- Location
- Fife
Here's a system advocated by some American suckler producers, with some suggested adaptions. I've flagged this up elsewhere but interested in what the TFF assembled suckler brains trust think:
-Native-bred cows, calving June/July.
-Calves wintered at foot on deferred grazing (could be housed) and weaned on to spring grass.
-Sell as stores before second winter, or if carried over (brassicas? Good silage?) would finish readily on grass.
-Pluses: Potential for a PFLA/no cereals system. Cull cows finished easily at grass when price is generally good. Lean cows put condition on easily in spring.
-Negatives: controlling cow condition before calving? Calves small to sell if you need to get out of them before winter.
Double suckle all the cows for extra £££