Options for 400kg bulls

[Cmoran]

I’ve got a few 400-450kg bulls I’m wondering what is best option will I castrate and sell as bullocks in spring or feed on as bulls? I’m looking to maximise my profit and have them gone by end of February

 

[Anymulewilldo]

At that weight I’d pump up the barley and feed hard. Get them gone as entire bulls

 

[Northeastfarmer]

Insane to cut them at that weight....ad lib hopper and feed them hard

 

[Werzle]

They would make a fair bit sold as feeding bulls now if you dont want to feed on, mad to cut them

 

[Hfd Cattle]

As previous post ....cash them in . You don't mention their age but I assume 8/10 mths . Cutting them would stunt them for a long time .

 

[casper74]

Feed them or sell them, don't cut them.

 

[PuG]

Sell them - anything else is just diminishing returns and another job.

 

[Cmoran]

I forgot to say I’ve just recently bought them in they are all charloias bulls from jan-March 2020 born I’ve never done bull beef but are they strong enough to start feeding ad-lib yet?? What daily live weight gain should I expect? I’ve often castrated strong bull and never seen much stunting as a result!

 

[Cmoran]

If my calculations are right a bull will eat 12kg per day for 100 days @€250 ton is €300 and put on 150kgs? I could be way of the mark though!!

 

[goodevans]

The weight gain is possibly right but you should be lucky in the fact that they certainly wont be eating 12kg a day for the first half of your equation.How come you bought them without a plan ,opportunistic as the right price?

 

[Cmoran]

The weight gain is possibly right but you should be lucky in the fact that they certainly wont be eating 12kg a day for the first half of your equation.How come you bought them without a plan ,opportunistic as the right price?

Yes I just thought the price was right my plan was to castrate them and sell them in feb to a friend who buy bullocks for finishing of grass. But was wondering if more profit could be made on bull beef!!

 

[Cmoran]

They are averaging 420kgs €1.90 per kg and are all R+ quality

 

[goodevans]

Yes I just thought the price was right my plan was to castrate them and sell them in feb to a friend who buy bullocks for finishing of grass. But was wondering if more profit could be made on bull beef!!

I would certainly leave them as bulls if they are already that weight for age,they will be gone by 14 mths old ,then by your bullocks

 

[goodevans]

Is there weight limits on carcase weight in Ireland as that is where I presume you are,

 

[wellingtonfarmer]

The weight gain is possibly right but you should be lucky in the fact that they certainly wont be eating 12kg a day for the first half of your equation.How come you bought them without a plan ,opportunistic as the right price?

2% of there body weight in dm won’t be far off 12kg day average from now by time they are finished

 

[Cmoran]

Is there weight limits on carcase weight in Ireland as that is where I presume you are,

No limits at the moment but you wouldn’t know when that could change!!

 

[wellingtonfarmer]

I’m starting to think with bulls now I would be better off killing everything at 12 months of age as long as inspec instead of feeding them for heavy weights.

 

[goodevans]

I’m starting to think with bulls now I would be better off killing everything at 12 months of age as long as inspec instead of feeding them for heavy weights.

Looking at some market reports like Selby and Thirsk I'm wandering the opposite with bulls grossing close to £2000

 

[wellingtonfarmer]

Looking at some market reports like Selby and Thirsk I'm wandering the opposite with bulls grossing close to £2000

I agreee that does make me think but 1. I’m along way from thirst and 2. The last 120days of feeding they could get through £350 worth of feed alone though.

 

[Northeastfarmer]

I forgot to say I’ve just recently bought them in they are all charloias bulls from jan-March 2020 born I’ve never done bull beef but are they strong enough to start feeding ad-lib yet?? What daily live weight gain should I expect? I’ve often castrated strong bull and never seen much stunting as a result!

So are you going to get the vet out and cut them all? That’s adding more cost to them