Opportunity options on family farm

[Beef farmer]

Its intresting that people say that beef can return beter proffit than a well run dairy, i would be very intrested in seeing some numbers!

So would I.

 

[Beef farmer]

We got rid of our beef we were losing huge amounts of money on them. Buitelaar on calves has added quite Bit of money to the job instead of taking them to market. Sheep are huge amount of work here. Ran badly and grassland bit is horrendous. Admittedly we've had a lot of sheep off the hill pinched over the years which hasn't helped. Dairy side has been through a huge 2 years and if it wasn't for last years poor prices in autumn and shocking silage quality. I would of been in a different position this year. We are now just a grass based dairy and the hangers are few these days. Simplified life a lot.

Block calving?

 

[Clay52]

I haven't looked into beef myself and it's not in my plans or options but the AI reps tell me that most of the dairy guys can't pay their bills but the beef guys are having no issues.

How's that for an indepth profit evaluation of both industries.

 

[Fergieman]

@Bossfarmer thinks dairy is more profitable than beef.

 

[Hilly]

Jeez a lot of us go through this crap. All I'll say is obviously Dairy will kick the arse out of the sheep....

Even if Dairy dose make more than sheep its a hell of lot more work and stress investment, everything considered including the fact that if you do make a fortune milking you will never have the time to spend it id take the sheep everyday of the week.

 

[Beef farmer]

Even if Dairy dose make more than sheep its a hell of lot more work and stress investment, everything considered including the fact that if you do make a fortune milking you will never have the time to spend it id take the sheep everyday of the week.

I agree. Heavy hogs are making 100 quid. Every sheep gives you 2. And all you have to do is leave them in a field and shear them once. Even the wool is worth money.
It's fool proof I tell ya.

 

[Kingofgrass]

Know a sheep farmer that's now on a tesco contract for his lamb can't go wrong

 

[Hilly]

I agree. Heavy hogs are making 100 quid. Every sheep gives you 2. And all you have to do is leave them in a field and shear them once. Even the wool is worth money.
It's fool proof I tell ya.

Not quite but Dairy will be far far more technical, investment levels for either enterprise have no resemblance.

 

[Hilly]

Know a sheep farmer that's know on a tesco contract for his lamb can't go wrong

Hes already gone wrong.

 

[beefandsleep]

Its intresting that people say that beef can return beter proffit than a well run dairy, i would be very intrested in seeing some numbers!

It's down to the fact that dairy is so volatile and with very little room for manoeuvre in a downturn, you can be locked in a cycle of loss making production because you simply have to have that milk cheque coming in to keep the plates spinning. Beef finishing is vastly lower risk as the margin is made when the next batch of cattle is bought. If you can't see a profit in them at the start you can sit tight and wait a month or too with low overheads and cash coming in from sales of cattle in the pipeline. Growing your own feed is key and you have the flexibility of crops or grass depending on the relative profitability of each.
Added to the above I came to the conclusion a while ago that as a milk producer you will only make as much money as you are allowed by the processors and retailers and that will only just be enough to keep you milking in hope of the better years which now seem fewer and further between. There have been fortunes made in dairy in the past but those days are finished. The future is high risk with low returns and I'm out.

 

[Kingofgrass]

It's down to the fact that dairy is so volatile and with very little room for manoeuvre in a downturn, you can be locked in a cycle of loss making production because you simply have to have that milk cheque coming in to keep the plates spinning. Beef finishing is vastly lower risk as the margin is made when the next batch of cattle is bought. If you can't see a profit in them at the start you can sit tight and wait a month or too with low overheads and cash coming in from sales of cattle in the pipeline. Growing your own feed is key and you have the flexibility of crops or grass depending on the relative profitability of each.
Added to the above I came to the conclusion a while ago that as a milk producer you will only make as much money as you are allowed by the processors and retailers and that will only just be enough to keep you milking in hope of the better years which now seem fewer and further between. There have been fortunes made in dairy in the past but those days are finished. The future is high risk with low returns and I'm out.

I'll stick to milking cows for me other farming methods etc arnt fast and loud enough for me,with cream going to hit 2.20/2.30 soon going into the winter bring on the good times

 

[Manney]

Split the partnership up. You have the dairy and some land, brother have the sheep and some land.

You should make a decent profit with 200 cows on a simple grass based system if it's done correctly.

The farm/business will only suffer if this does not get delt with properly.

 

[beefandsleep]

I'll stick to milking cows for me other farming methods etc arnt fast and loud enough for me,with cream going to hit 2.20/2.30 soon going into the winter bring on the good times

[emoji106]Yes, autumn should be good. Turn on the taps![emoji23]

 

[Kingofgrass]

[emoji106]Yes, autumn should be good. Turn on the taps![emoji23]

You know full well you can't just turn the taps on,anyway Barron prices are good at the min got £961 for a cow the other day,I rear my replacements for a lot less than that,and iv milked her for years,I'll just keep selling £350 bb calves in the auction to you beef farmers

 

[beefandsleep]

On another thread there is a debate on the merits of Irish or Dutch heifers!! So yes people can and do turn on the taps.

 

[Kingofgrass]

And not everyone is on a market related contract! Would muller give there farmers more if the cream price goes up?supermarket aligned contracts are on a fixed price

 

[beefandsleep]

And not everyone is on a market related contract! Would muller give there farmers more if the cream price goes up?supermarket aligned contracts are on a fixed price

Let the good times roll then.

 

[Headless chicken]

On another thread there is a debate on the merits of Irish or Dutch heifers!! So yes people can and do turn on the taps.

Global market location the product comes from is irrelevant

 

[pappuller]

You know full well you can't just turn the taps on,anyway Barron prices are good at the min got £961 for a cow the other day,I rear my replacements for a lot less than that,and iv milked her for years,I'll just keep selling £350 bb calves in the auction to you beef farmers

after some earlier posts on other threads I think you have redeemed yourself fully with this post I more than like it

 

[Bossfarmer]

the figures for dairy are impressive, £1100/cow gross margin just now, £250 for suckler, £50/ewe?