replacement needs going forward

[I thats it]

What are peoples thoughts on heifer replacement availability going forward? we've used a lot of dairy semen including sexed, and with good cull prices we've improved the herd quite dramatically this last couple of years. Wondering if we should start using a lot more beef semen with beef calf, stirk and store prices being so good and if you're not fussy dairy replacements aren't that expensive.
couple of auctioneers this way say there looks to be plenty of dairy stock about going forward

 

[Horn&corn]

Lots more beef straws purchased this week. If it wasn’t for Tb I fear the hefs would be worthless.

 

[Farmer Keith]

I’m rearing too many right now, as the herd has improved my replacement rate has dropped 15-18% should be more than sufficient going forward. Serve the top 1/3 with sexed for 3 weeks then all beef from there.

 

[upnortheast]

Just had this conversation with son. He was at a big farm yesterday who had used all sexed for a couple of years . The place was awash with heifers. Is the market about to be flooded with calved heifers. Will it be like Norway where you see very few cows over 3rd calf. Guess a lot will depend on the cull cow trade

 

[Farmer Keith]

Just had this conversation with son. He was at a big farm yesterday who had used all sexed for a couple of years . The place was awash with heifers. Is the market about to be flooded with calved heifers. Will it be like Norway where you see very few cows over 3rd calf. Guess a lot will depend on the cull cow trade

Surely that’s not the way to go, it’s your 3/4/5 lactation cows that really drive production.

 

[lazy farmer]

Surely that’s not the way to go, it’s your 3/4/5 lactation cows that really drive production.

Absolutely the carbon footprint of that would be hideous

 

[Jdunn55]

Surely that’s not the way to go, it’s your 3/4/5 lactation cows that really drive production.

Not to mention the fact that they are (in theory) your best cows

Just finished doing my heifer rearing sums last week, £1420 to rear a heifer properly, not worth rearing heifers to sell as bulling, in-calf or fresh imo especially as like you say the beef price is good
I'm thinking I'll want to cull 10% each year due to age/health issues/underperformance etc and then another 5% won't get in-calf in time so 15% needed BUT
I'm going to aim to rear 25% purely for the risk of tb, and it would mean I can expand quickly should land/infrastructure etc become available at the right place at the right time

 

[upnortheast]

Surely that’s not the way to go, it’s your 3/4/5 lactation cows that really drive production.

Agree with you
During a trip to Norway a few years ago I worked out how they have these impressive health traits. The cull price was so good , heifers were replacing young cows so not many cows about over 3 rd

 

[Jdunn55]

Agree with you
During a trip to Norway a few years ago I worked out how they have these impressive health traits. The cull price was so good , heifers were replacing young cows so not many cows about over 3 rd

That tells me their health traits are actually rubbish then, in my mind, in order to have good health traits, you need healthy cows who last, if they're quitting after their 3rd then they're not healthy!

 

[sidjon]

Surely that’s not the way to go, it’s your 3/4/5 lactation cows that really drive production.

Absolutely the carbon footprint of that would be hideous

Is not uk average 3 lactation any ways now? Talking to someone about it the other day where some autumn blocks where very high % heifers, as sold on as MT or late calving cows who didn't calf within first three weeks.

 

[Jdunn55]

Is not uk average 3 lactation any ways now? Talking to someone about it the other day where some autumn blocks where very high % heifers, as sold on as MT or late calving cows who didn't calf within first three weeks.

Not sure about the uk average but pedigree holsters in the UK average is 3

 

[In the pit]

All figures can be manipulated to a degree to make bulls / cows better than they are
Everybody does it
My cows average 23.6 ltrs/day but it round up to 24

 

[lazy farmer]

All figures can be manipulated to a degree to make bulls / cows better than they are
Everybody does it
My cows average 23.6 ltrs/day but it round up to 24

Happy with that ?

 

[In the pit]

Some things you round up higher
Other things round up lower

 

[In the pit]

Month into calving so yield still going up
Better than the same point last year

 

[Spudley]

I think there will be lots of heifers available. Our genus rep told me more than 90% of his sales are now sexed semen. There might even be a shortage of BW bulls

 

[In the pit]

On replacement issue keep more than you need , if you go down with tb you’ve got them if not there a saleable asset

 

[pappuller]

Not to mention the fact that they are (in theory) your best cows

Just finished doing my heifer rearing sums last week, £1420 to rear a heifer properly, not worth rearing heifers to sell as bulling, in-calf or fresh imo especially as like you say the beef price is good
I'm thinking I'll want to cull 10% each year due to age/health issues/underperformance etc and then another 5% won't get in-calf in time so 15% needed BUT
I'm going to aim to rear 25% purely for the risk of tb, and it would mean I can expand quickly should land/infrastructure etc become available at the right place at the right time

I've bought 26 ic holstein heifers due nov/April all ic to sexed or AA, strong holstein types Av £997

 

[dairydurham]

I've bought 26 ic holstein heifers due nov/April all ic to sexed or AA, strong holstein types Av £997

Are the hols hef calves not a nuisance when you are a flying herd ?

 

[Sid]

I've bought 26 ic holstein heifers due nov/April all ic to sexed or AA, strong holstein types Av £997

Going by what I was told last week I think you may have over paid for them if only you had waited a month...or maybe not