Stabilisers

Ffermer Bach

Member
Livestock Farmer
What are the opinions of Stabilisers, for a grass based system, selling weaned calves or store cattle, with maybe a Charolais or Blonde bull used on them? I nipped into the Stabiliser stand at Groundswell (really to get a cup of tea! but started to chat to the fellow on the stand), and that got me thinking about them. Will add, organic here, and probably don't creep the calves.
 

ISCO

Member
Location
North East
We were also talking to him at Groundswell this last week as we have been thinking about trying a few for a while.
We have Saler cows at the moment but looking to try a smaller cow against the Saler and compare the calves.
 

Ffermer Bach

Member
Livestock Farmer
We were also talking to him at Groundswell this last week as we have been thinking about trying a few for a while.
We have Saler cows at the moment but looking to try a smaller cow against the Saler and compare the calves.
I really liked the idea of Salers, however, I really don't want wild animals and seeing some Salers stores in Dolgellau Mart trying to jump out of the ring put me off the idea.
 

Dave6170

Member
I bought 4 in calf heifers last year (in calf to stabiliser), got 2 good heifers calves out of them which will be bulled this year. A smaller heifer and a male calf.
Just put them to the Angus last year and they have really good calves this year.
Seem to be really good cows, not too big and milky.
The male calves selling as stores will be the only problem with them. Can’t see us buying a stabiliser bull yet.
 

Poorbuthappy

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
Devon
Had them since 2013.
They do what they say on the tin. Easy calving, cheap(er) to keep cow that perform well in lots of environments/ systems. Have fattened the bulls intensively very effectively in past but have moved to a grass based system now and pleased with how they're doing with that too.
Biggest caveat is selling pures store. If that's your system go with a terminal bull. Toying with an Angus or other native as terminal currently (have always worked them pure) for the store option and also we're developing the direct sales side, and Angus (or other native) is an easier sell.

Good and bad in every breed of course so pick your animals (and breeder) accordingly.
 

haymaker80

Member
Location
Stafford
We've bought some charolais cross stabilisers for grass finishing and they always do really well, very easy fleshing and can sell them straight off grass. Everyone says purebred males don't sell so well, but to be fair you rarely see any for sale in the markets. You'd think that with cereals being so expensive now there would be more interest in lower input cattle.
 

haymaker80

Member
Location
Stafford
I really liked the idea of Salers, however, I really don't want wild animals and seeing some Salers stores in Dolgellau Mart trying to jump out of the ring put me off the idea.
We used to buy quite a few salers from dolgellau. They were ok when they first came on the scene but the temperament of them went downhill badly. After a particularly bad bunch 3 years ago we don't touch them now, leave them for the dealers
 

Old Spot

Member
Location
Glos
I’ve have them pure and grading up. Very easy care, do on nothing
calve on their own. 68 this year helped one cross-bred heifer the rest on their own all up and sucked in 30mins.
mine are all quiet wouldn’t do anything else.
the only down side is selling as stores, this should be temporary when finishers find out how quick and easy they are to finish. I finish mine and sell to local butcher👍
 

Marennydd

Member
Location
Mid Wales
I really liked the idea of Salers, however, I really don't want wild animals and seeing some Salers stores in Dolgellau Mart trying to jump out of the ring put me off the idea.
We buy some in calf Stabiliser heifers from the same farm every year. Then put a Charolais bull on them for a second calf.
Good, medium sized cows that calve well to a sensible Charolais bull. That cross sells well at Dolgellau.
 

ISCO

Member
Location
North East
I really liked the idea of Salers, however, I really don't want wild animals and seeing some Salers stores in Dolgellau Mart trying to jump out of the ring put me off the idea.
We have had Saler cows for about 20 year and not seen a problem with temperament. Was told when we first bought them there was a certain bull that left the bad tempered ones.
The reason I am looking to change is for a smaller cow with less feed cost.
We would look to put a charolais on them so interesting that there are a few on here with experience of this cross.
 

JohnAC

Member
Livestock Farmer
We have them the last 4 or 5 years first year we had them was just on lim heifers for easy calving over the next 2 years the lim bulls were gone wouldn’t look back now finishing them as bulls don’t think selling them as stores would work over here anyway but they suit our system
 

unlacedgecko

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
Fife
Had them since 2013.
They do what they say on the tin. Easy calving, cheap(er) to keep cow that perform well in lots of environments/ systems. Have fattened the bulls intensively very effectively in past but have moved to a grass based system now and pleased with how they're doing with that too.
Biggest caveat is selling pures store. If that's your system go with a terminal bull. Toying with an Angus or other native as terminal currently (have always worked them pure) for the store option and also we're developing the direct sales side, and Angus (or other native) is an easier sell.

Good and bad in every breed of course so pick your animals (and breeder) accordingly.
You fattening the bulls off grass? Can you get them finished at under 16 months doing that? Or you cutting them late and finishing as steers?
 

Poorbuthappy

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
Devon
You fattening the bulls off grass? Can you get them finished at under 16 months doing that? Or you cutting them late and finishing as steers?
Steering them in first week.
Though have 2 left entire as potential breeders and they're looking good.
Also had 4 cut at 9/10 months old that were either missed or didn't make the grade. Interestingly they have done really well since cutting.
Was interested to try finishing some bulls off grass but haven't been brave enough yet.
 

JohnAC

Member
Livestock Farmer
Steering them in first week.
Though have 2 left entire as potential breeders and they're looking good.
Also had 4 cut at 9/10 months old that were either missed or didn't make the grade. Interestingly they have done really well since cutting.
Was interested to try finishing some bulls off grass but haven't been brave enough yet.
What age and weights are your steers killing into?
 

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