Restricions on calves?

[Kiss]

Like with everything what ever the supermarket contracts used to do and now including Arla it’s only a matter of time before the price followers follow everything else

 

[vantage]

One thing almost guaranteed.... it spells the end of larger pure jersey herds esp now other processors are following the Arla lead.

Hopefully embryo implant will improve so the poorer cow can have an embryo and sexed semen for replacement animals. Timescale will be the decider of the herd survival.

 

[Bald Rick]

Hopefully embryo implant will improve so the poorer cow can have an embryo and sexed semen for replacement animals. Timescale will be the decider of the herd survival.

Embryo transplants are hugely expensive and conception rates poor
Sexed has a place but there is a limit to the number of heifers you need or a market for the surplus.

 

[vantage]

Embryo transplants are hugely expensive and conception rates poor
Sexed has a place but there is a limit to the number of heifers you need or a market for the surplus.

Agreed, but the demand for beef embryos should force the price down, also some work on conception as well.

 

[lazy farmer]

I think a lot of people on here need to cheer up.

 

[Farmer Keith]

Where’s the next sweet spot? Small stores?

I generally wouldn’t sell anything less than 12-14 months here for that reason, there’s another flat spot between 18 and 22 months I always think.

 

[Farmer Keith]

Hopefully embryo implant will improve so the poorer cow can have an embryo and sexed semen for replacement animals. Timescale will be the decider of the herd survival.

why would the poorer cow not just go to beef?

 

[vantage]

why would the poorer cow not just go to beef?

Jersey, maybe not the greatest, don’t know, don’t have any.

 

[Farmer Keith]

Jersey, maybe not the greatest, don’t know, don’t have any.

ahhh I see, hadn’t read the posts higher up!

 

[Sid]

You do all realise that this is a rule that red tractor are bringing in for everyone? There's all this talk of arla this, arla that, but red tractor covers nearly every dairy in the country.

Incorrect.

RT is stopping on farm euthanasia of calves and rightly so.

Arla contract states calves have to still be alive at 8 weeks.

 

[steveR]

Just means if you kill an Arla calf before 8 weeks hopefully the auctioneer won’t let you buy an Arla calf again.

I cannot see any Auctioneer doing that.....

 

[steveR]

I think a lot of people on here need to cheer up.

Where's the fun in that then??

 

[Farmer Keith]

Incorrect.

RT is stopping on farm euthanasia of calves and rightly so.

Arla contract states calves have to still be alive at 8 weeks.

Different approaches but the message is similar, the days of producing milk without a second thought for the calf are numbered. Ultimately the extreme Holstein and jersey will bear the brunt of this. I can see a simple solution for the Jersey you just cross breed but can’t see the 1000 cow factory units switching to British friesian anytime soon.

 

[Bald n Grumpy]

Incorrect.

RT is stopping on farm euthanasia of calves and rightly so.

Arla contract states calves have to still be alive at 8 weeks.

Whats the difference then? Just where its euthanized . Pretty pointless

 

[teslacoils]

Can't you turn a jersey / jersey cross calf into decent meat? Sorry, perhaps an idiot question.

 

[Bald n Grumpy]

Jersey, maybe not the greatest, don’t know, don’t have any.

About 15 years ago we had SCC problem and were tipping milk away so we bought 10 lim x jerseys of a farm to use milk. Sold some as weaned calves and rest as 12/18 month stores. Didn't buy a rolls Royce with the profit but there was a profit.
They came from a good herd and had been given a good start

 

[Sid]

Different approaches but the message is similar, the days of producing milk without a second thought for the calf are numbered. Ultimately the extreme Holstein and jersey will bear the brunt of this. I can see a simple solution for the Jersey you just cross breed but can’t see the 1000 cow factory units switching to British friesian anytime soon.

And herds locked down with TB.

Whats the difference then? Just where its euthanized . Pretty pointless

As I said earlier in the thread, quantity or quality of life?

 

[farmer on a bike]

Where’s the next sweet spot? Small stores?

I agree that 6-16 weeks is the problem area for selling but if you can get them growing well (over 1kg/d) then they seem to be very saleable after 16 weeks.

 

[dinderleat]

I agree that 6-16 weeks is the problem area for selling but if you can get them growing well (over 1kg/d) then they seem to be very saleable after 16 weeks.

It’s getting them to shine and with a bit of flesh on them and they sell really well.

 

[Cows 'n grass]

Can't you turn a jersey / jersey cross calf into decent meat? Sorry, perhaps an idiot question.

Very high quality but very low quantity with purebreds but blue crosses will easily achieve 0 and R grades.