Most profitable cow system

Which system is most profitable

  • selling suckled calves

    Votes: 18 22.5%
  • stores at 1 year old

    Votes: 21 26.3%
  • stores at 18 months

    Votes: 11 13.8%
  • forward stores at 22 months

    Votes: 6 7.5%
  • selling fat

    Votes: 24 30.0%

  • Total voters
    80

Jackov Altraids

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
Devon
Surely the answer would be to sell whenever the market was high but in reality it will be based on the system used.
If you are geared to selling calves at 8 months old, you probably need rid to be ready for the next calving. I'm sure this is the most profitable suckler system as it leaves the the finishing to the experts on efficient systems but if you fear calving with your sheds full of last years stock because you can't sell due to TB, this may not be an option.
 

Agrivator

Member
Suckler cows are unusual in that traditionally they have not been a method of making spare cash to live on. If you want cash, then you need to work for a living - hens, calf rearing, pigs, retailing whatever you can produce and retail.

But Suckler Cows have historically been a way of building up wealth, and when the time comes to cash them - to buy out a sibling, to buy land, to provide a retirement sum at the farm sale - they are usually the most valuable asset to sell.

Always remember that there isn't much value in a field of stubble or even in a flock of run-of-the-mill ewes. But a herd of good cows with calves at foot has long been the equivalent of camels to an Arab Gentleman.
 

Hilly

Member
Suckler cows are unusual in that traditionally they have not been a method of making spare cash to live on. If you want cash, then you need to work for a living - hens, calf rearing, pigs, retailing whatever you can produce and retail.

But Suckler Cows have historically been a way of building up wealth, and when the time comes to cash them - to buy out a sibling, to buy land, to provide a retirement sum at the farm sale - they are usually the most valuable asset to sell.

Always remember that there isn't much value in a field of stubble or even in a flock of run-of-the-mill ewes. But a herd of good cows with calves at foot has long been the equivalent of camels to an Arab Gentleman.
Or a black n white cob to a gypo
 
Surely the answer would be to sell whenever the market was high but in reality it will be based on the system used.
If you are geared to selling calves at 8 months old, you probably need rid to be ready for the next calving. I'm sure this is the most profitable suckler system as it leaves the the finishing to the experts on efficient systems but if you fear calving with your sheds full of last years stock because you can't sell due to TB, this may not be an option.
the concern with selling suckled calves is that unless you push them hard with protein etc then theyll struggle to do much more than cover the cost of the cow for the year, keeping them on to over £1000 a head seems sensible as theyre already settled into their environment and will put weight on quicker than if moved to another holding, also the cost of feed from pushing the calves on, if they eat half a tonne of feed at 230/t it soon adds up
 

Jackov Altraids

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
Devon
the concern with selling suckled calves is that unless you push them hard with protein etc then theyll struggle to do much more than cover the cost of the cow for the year, keeping them on to over £1000 a head seems sensible as theyre already settled into their environment and will put weight on quicker than if moved to another holding, also the cost of feed from pushing the calves on, if they eat half a tonne of feed at 230/t it soon adds up

Absolutely. That is why it is probably best to continually assess their cost and sale value and try to aim to sell at the best advantage which could be at any point depending on weather, markets and other circumstance. Most of us won't have that luxury as by maximising your facilities, you are normally limited to when you can sell.
 

SFI - What % were you taking out of production?

  • 0 %

    Votes: 79 42.5%
  • Up to 25%

    Votes: 65 34.9%
  • 25-50%

    Votes: 30 16.1%
  • 50-75%

    Votes: 3 1.6%
  • 75-100%

    Votes: 3 1.6%
  • 100% I’ve had enough of farming!

    Votes: 6 3.2%

Red Tractor drops launch of green farming scheme amid anger from farmers

  • 1,287
  • 1
As reported in Independent


quote: “Red Tractor has confirmed it is dropping plans to launch its green farming assurance standard in April“

read the TFF thread here: https://thefarmingforum.co.uk/index.php?threads/gfc-was-to-go-ahead-now-not-going-ahead.405234/
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