Selling a small suckler herd.

[Jonp]

This year has been a disaster. The lack of any real rain since before Christmas has crippled me, burnt up fields from the end of june and dry streams since may.
My field that the ram lambs go to in September was unusable because of a dry canal on the longest boundary and those lambs had to be sold at a loss. The field is also used for the cattle over winter but still cannot be used.
My ewe and ewe lamb winter tack was cancelled about a month ago so they have to stay on the farm all winter and I will be struggling for grass for them. Managing Tupping is difficult with ewe lambs about and fields taken up by cattle that I'm feeding already.
So I will have to sell my 8 cows and seven calfs as feeding them for a six month winter (as opposed to the usual three to four) does not stack up especially as the 200 odd sheep will need feeding wether in or out part time.
Next year could be a repeat of this year and we could have a dry or hard cold winter. A wet one is going to trash the farm even with a few cows.

Will TB test and PD them tomorrow.
I've never been in this situation before and want to know the best way of selling them.

I expect all the cows to be in calf, they ran with a pedigree Hereford for six weeks until the end of August.

4 106 month British Friesian x Herefords
Their daughters by ped Hereford
1 77 month.
1 53 month.
1 41 month.
All with ped Hereford sired calfs.

I 29 month heifer (had a stillborn calf this spring) expected to be in calf.

Will sell the heifer first.
Do I wean the calfs now or wait till the suckler calf sales in a month and do it then and then sell the calfs as a bunch and the cows as breeders or culls?Or do I sell the cows as in calf with a six month calf at foot asap?
I need to salvage something from this year...any suggestions?

 

[Woolless]

@Hfd Cattle will have a take on this.

From what I have gathered, these outfits would sell better split. Might be better if the cows were empty but sod's law they'll all be well in calf.

Really difficult times for you .

 

[Werzle]

Imo because they are incalf so cannot be culled and trade on small stores is slipping i think i would sell them asap with the calves still on the cows.

 

[serf]

Be shame for them black Hereford friesians not to do a few more turns they looked ideal last time you put them on here .

 

[Jonp]

Be shame for them black Hereford friesians not to do a few more turns they looked ideal last time you put them on here .

Yes they're looking good at the moment, haven't seen them bulling so I expect them to be in calf again like they always do. Had them as three day old calves so am very attached to them.

 

[Muddyroads]

So sorry to read this @Jonp. As said above I’d trust the advice of @Hfd Cattle when he sees this.

 

[ajcc]

Separate, cows and calves, make £1300 of the pair. Sell them together make £1000 of pair. Sorry but that is reality at present.

 

[Hfd Cattle]

Will pm you .

 

[Whitepeak]

If you took them to a market then they would probably split them in the ring anyway.
And the calves would probably sell better as a bunch than as singles as well.

 

[Werzle]

If you took them to a market then they would probably split them in the ring anyway.
And the calves would probably sell better as a bunch than as singles as well.

If the calves are belters i would agree but if they are very average imo they will be given away . If the cows and calves are all tidy they will sell ok whatever he decides, if they all look bare from the drought they will not make much money regardless and would be better sold together as outfits . The old ones arent worth a tump

 

[ploughman1963]

I am sorry that you find yourself in this difficult position. We have all had setbacks in life so all I can offer is that you look at this as dispassionately as you can, make the best decision you can to suit your circumstances and come back stronger as a result. If talking a loss now by selling means you survive to fight another day then that is what I would do. Good luck.

 

[Jonp]

I am sorry that you find yourself in this difficult position. We have all had setbacks in life so all I can offer is that you look at this as dispassionately as you can, make the best decision you can to suit your circumstances and come back stronger as a result. If talking a loss now by selling means you survive to fight another day then that is what I would do. Good luck.

It has been hard physically and now starting to effect my mental health (which is difficult to accept).
Am getting on a bit now so what you say is entirely correct. There's people far worse off than me.

 

[Estate fencing.]

It has been hard physically and now starting to effect my mental health (which is difficult to accept).
Am getting on a bit now so what you say is entirely correct. There's people far worse off than me.

These no shame in having to give up on something. Much better to sell the cattle than get your self into a physical and mental mess.

 

[Jonp]

They're all in calf so just the TB reading to get passed on Friday.

 

[choochter]

If the calves are belters i would agree but if they are very average imo they will be given away . If the cows and calves are all tidy they will sell ok whatever he decides, if they all look bare from the drought they will not make much money regardless and would be better sold together as outfits . The old ones arent worth a tump

yes they are if they have a calf inside them and a calf at foot esp a heifer

 

[choochter]

They're all in calf so just the TB reading to get passed on Friday.

If I was near to you I'd be making you an offer for the whole lot (not the heifer though)

 

[Jonp]

If I was near to you I'd be making you an offer for the whole lot (not the heifer though)

The heifer is one of the best cows!
She had a large full term stillborn heifer calf this spring. The joys of outdoor calving! I had COVID at the time and didn't pay enough attention to her and spot when she was starting to calf......in the middle of the night. Will calf fine next time I expect

 

[delilah]

Would there be folks looking on sell my livestock who may take them as a herd ? They looked fine cattle from a photo you put on here, they would be ideal for someone who wants a herd to enhance their property.

 

[delilah]

https://sellmylivestock.com/view/listing/hereford-cross-in-calf-breeding-cows-B6130910

 

[Martyn]

This year has been a disaster. The lack of any real rain since before Christmas has crippled me, burnt up fields from the end of june and dry streams since may.
My field that the ram lambs go to in September was unusable because of a dry canal on the longest boundary and those lambs had to be sold at a loss. The field is also used for the cattle over winter but still cannot be used.
My ewe and ewe lamb winter tack was cancelled about a month ago so they have to stay on the farm all winter and I will be struggling for grass for them. Managing Tupping is difficult with ewe lambs about and fields taken up by cattle that I'm feeding already.
So I will have to sell my 8 cows and seven calfs as feeding them for a six month winter (as opposed to the usual three to four) does not stack up especially as the 200 odd sheep will need feeding wether in or out part time.
Next year could be a repeat of this year and we could have a dry or hard cold winter. A wet one is going to trash the farm even with a few cows.

Will TB test and PD them tomorrow.
I've never been in this situation before and want to know the best way of selling them.

I expect all the cows to be in calf, they ran with a pedigree Hereford for six weeks until the end of August.

4 106 month British Friesian x Herefords
Their daughters by ped Hereford
1 77 month.
1 53 month.
1 41 month.
All with ped Hereford sired calfs.

I 29 month heifer (had a stillborn calf this spring) expected to be in calf.

Will sell the heifer first.
Do I wean the calfs now or wait till the suckler calf sales in a month and do it then and then sell the calfs as a bunch and the cows as breeders or culls?Or do I sell the cows as in calf with a six month calf at foot asap?
I need to salvage something from this year...any suggestions?

With that small number if you were near by to me I would happily allow you some space & some round bales to keep them well fed until the spring, that sort of breeding wouldn't cost much to keep going. Nothing better than helping a person out always come back around in a positive favour down the road. If any one has a lorry heading from Cornwall to you I'll happily but some free bales on if would help you through.