Selling 20 month Holstein bullocks

[X344chap]

Hi - part time smallholder and newish to farming so looking for some advice on when to sell 3 x 20 month Holstein bullocks. I have Hay and Silage to keep them through the winter but not sure if i should sell now, or in the Spring when they will be 25 month or just keep and try to fatten.

The problem is I've absolutely no experience or eye with regards to knowing if they are fat or acceptable to the buyers re condition esp as they are holstein.

Appreciate anyone's thoughts on this.

Thanks

 

[Werzle]

Its a gamble, Out of spec cattle like yours are taking a hammering at the moment . If you have the feed and do not need the money i would keep them till spring.

 

[yellowbelly]

What he ^^ said

The problem is I've absolutely no experience or eye with regards to knowing if they are fat or acceptable to the buyers re condition esp as they are holstein.

Visit a couple of fat markets and watch some being sold - you'll see what the buyers are/aren't looking for then.

 

[X344chap]

What he ^^ said

Visit a couple of fat markets and watch some being sold - you'll see what the buyers are/aren't looking for then.

Unfortunately i have a day job that subsidises the farming....

I'm guessing that not a lot of dairy bullocks go through this ring?

 

[X344chap]

Its a gamble, Out of spec cattle like yours are taking a hammering at the moment . If you have the feed and do not need the money i would keep them till spring.

Thanks - worth giving them half a ton of bruised barley to keep them going on? They got 200kg each last winter.

 

[Bob the beef]

If your central Scotland, Caledonian mart in Stirling still have a well supported fat sale every Thursday, all sorts from best butchers cattle to dairy types.
Probably your best bet would be to keep them until January and then sell them in the store ring. Plenty finishers looking for aged cattle at that time of year, and will definitely be worth more than they are just now

 

[Werzle]

Thanks - worth giving them half a ton of bruised barley to keep them going on? They got 200kg each last winter.

No i wouldnt bother, silage will keep them ticking over till you sell them at 25-27 mths and then the fattening guy can put the finish on them imo.

 

[Northeastfarmer]

Holstein bullocks are never fat

 

[Cluster_monkey]

@cull cows your the man in the know...

 

[cull cows]

@cull cows your the man in the know...

Keep til spring sell as big stores in April

 

[X344chap]

All good replies thanks - keeping the boys till the spring then.
Supplementary question -
They are eating a bale a week. Should i feed a bale of silage then a bale of good hay week about - or use all the big bale silage first then start on the hay? Does it upset their digestion to do this?

Should also say that they are outwintered so still nibbling away at grass but have a dry bed to come into and a feed barrier with the silage/hay.

 

[Hampton]

Surely people who are saying tickle them on for a few more months then let someone fatten them can’t possibly make that judgement without knowing the weights of the cattle. If they are currently 400-500kg then the above comments would perhaps make sense, current owner could take them to 550kg then shift them to a fattener who could take them to 600+.
However, it’s surprising how many 26 month old 350kg Holstein steers come through the store rings and finishers have absolutely nowhere to go with them in the time they have left until the are over 30 months.

 

[beefandsleep]

Surely people who are saying tickle them on for a few more months then let someone fatten them can’t possibly make that judgement without knowing the weights of the cattle. If they are currently 400-500kg then the above comments would perhaps make sense, current owner could take them to 550kg then shift them to a fattener who could take them to 600+.
However, it’s surprising how many 26 month old 350kg Holstein steers come through the store rings and finishers have absolutely nowhere to go with them in the time they have left until the are over 30 months.

First sensible post. Unless they are 550kg plus next april at 25 months old they wont be of much interest to a finisher, they should be that now at 20 months if well reared. They should have grown their frame by now and be ready to finish, if you dont want to finish them yourself they would be best sold now and replaced with something you can use the feed you have to grow. You take your margin when you buy their replacements.

 

[PaulNix]

Without seeing the bullocks I would do as above and be dumping them on the market and letting them do what they will then spending that money on 8-10 month old suckled calves which would make better use of the food you have available.

 

[Werzle]

With the beef trade as it is these bullocks are worth b#gger all, how many sucklerbred things are 3 holstein bullocks going to buy? About 1.4! My advice still stands, they will still have plenty of time left in the spring and the trade will be better or we are all in the clarts. Better to tickle these bullocks along than buy some suckler things that could cause you problems. If you dont want work i would cash them and sell your fodder rather than replace them.

 

[gwi1890]

I would imagine if they are well grown there will be more money keeping them and fattening them during the summer than buying expensive suckled calves

 

[X344chap]

I've got no way to weigh them to see what weight they are unfortunately. Any thoughts to the week about with hay then silage? They will be replaced eventually with 4 week old calves from the market to bring on.

 

[Frank-the-Wool]

How bad a shape are they?
If they are extreme Holstein then I am afraid it is doubtful if whatever you feed them you will come out on the right side profitably.
Why do you want to keep changing their feed, this will be detrimental to their health.

If they are still grazing outside then use the Hay as they will appreciate dry matter. When that runs out then use the silage as that will make them add more weight and condition if it is reasonably well made.
Ask your local auctioneer or fieldsman for the auction what they think they are worth to sell now or what they might be worth in April.

I used to graze lots of them, but nowadays try to avoid them as the outlets for them are few and far between.

 

[Hfd Cattle]

You not mentioned are you Farm assured ? This is really important as to what you do with them. If you aren't then I would pitch them mid to end of Jan as the fatttening boys will hopefully looking to refill cattle shed and they will have time to get them Farm assured and fat enough. If you are assured then your options are easier and I would throw the grub at them from now on and get them fat . I wouldn't rely on fattening off the grass it's too much of a gamble when you have a product that is already in the 'difficult to trade' category. We only need a late summer like last year and you will be up against it.

 

[gone up the hill]

Some very bad information being given to the OP on this thread!

1 : if you are not assured then do NOT keep these cattle until they are 27 months before you sell them as stores, they need to be sold no later than 24/25 months.

2 : You will not finish HF steers off grass alone, they will need hard feed for at least 90 days even if on grass.

3 : Can the OP put up some pics of these cattle? to give everyone a better idea of these cattle so the advice can be more accurate.