Pedigree Calves

[Derrick Hughes]

I have this idea to start my boy off with some calves but need to bucket feed to get him used to handling , what's the chances of getting pedigree bucket calves , not at all I suppose , need to be beef breed so he can breed from them

 

[Dr. Alkathene]

How old is the lad? From the age of 8 or 9 one of my jobs was to teach the new calves how to feed from a bucket.

 

[Derrick Hughes]

9

 

[Walterp]

I have this idea to start my boy off with some calves but need to bucket feed to get him used to handling , what's the chances of getting pedigree bucket calves , not at all I suppose , need to be beef breed so he can breed from them

Very rare to see one and, if you do, there's a story (and a problem) attached to it.

Avoid, it's only more potential heartbreak.

Go 'phone Thomas the Vet down in Cowbridge and arrange to buy some nice, quality, pedigree Hereford weanlings from him - quality animals, very quiet, not pushed at all, suit a youngster, not that dear really.

 

[Derrick Hughes]

I would prefer to start him with bucket calves so he gets used to them and them to him

 

[choochter]

I've seen some toppers of calves at Carlisle Mart, blue and lim X looking sorts. Maybe about 3 months?

 

[Samcowman]

You could buy embryos of your chosen breed and get them implanted into a friends dairy cows and there you have your pedigree bucket calves. I know of one person doing this with pedigrees and it works quite well by all accounts. Means you will be able to choose your breeding as well

 

[GenuineRisk]

At the risk of setting off the usual lynch mob (and stating the obvious again that pedigree calves won't be bucket ones) get him a couple of weaned ped Blue heifers. Whether or not you intend for him to go into them, there is no disputing the fact that they are quieter and better than any other breed for giving young children confidence in handling cattle and learning their trade as they go. Bring them up OK and they'll have plenty of value if you want to resell or, bred to a native sire, your son could make money producing smart fatstockers which can make very decent money indeed. If you go to a decent breeder, most calves will be already halter broken with much of the initial bad behaviour already dealt with. Some will have calves that maybe aren't up to their own show standard but would be ideal to start off with.

Having watched many, many Young Leaders classes over the years, I am always disheartened at seeing so many young children being made to lead up strong, bolshy calves that take the proverbial out of the kid in the ring, poor child either getting red faced and embarrassed or, worse, pulled over and kicked. Usually by Hereford, Angus and Lims... Why parents think that is a good thing is beyond me, because you very rarely see the child again. It's like putting a novice child on a highly strung pony and expecting them to get on with it.

Either way, even if it's just to get the child used to dealing with and being around cattle, get him something quiet to start with.

 

[Alistair McLaren]

There will no doubt be pedigree herds that will have the odd surplus calf due to twins etc. Why not phone around the ones you know in the coming months before they start calving and register your interest in a few calves with the breeders and see how you get on.

 

[d williams]

I would prefer to start him with bucket calves so he gets used to them and them to him

Calves bbx heifers out of camathern lim bull on them sell Llandovery not a lot on it but a lot of satisfaction turning out good breeding stock

 

[Flossie]

I would start off with something cheap. Test the water and see how he likes them and whether he gets bored of them. He'll still love them whatever you get him At the end of the day, he's 9, so it will probably be you doing the horsework, but if he really does enjoy them and takes an interest, then you could look at higher value/pedigree stock once he's honed his stockmanship skills

 

[bobk]

9

Buy him a cricket bat far more enjoyable and he'll make friends for life

 

[Hilly]

Couple of Jerseys n he can build up to milking 1000

 

[Thick Farmer]

Get him some Fresian bulls. Doesn't matter then if he's not a born stockman and they all die.

 

[Derrick Hughes]

I would start off with something cheap. Test the water and see how he likes them and whether he gets bored of them. He'll still love them whatever you get him At the end of the day, he's 9, so it will probably you doing the horsework, but if he really does enjoy them and takes an interest, then you could look at higher value/pedigree stock once he's honed his stockmanship skills

I always bought cheap but regret it now , quality will always sell,


The calves will be kept on as Suckler cows so need something good

 

[Headless chicken]

Couple Fresian heifers? On a deal where the farmer buys them back at 2 years?

On a completely unrelated note I have a few heifer calves for sale

 

[Flossie]

I always bought cheap but regret it now , quality will always sell,


The calves will be kept on as Suckler cows so need something good

Expensive stock die just as well as cheap stock Feel your way with some black and white bullocks and sell as stores next but one spring. Progress on to pedigree stock if he gets the bug

 

[Hilly]

Get him some Fresian bulls. Doesn't matter then if he's not a born stockman and they all die.

Kind a matters from the calves point of view though

 

[Hilly]

I always bought cheap but regret it now , quality will always sell,


The calves will be kept on as Suckler cows so need something good

Get some jerseys and then he can multi suckle later, my bro did that they lived for donkeys years reared countless calves.

 

[bobk]

Buy him a cricket bat far more enjoyable and he'll make friends for life

Oh and give him a good education , if he wants to be a farmer he'll make his own decision , unless you want to sell him some straw