Am I the only one considering keeping more suckler cows?
Keeping the same here, no more , no less.
Does that make me indecisive?
No. There's something to be said for zigging when everyone else zags. 9 heifers from 14 cows calved here this year, so I have optionsAm I the only one considering keeping more suckler cows?
Well I'm growing a lot more grass now than I was so am quite understocked. Was going to just keep more sheep but have had a good go with the cows last few years. Sheep are more profitable on a per kilo of dry matter consumed, but not by much, the whole place just works better with more cows though.To replace what or have you got more land?
Consensus seems to be high cull values are underpinning that trade. A lot of herds getting dispersed. The works all done if you buy an outfit to wean in the backend, even more than buying ewes with lambs at foot.Strong trade on cows and calves at moment
Sheep may be more profitable but more work too, over the summer at least.Well I'm growing a lot more grass now than I was so am quite understocked. Was going to just keep more sheep but have had a good go with the cows last few years. Sheep are more profitable on a per kilo of dry matter consumed, but not by much, the whole place just works better with more cows though.
I seem to be the only one thinking that from what I read on here though
I read in the farmers weekly today that suckler cow numbers are down 7% since 2018. The way you keep hearing about dispersal sales I'd have expected the number to be down more than that.Consensus seems to be high cull values are underpinning that trade. A lot of herds getting dispersed. The works all done if you buy an outfit to wean in the backend, even more than buying ewes with lambs at foot.
We've bulled 10 extra heifers.Well I'm growing a lot more grass now than I was so am quite understocked. Was going to just keep more sheep but have had a good go with the cows last few years. Sheep are more profitable on a per kilo of dry matter consumed, but not by much, the whole place just works better with more cows though.
I seem to be the only one thinking that from what I read on here though
More work most of the timeSheep may be more profitable but more work too, over the summer at least.
Sheep are more work in summer and cattle tend to be more work in winter.Sheep may be more profitable but more work too, over the summer at least.
I've told you about getting splintersDoes that make me indecisive
No we had nearly 1000 ewes and only 25 cows at one point sheep were crap then but we were way overstocked as well for the amount of grass we were growing. It would probably be OK now though.We've bulled 10 extra heifers.
Sheep don't often benefit from extra sheep, so you could be right to up the cattle as the sheep may do better for it.
the best cows are the ones you've bred yourselfNo. There's something to be said for zigging when everyone else zags. 9 heifers from 14 cows calved here this year, so I have options
Not much difference in winter here either. Once the grass is finished they just both need bales put in front of them twice per week. Outwintered, obviously.Sheep are more work in summer and cattle tend to be more work in winter.
Sheep don't get any bales here in winter, so pretty much zero work apart from scanning and the odd field shift which I normally leave them to do themselves onless they have to cross a road.Not much difference in winter here either. Once the grass is finished they just both need bales put in front of them twice per week. Outwintered, obviously.
At the end of the day, the capital value of a herd of 100 commercial cows is usually significantly higher than a flock of 500 commercial ewes. And a 10-year old cow can still have a significant cull value, whereas the ewe will have happily turned her heals up a few years previously.