Pure Angus cows, what bull?

[Thick Farmer]

Takes the p1ss really doesn't it!

Yes, but obviously it's not enough!!

 

[west coast angus]

I can't see why there not carrying weight or lacking milk if they're angus. Are you only choosing bulls based on EBVs?

Hill ground, No looks are important but do use ebvs.

 

[west coast angus]

Takes the p1ss really doesn't it!

What are you guys selling store cattle for? cows going off farms all the time around here still not making enough!

 

[Thick Farmer]

What are you guys selling store cattle for? cows going off farms all the time around here still not making enough!

You're lucky to get £880 for 18 month old cattle down here. I killed over 100 suckler cows last year as was not making any money from them.

 

[west coast angus]

Sale report from last year

FORT WILLIAM
, Dingwall and Highland Marts Ltd., (September 14th) sold 530 weaned calves



and store cattle, 9 OTM cattle and 5 adult head of breeding cattle.


Bullocks (295)
averaged 284.8p and sold to 340p per kg for a pen of 250kg Aberdeen Angus



from Ardtornish Farms, Oban, and £1160 gross for a 490kg Charolais cross from Moy Farm,
Fort William.


Heifers (234)
averaged 269.3p and sold to 329.2p per kg for a pen of 240kg Charolais



crosses from Kinlochmoidart Farm, Acharacle and £810 gross for a pen of 255kg Charolais
also from Kinlochmoidart Farm.


OTM cows (8)
averaged 111.8p and sold to 169.5p per kg and £1110 gross for a 655kg



Luing from Isle of Muck Farms.


OTM bulls (one)
sold to 120.8p per kg and £870 gross for a 720kg Whitbred Shorthorn from



Mucomir, Spean Bridge.


Breeding cattle (5)
sold to £1380 gross for a Shorthorn cow with heifer calf at foot from



Fersit, Roy Bridge.
“All classes sold exceptionally well.”
Other leading prices per head and per kg:
Bullocks up to 200kg – Kinlochmoidart Farm, £560, 284.9p; 201-250kg – Ardtornish Farms,
£850, 240p; 251-300kg – Ardtornish Farms, £870, 334.6p; 301-350kg – Keil Farm, Ardgour,
£830, Langal, Argyll, 253.1p; 351-400kg – Lurignish Farm, Appin, £990, 258.3p; 401-450kg –
Lurignish Farm, £1090, Moy Farm, 247.6p; 451-500kg – Moy Farm, £1160, 236.7p; 501-
550kg – Lochuanagan, Fort Augustus, £1080, 203.8p.
Heifers up to 200kg – Kinlochmoidart Farm, £600, 315.8p; 201-250kg – Kinlochmoidart Farm,
£790, 329.2p; 251-300kg – Kinlochmoidart Farm, £810, 317.7p; 301-350kg – Langal, £780,
243.8p; 351-400kg – Mungosdail, Drimnin, £800, Balmacaan, Drumnadrochit, 213.7p.

 

[slaney]

Aubrac for breeding replacements that would be milkier?? Lim for breeding a better calf perhaps, but it would still be docile and hardy due to the Angus being the mother

 

[JD-Kid]

if it was me i'd stick to the angus hard cows handle the going etc etc and with the marbleing of the meat etc sort after in some markets feed lot here all angus cattle going to high end jap markets the euros have not got a 5hit show of getting in to the same market

had some limo angus cows mad as snakes and to be fair not alot of gain needed better feeds etc so lost out on useing cattle as cattle had limo angus bulls and prone for doing there hips in too light in hip bones ..

best bull we used beef shaver http://www.shavergenetics.co.nz/page.php?1 quite as a mouse and killed out like lead if we still had cattle that would be a breed we would be useing Vs a pure euro

intresting sale prices but what did it cost them to get there not alot of point getting a 1000 pound if it's costing 1050 to get there

 

[west coast angus]

JD Most of the prices are for store cattle 5 to 7 months old weaned straight to the mart. not sure the age of the ones making 1000+

 

[JD-Kid]

WCA can yer get the beef shavers over there ?? might be worth a look even if it's just a day out

the angus do have there place in the market milking maybe not a strong point in the cows but some other breeds may not be too flash on harder feeds

 

[sheepwise]

The idea behind it is to subsidise the suckler cow farmers in Scotland. They get about £100 a head sub for each calf. In England and Wales we get sweet FA.

Don't know about the sheds.

£100? you having a laugh?

 

[sheepwise]

Takes the p1ss really doesn't it!

Ah but you must realise this money is top sliced from the area payment originally.

