Introducing cattle

[Jonny_2]

Looking to introduce cattle to the farm as I have more grass than sheep and not enough time for more sheep. Ideally sucklers but haven't access to the funds to get going so considering rearing a batch of calfs November, December time when I'm not busy at work, turn out in April then sell as stores in September.

Saw in another feed rearing costs are around £200 and good calfs £250. Is it a feasible idea? What breeds would be best? Would presume they'd need feeding whilst out at grass but would look for a cross that would do well off grass too. Heifers or bulls and nip them just before they get turned out?

 

[Al R]

I know a lot of people will argue this, I don't do it but surely the dairy beef is the highest margins if fed right? Buy a bull calf for £15-20 instead of £200-250, the dairy will need more feeding but will also grow quicker and will only sell for a bit less than a beef breed?

 

[liammogs]

Buy them weaned off powder! Obviously you can tell a better reared one to a bad one!! Saves the hassle of scours, mixing powder etc and just tip feed infront and turn out when the day comes!! If your thinking of sucklers buy heifers keep half and sell half, only problem its a long time till you sell her first calf!

 

[GTB]

This is how my father got into cattle in the 70's. He'd buy heifer calves (HxF at that time) and rear them on a bucket. Kept buying calves for replacements for many years afterwards too. Only problem with dairy calves these days is that they bring a lot of diseases with them like BVD, IBR, Lepto and johnes. You could vaccinate them I suppose until you had enough cows to close the herd.