How many bulls to do that? At the outset, rms/precision may look a fair cost, but it only has to get a few extra cows in calf or tighten the interval slightly to pay itself. I run beef sweeper bulls after dairy AI and if there's more than one cow bulling a day I would be confident he's a cow missed by giving another all his attention, so I keep AI'ing whilst running sweepers.
Northern Ireland Milk Price Tracker
- Thread starter it's not over
- Start date
boumaticboy
Member
Different strokes etc I didn’t mind dodging a bull but had a Milker coming in some evenings and Cubs are getting big enough to help. Didn’t want that on my conscience. It’s great not having to constantly watch your back
He would need 3 for that. I keep 1 br fresian and an Angus for 90 cows + heifers. Swap them now and again. Works like a dream. I have no input other than call vet to scan now and again. May consider ai a few with easy calving charolais but probably best not to bother.
surprisefarmer
Member
- Location
- North West NI
Financially i do not have the answer on which option is best, but the following reasons justify it for me from a management point of view (and i suppose that transfers to a financial gain)
- pick bulls to deliver the traits you want in the herd
- i usually keep 4-5 different holsteins so it gives a good spread to mate to the correct cows
- you are concentrating on getting replacements from your best cows
- I do bull beef so i would rather try and finish a blue, angus or hereford
The main reason for me however would be cow and human safety. I am housed all year so I do not want a bull bursting cows off cubicles and on slats (I know occasionally the cows do it to each other). My wife and I both be in the shed quite a bit, so you can not put a price on safety. I have had a few bad experiences with beef bulls, and when I get rid of my Charolais bull from the suck herd, I hope to never buy another bull.
Everybody is different however, whatever works for you.
- pick bulls to deliver the traits you want in the herd
- i usually keep 4-5 different holsteins so it gives a good spread to mate to the correct cows
- you are concentrating on getting replacements from your best cows
- I do bull beef so i would rather try and finish a blue, angus or hereford
The main reason for me however would be cow and human safety. I am housed all year so I do not want a bull bursting cows off cubicles and on slats (I know occasionally the cows do it to each other). My wife and I both be in the shed quite a bit, so you can not put a price on safety. I have had a few bad experiences with beef bulls, and when I get rid of my Charolais bull from the suck herd, I hope to never buy another bull.
Everybody is different however, whatever works for you.
- Location
- Co. Antrim
The loss of revenue from not selling calf’s would a huge hit for us selling 250 Angus calf’s a year is nice steady income too is a big reason we ai.
Found through the ai’ing the fats and proteins are much better than when we ran bulls also which is a help financially and helps pay for ai along with the calf’s
Found through the ai’ing the fats and proteins are much better than when we ran bulls also which is a help financially and helps pay for ai along with the calf’s
Mouser
Member
- Location
- near Belfast
No, need to be movable or temporary as far as I know.
- Location
- Northern Ireland
yes both qualify
I’ll get details when I’ve a bit of time. Silage silo/clamp also qualify
- Location
- Northern Ireland
@Cowlife
did I little googling came up with this bare in mind I was in a rush and didn’t read it over in great detail.
did I little googling came up with this bare in mind I was in a rush and didn’t read it over in great detail.
Bogeyman
Member
- Location
- North Antrim
They usually prefer to use worldwide sires semen so if you’re picky like me ......
See I thought they were but I m being told above ground stores do but tanks below sheds don't
I had it in my head I could do relief on the tank and slats. And maybe groundworks for tank?
Our accountant believes underground tanks are eligible as they have a mechanical function. Slurry in/out and agitated.
boumaticboy
Member
As z has stated slurry acres/environment will be the quota. Look at Holland several years ago. If they do away with derogation and paper acres will control numbers for a start.
- Location
- Northern Ireland
yes can claim on groundwork’s ie clearing the site digging the tank etc.
Mouser
Member
- Location
- near Belfast
Scrap that, it was sheds and wall panels I was thinking of. Any slurry storage should be eligible.
- Location
- Berlin
I would like to note that many of the problems listed above relate to other areas of farming as well, with cattle and pig farming examples of others suffering from the Russian import ban. This blog however hopefully puts some of the issues into context.
Suckndiesel
Member
- Location
- Newtownards
Quare Agri looking website you have in your profile, do you farm also?
it's not over
Member
- Location
- thunder rd co.antrim
I hear quotes for can this week 245,fertiliser companies making up for last year
- Location
- Northern Ireland
Last I heard urea was heading for 340.