G
Member
If a Limousin breeder said it then is must be true
- Location
- Perthshire, Scotland