Scotland beef efficiency scheme

[M-J-G]

My dog clocked in at 18 kilos , from which I deduced that at such a moderate weight , offset against all the hard work that he does for little feeding , compared to a 25 -28 kilo dog eating you out of house and home to maintain it's superior bodyweight for no extra work , makes him one very efficient dog.

I now intend to have a pack of dogs weighing no more than 18 kilos , and I reckon that I'll be able to carry extra dogs on the same acres.

I stopped reading this thread because of all of the politically motivated crap that some people were talking , but I like the sarcasm in this post.

Jack Russel sized dogs, herds of Dexter sized cows and Icelandic sized ewes are the only chance farming has of a future.
After that it will be time to concentrate on the size of the farmers themselves, anything over 100kg should be culled as it is too big to be efficient, because they eat too much.
Thank goodness I only clock in at 93.

 

[pat kcotnit]

We have quite a few surplus tags from calves that were sold before the tags arrived. Do they go in the bin or return them? Read the scheme guidance but I cannot see anything about what to do with the surplus tags.

 

[Chae1]

Well theyre now sold so ill be using the market weights and they were over the 400 days at that point

What's the point in doing it if your not doing it properly? Those weights aren't really going to tell you much as the batches are going to be mixed sires.

We've been weighing cattle for a few years and there is significant differences between sires, which has allowed us to select bulls from different breeding lines that suit our cows.

Although not a big fan of ebvs weighing has showed that big flashy looking bulls don't always translate to high performance offspring.

 

[capfits]

[QUOTE="Chae1, post: 3942704, member: 2681"

Although not a big fan of ebvs weighing has showed that big flashy looking bulls don't always translate to high performance offspring.[/QUOTE]

And you are surprised by that? Having done the the equivalent of BES for near 12 years for our own commercial herd it is clear to see. Margin between bulls can exceed £100 per head on finished cattle in our own experiences.

 

[pat kcotnit]

What's the point in doing it if your not doing it properly? Those weights aren't really going to tell you much as the batches are going to be mixed sires.

We've been weighing cattle for a few years and there is significant differences between sires, which has allowed us to select bulls from different breeding lines that suit our cows.

Although not a big fan of ebvs weighing has showed that big flashy looking bulls don't always translate to high performance offspring.

Getting a set of weigh scales has allowed us to see the difference in growth rates between sires. One ai lim bull we have been using produces very good shaped calves but by the time we have weighed them at about 10-11 mths they are not as heavy as some of the not so shapey calves from other bulls. Heaviest calf we had from last years spring calvers was an AAx bullock at just over 500kgs at around 11 mths of age. That calf was also out of a heifer and was a small calf when born.

 

[CharcoalWally]

I stopped reading this thread because of all of the politically motivated crap that some people were talking , but I like the sarcasm in this post.

Jack Russel sized dogs, herds of Dexter sized cows and Icelandic sized ewes are the only chance farming has of a future.
After that it will be time to concentrate on the size of the farmers themselves, anything over 100kg should be culled as it is too big to be efficient, because they eat too much.
Thank goodness I only clock in at 93.

Let's hope they don't impose a carcase cap of 90 kilos.

 

[CharcoalWally]

I stopped reading this thread because of all of the politically motivated crap that some people were talking , but I like the sarcasm in this post.

Jack Russel sized dogs, herds of Dexter sized cows and Icelandic sized ewes are the only chance farming has of a future.
After that it will be time to concentrate on the size of the farmers themselves, anything over 100kg should be culled as it is too big to be efficient, because they eat too much.
Thank goodness I only clock in at 93.

Tell you what's even more hilarious. My father's dog , and you know how big he is compared to my dog , (a good 8-10 kilos heavier for everyone else,) eats a fraction of what my dog shovels away on a daily basis. Waters and muddied spring to mind.

Anyway, that's as maybe, my dog still loves you and can't wait for your next visit....​

 

[Bossfarmer]

Getting a set of weigh scales has allowed us to see the difference in growth rates between sires. One ai lim bull we have been using produces very good shaped calves but by the time we have weighed them at about 10-11 mths they are not as heavy as some of the not so shapey calves from other bulls. Heaviest calf we had from last years spring calvers was an AAx bullock at just over 500kgs at around 11 mths of age. That calf was also out of a heifer and was a small calf when born.

great weight for 11 months of age, what had you been feeding it?