 

[sheepwise]

Aubrac for breeding replacements that would be milkier?? Lim for breeding a better calf perhaps, but it would still be docile and hardy due to the Angus being the mother

Limousin cross AA = mental

 

[GTB]

You're lucky to get £880 for 18 month old cattle down here. I killed over 100 suckler cows last year as was not making any money from them.

Really? What breed were they? We sold five BBx steers 18mths old 560kg for £1132 and some Hereford crosses same age 605 kg for £1100 about ten days ago. Better than finishing I thought.

 

[GTB]

Limousin cross AA = mental

Limousin cross WB = mental too.

 

[Thick Farmer]

Aubrac for breeding replacements that would be milkier?? Lim for breeding a better calf perhaps, but it would still be docile and hardy due to the Angus being the mother

Hahahaha. Lim and docile in the same sentence!

 

[Thick Farmer]

Ah but you must realise this money is top sliced from the area payment originally.

Explain?

 

[Thick Farmer]

Really? What breed were they? We sold five BBx steers 18mths old 560kg for £1132 and some Hereford crosses same age 605 kg for £1100 about ten days ago. Better than finishing I thought.

Mine were Lims out of Angus x dams. Good shape but f**king mental!

 

[GTB]

Mine were Lims out of Angus x dams. Good shape but fudgeing mental!

If they're mental the buyers do seem to shy away. Been there, on both sides of the ring too.

 

[Gilchro]

Hi folks,

We have ran a herd of 50 pure angus cows for about 15years, Its now up to me where the herd goes, now i am not going to rip the angus cows to bits they are doing a job, we are on hard hill ground in the highlands of scotland the cows outwinter and we sell calves store around 6 months old, bullocks avg £680 last year.
The problem is i feel we really need to inject some hybrid vigor, the cows are lacking milk big time!!! and not fleshing up in the summer the odd old cross cow we have is always fatter. Also the heifer calves dont sell well!

So the Big question... What bull do you folk think??

1) Simmy All ways wanted 1, what does the first cross look like? dun, rat tails?
2) Whitebred, would love to have some nice blue roan heifers but maybe the drop in bullock value not worth it?
3) Stabilizers, Like the idea but not seen any
4) Beef shorthorn could get a loan of a bull what colour would the calves be?
5) Angus, stick with what we know never calve them, very easy care ours are very docile, get back in calf well, Get the creep feeding into the calves!!

Thank you for any help, bit of pressure on me to get this right!!

WCA, couple of questions:
1) When are you calving?
2) Can you narrow down location a bit (nearest town?)
3) How are you currently wintering your cattle?
4) How long is your calving spread?
5) What age do you calve heifers in at?
6) Is the 6 month suckled calf job the way you want to continue to go?
7) What do your buyers want?

My real concern for your situation is that you have to make your decision today that will not really come to fruition for 3 - 4 years, so need to get it right

My thoughts for your situation would be

1) You need a hardy cow that:
A) survives on fresh air (backfat) all winter;
B) milks like a dairy cow for 6 months;
C) has an excellent foraging ability
D) is of a smaller stature to minimise the maintenance cost
E) is extremely fertile
F) is docile
G) has good health status

2) you need a calf that is fast growing with enough shape to meet your buyers requirements and get you a good trade.

Unfortunately, due to the two factors above, 6 month weanling market and the replacement heifer job are far removed from each other in terms of the right animal for the job, so really the questions are:
A) do you buy in high health status heifers of a maternal breed and bull them with a sire to meet the market's needs (either aa, sim or char would be my choices)
Or would it be better to
B) go for a native maternal bull. He will produce daughters that would satisfy point 1) but leave you with perhaps a slightly less desirable steer.
However, b) would also give you the option of striking a deal with your neighbours to breed their replacements. If you have 50 cows, you should get 20ish heifers every year. That would be replacements for 3 or 4 other 50 cow herds nearby (to allow you to keep some for yourself). If you get high health status, they will have a guaranteed clean heifer to come in to their herd. There would be many advantages to working together like that and you would all be better off.

 

[Bojangles]

I feel that you have a few good guys around you who could be utilised with a wee visit.
1 head west to ard point and have a look through Colin's cows and bulls to see what they are doing on the estate and see if you like any of their ideas. His father was no fool how he did things over the years and always got a good price selling privately with no commission. I liked his cows when I saw them. Then I would go to see your other neighbour who runs the Charolais over his sim x hill cows. Can't remember his name but you will know who I mean. His calves sell well and his cull cow value is high compared with some other neighbours.
I think I have been to your place before and understand the ground you are running them on is not suited to allot of breeds especially the bb