M-J-G
Member
not an easily managed herd no,but if you want to be selling the top quality stores and getting a premium for your calves you will have to tolerate the odd caesar here and there i`m afraid!
Why?
not an easily managed herd no,but if you want to be selling the top quality stores and getting a premium for your calves you will have to tolerate the odd caesar here and there i`m afraid!
Because not all of those calves which make £1500 or £2000 as 10 month old stores are stood looking at you when you go through the calving shed door, some are, but one or 2 arent.Why?
You deal with cattle long enough you’ll eventually have a C. Doesn’t have to have anything to do with size either.
Last one I had before this particular cow was because of a twisted uterus. Also had them due to twins and have seen due to a deformed calf that can happen for spontaneous unknown reasons.
Be silly to tar all Cs with the same brush.
Do you find that there is a correlation between top end stores and calving difficulty?Because not all of those calves which make £1500 or £2000 as 10 month old stores are stood looking at you when you go through the calving shed door, some are, but one or 2 arent.
I find there is a huge difference between top end store price and the bottom end,the last sale we topped at £1250 and bottomed out at £590...the £590 one is no good to anybody, the secret is to get try and get as many £1250 ones as possible without the need for caesareans but inevitably the more you push things you are starting to run that risk. we run limousin and belgian blues, most calve fairly easily but a few need assistance.Do you find that there is a correlation between top end stores and calving difficulty?
Which breeds?
Trouble is if you get 1 or 2 that need a ceaser and only get £1250 for the calf then in real terms you’re only got £800 for it....a lot of work for £800I find there is a huge difference between top end store price and the bottom end,the last sale we topped at £1250 and bottomed out at £590...the £590 one is no good to anybody, the secret is to get try and get as many £1250 ones as possible without the need for caesareans but inevitably the more you push things you are starting to run that risk. we run limousin and belgian blues, most calve fairly easily but a few need assistance.
Trouble is if you get 1 or 2 that need a ceaser and only get £1250 for the calf then in real terms you’re only got £800 for it....a lot of work for £80
i realise that, £1250 without the caesar is the ideal, or better still,£2250Trouble is if you get 1 or 2 that need a ceaser and only get £1250 for the calf then in real terms you’re only got £800 for it....a lot of work for £800
And an increased risk for £800. And a waste of precious antibiotics for £800. And the potential of shortening a cow's working life for £800.Trouble is if you get 1 or 2 that need a ceaser and only get £1250 for the calf then in real terms you’re only got £800 for it....a lot of work for £800
Yes it is. But plenty of people still seem to think this.It’s ridiculous to think only large bw calves can become large weaning weight calves.
.
Those big dumb heavy calves can be lighter at a week old than they were at birth.It’s ridiculous to think only large bw calves can become large weaning weight calves. Genetics are so focused on big calves staying big calves. Get a good, medium calf that hits the ground running on a cow that’s a good producer and there’s absolutely no reason your 80 lb bw calf can’t be a 600-700 lb weanling and onto a 900 lb yearling.
Beats fighting with big dumb bull calves to get them going so they can wean at hardly any bigger than the smaller calves that are good on their own from the start.
It is indeed, but as pointed out by @muleman in his post,if you breed for top end showy type store prices with these types of genetics you will or can have 1/2 c sections from 100 cows. The one sold at 1250 this spring c sectioned wont look highly profitable less costs, but that leave 98 others, you didn't mention the one sold at 2500 at 8 months old where no c section or any antibiotic use, or the one at 2400 or 2350. Its about an average. Most wastage and ridiculous useage of AB in my area is the hobby farmers, that many ewes or cows are regularly on a 5 day course of ab along with metacam as they are not monitored. Well managed herds that stockmanship can select a suitable dam is key, in reply to @gone up the hill in what % is acceptable with c sections, who knows, will have a run now I know but last 400 dd cows no c sections. Worst ever was 50%, a bunch of pure british friesans in calf to a pure piemontese, used to have no hassle, birth weights of 30 odd kilo. Stumbled across some real narrow pelvic line of friesans. Dams are key in my opinionAnd an increased risk for £800. And a waste of precious antibiotics for £800. And the potential of shortening a cow's working life for £800.
1 or 2 per 100 cows? ???It is indeed, but as pointed out by @muleman in his post,if you breed for top end showy type store prices with these types of genetics you will or can have 1/2 c sections from 100 cows.
Especially when they’re dead and the dogs eaten the ass out of them.Those big dumb heavy calves can be lighter at a week old than they were at birth.
It seems risks and benefits are different depending on end market - really interesting what you say about the black cattle market up there.Especially when they’re dead and the dogs eaten the ass out of them.
This is an interesting post @Blaithin . Do farmers all over the world buy on colour?Everyone here says the same. Can’t tell the difference once the hide is off. But the black angus marketers did their job. The premium was for black and the buyers like the black animals. Been so long now it’s just an adaption of the eye and mind set. Reds look fancy but blacks are the consistent money ones. And solid. Don’t have a broken pattern and perform better, you’ll still be worth less than a solid colour!
Surely 10% assisted calving is acceptable - farmers will happily plough a tenth of their grass each year in order to put new grass in with no qualms, what is the difference?1 or 2 per 100 cows? ???
My friend, you're a lightweight.
I know of several people that are having considerably more than 1 or 2 per their 100 cows in pursuit of these "top end showy types."
Once again, animals suffer at the hands of human vanity.
And there's not very many that ever make £2000.