 

[Bossfarmer]

What's the point in doing it if your not doing it properly? Those weights aren't really going to tell you much as the batches are going to be mixed sires.

We've been weighing cattle for a few years and there is significant differences between sires, which has allowed us to select bulls from different breeding lines that suit our cows.

Although not a big fan of ebvs weighing has showed that big flashy looking bulls don't always translate to high performance offspring.

the rules say you can do this though? I wrote down an individual weight for each beast for my own interest just based on appearance

 

[Bossfarmer]

We have quite a few surplus tags from calves that were sold before the tags arrived. Do they go in the bin or return them? Read the scheme guidance but I cannot see anything about what to do with the surplus tags.

I think you will have to tag more next year to make up for not doing these, does anyone know what sort of fine im likely to get for not weighing those 15 in time?

 

[Chae1]

the rules say you can do this though? I wrote down an individual weight for each beast for my own interest just based on appearance

Yes, I'm sure you'll be fine.

 

[pat kcotnit]

great weight for 11 months of age, what had you been feeding it?

Been on tmr of silage barley dark grains, with the concentrates part limited to about 2kgs/hd until about 8-9 months (weaned) then upped to 3kgs/hd until sale at 11 mths of age. Fed AdLib increasing/decreasing silage to appetite. Think he must have eaten more than his fair share! Limx bullocks at same age heaviest usually about 470-500kgs at market but they are off cows.

 

[Happy]

What's the point in doing it if your not doing it properly? Those weights aren't really going to tell you much as the batches are going to be mixed sires.

Do you or indeed anyone else on this forum really need to ask that?

 

[Chae1]

£30/head

 

[fermerboy]

The more I think about this scheme the more I'm inclined to pull the pin on it.

I can't see any benefit to my business other than the pitiful payment for three years.
There are too many variables in peoples judgment in calving etc, and this getting a meeting with an advisor who will likely never have calved a cow in their life, and the carbon audit by the advisory services, we will have to supply all the info required anyway!
Am I missing something that is going to revolutionise suckler cows in Scotland from it??

I'm I right in thinking you can withdraw until you have been paid the first payment?

Lot of cow guys round here and I only know of one other who has joined.

Maybe I'm just in a miserable mood today because of the bloody rain!!!

 

[Stewartry hill]

Quite agree with above don't see any benefit but the £30 will be handy I get the impression that it has been thought up by someone that failed first year at ag college

 

[Bossfarmer]

The more I think about this scheme the more I'm inclined to pull the pin on it.

I can't see any benefit to my business other than the pitiful payment for three years.
There are too many variables in peoples judgment in calving etc, and this getting a meeting with an advisor who will likely never have calved a cow in their life, and the carbon audit by the advisory services, we will have to supply all the info required anyway!
Am I missing something that is going to revolutionise suckler cows in Scotland from it??

I'm I right in thinking you can withdraw until you have been paid the first payment?

Lot of cow guys round here and I only know of one other who has joined.

Maybe I'm just in a miserable mood today because of the bloody rain!!!

how many cows do you have?

 

[Hilly]

The more I think about this scheme the more I'm inclined to pull the pin on it.

I can't see any benefit to my business other than the pitiful payment for three years.
There are too many variables in peoples judgment in calving etc, and this getting a meeting with an advisor who will likely never have calved a cow in their life, and the carbon audit by the advisory services, we will have to supply all the info required anyway!
Am I missing something that is going to revolutionise suckler cows in Scotland from it??

I'm I right in thinking you can withdraw until you have been paid the first payment?

Lot of cow guys round here and I only know of one other who has joined.

Maybe I'm just in a miserable mood today because of the bloody rain!!!

I thought about it before i applied and didn`t apply, its pure nonsense, if you all pull out now they will have to think of a better way of distributing the cash, ie stick it on the calf sub and be done. Go on all of you pull out and make a stand against nonsense !! remember you will be doing it for nothing soon enough.

 

[crofteress]

you talk sense Hilly thats for sure

 

[Hilly]

you talk sense Hilly thats for sure

Thankyou.