Baling Hay
Member
I know quite a few men doing this at the moment as their parlours have got a bit tired etc. and they just can't see the point of investing loads of money now, but surely dairying would still be a better option?
Out of dairying and into sucklers!
- Thread starter Baling Hay
- Start date
JD-Kid
Member
- Location
- Akaroa.. New Zealand
i would have thought better grazeing dairy calfs no money needed and payed monthly .. the TB thing is the only real killer on that idea tho mind you makes no diffrence screwed eather way
Thick Farmer
Member
- Location
- West Wales
We gave up milking about 10 years ago and now run sucklers instead.
Less money, but far less outgoings and stress.
Once calving is over I can go away for the weekend without spending a fortune on relief staff.
Less money, but far less outgoings and stress.
Once calving is over I can go away for the weekend without spending a fortune on relief staff.
- Location
- Ceredigion
I gave up Suckers and let the ground out, lot less stress and can go away any day I like, my niebour gave up diary and just let out some wet rushy ground for £200/acre six month let
- Location
- Gainsborough, Lincolnshire
Give up dairy and house pigs!
Do the maths - I can't believe them!
Do the maths - I can't believe them!
Thick Farmer
Member
- Location
- West Wales
Would love to, but don't think there is any demand in West Wales.
- Location
- Devon
A neighbour gave up dairy, went into beef (not sucklers), but now has gone into contract heifer rearing - he says its left him in a far better position than the beef.
multi power
Member
- Location
- pembrokeshire
dont you miss the milk cheque?
- Location
- Gainsborough, Lincolnshire
Most companies are looking nationwide now!
multi power
Member
- Location
- pembrokeshire
would the cost of haulage not rule west wales out, or at least cut the pay in the job?
i would seriously concider b&b pigs, far nicer animails that cattle n the muck would be priceless
i would seriously concider b&b pigs, far nicer animails that cattle n the muck would be priceless
Walterp
Member
- Location
- Pembrokeshire
Rearing heifers depends on the contract - up in Ceredigion dairy farmers are doing deals based on land rental, but down here the dairymen want to get the heifers weighed to a schedule that the rearer is responsible for. Not so easy, or so profitable, if you've got to buy in feed to get the LWG to get to bulling weights at 15 months.
multi power
Member
- Location
- pembrokeshire
with good grass managment its not difficult to get hefiers to bulling weight at 15 months with very little, if any cake
Thick Farmer
Member
- Location
- West Wales
Yes, but i don't miss the grief or the retrospective price cuts!
Thick Farmer
Member
- Location
- West Wales
I would give it a go, but have not heard of anyone doing it in these parts. Who are the main players?
Thick Farmer
Member
- Location
- West Wales
I agree. I'm considering this too...
Walterp
Member
- Location
- Pembrokeshire
Go and have a look at the standard contract that the bigger players are touting, first.
I've seen (and been offered) the ones that many of the larger (including the largest) players are wanting, and it isn't a pretty sight....
Thick Farmer
Member
- Location
- West Wales
What are the standard terms?
Walterp
Member
- Location
- Pembrokeshire
They were that attractive, I threw 'em away.
Basically, you take the calves once they are on hard feed and then you commit to weighing them regularly and achieving set weight gains over the time they are with you, ready to bull at 15 months (another idea that may not be all it's cracked up to be). If they fall behind, you will have to feed 'em up to catch up. At your expense, naturally.
The bottom line, in my view, is that a number of herds are engaged on expanding to 1,000 milkers and they need a big wave of in calf heifers over the next few years. Once they get there. the demand will fall off, leaving you with a good handling system, a nice weigh crush and not much else.
Rent the ground out, it's simpler...