Starting up

[Tom19]

Right here I go, I'm 19 years old from Ireland looking at starting back up the family farm in, some may say it's simple madness but I want to make a go of it if. it's not going to be my fulltime job, what I have is 90 acres with no current livestock(currently on lease to a beef farmer) fencing in order and adequate roadways. What I want to know of ye is what would be the best beef enterprise. My current plan is buying strong bull calves of dairy farms and sell em at around 19 months. how would u recommend to start. How much calves should I buy the first year?,should I sell a few of them at 3months a few more at 9 months to keep a steady income? Or am I going down the wrong route.
Have a bit of patience with me I'm only trying to figure it out I dont want the hassle of finishing cattle. Thanks in advance for any replies

 

[Still Farming]

Beef bull calves possibly not dairy bull calves is it?
Buy cheap,sell dear, thats the motto whatever.

 

[Tom19]

Beef bull calves possibly not dairy bull calves is it?
Buy cheap,sell dear, thats the motto whatever.

Ya in the past we had strong Whitehead and bb calves off British fresian cows put on weight well

 

[JSmith]

Sheep??? A lot quicker turn around, cheaper to start off with, not as many costs!! Calves need bedding, hay, milk, vaccinations? Longer term job, small return when you factor in associated costs!!! Cut surplus grass an sell to horsey folk at a premium!! This time next year rodders!!!!

 

[DKnD]

How many can you winter?

 

[Tom19]

How many can you winter?

70

 

[Tom19]

Sheep??? A lot quicker turn around, cheaper to start off with, not as many costs!! Calves need bedding, hay, milk, vaccinations? Longer term job, small return when you factor in associated costs!!! Cut surplus grass an sell to horsey folk at a premium!! This time next year rodders!!!!

Ya cattle is what I know though fields would need to be rewired for sheep and sheds wouldn't really be suited to em

 

[Mc115reed]

Ya cattle is what I know though fields would need to be rewired for sheep and sheds wouldn't really be suited to em

Your gonna need a lot of money too get into cattle... you’ll do nothing but hemridge cash for 2 years minimum with no return...

Sheep is the best way too go really then as you sell lambs replace them with calves..

 

[Timbo]

sheep (buy in lamb ewes ) or let the ground out

 

[Agrivator]

Watch every penny (Cent?) you spend. Concentrate on cattle. Only keep those that are growing into money, which are in demand by others farmers and which can be sold as and when you need.

 

[Tom19]

Your gonna need a lot of money too get into cattle... you’ll do nothing but hemridge cash for 2 years minimum with no return...

Sheep is the best way too go really then as you sell lambs replace them with calves..

I'll be going to agricultural college next year so I might study sheep there and learn more about them, but if I was to buy cattle at what age would I sell em

 

[Timbo]

I'll be going to agricultural college next year so I might study sheep there and learn more about them, but if I was to buy cattle at what age would I sell em

With the greatest of respect, , let the land out on a 3 or 5yr FBT, using the proceeds to fence it abit at a time and build you a cash reserve.

Learn & gain all the experience you can at college and work experience year with stock and all the regs & husbandry skills that go with them - you sound abit green, but keen - and *then* decide what you want to do with the ground.

 

[yorkshire8]

Stick with buying calves. sell at 18 months to a finisher . try to avoid selling in the backend when stores are cheaper . You can’t go wrong!!!

 

[Tom19]

With the greatest of respect, , let the land out on a 3 or 5yr FBT, using the proceeds to fence it abit at a time and build you a cash reserve.

Learn & gain all the experience you can at college and work experience year with stock and all the regs & husbandry skills that go with them - you sound abit green, but keen - and *then* decide what you want to do with the ground.

No offense taken, we only stopped farming 4 years ago and I work the majority of the time with a local farmer I would say I have every bit of knowledge on animal husbandry and skills as any lad of my age I'm asking the questions here as scenarios and all though they sound basic it helps build a plan for me, as all we ever did was dairy calf to beef, most profits where lost trying to finish cattle, as said before the fencing on the land is 100% sheds need very little work, I'm not a lad to throw money at machinery the only cash I need will go towards cattle . See most young fellas taking over a farm have stock to start and a plan made out by their father I have none of that,It might be the worst decision I ever make but if I dont do it I know I'll regret it

 

[Treg]

Stick with buying calves. sell at 18 months to a finisher . try to avoid selling in the backend when stores are cheaper . You can’t go wrong!!!

This^^^ Buy them right sell them right , that's how I got started .
Don't be greedy just buy what you can manage and sell / rent out surplus grass.

 

[24/7 farming]

Will ya get rid of bulls that r still be finished at 19 months?, r the factories not still looking for them finished mad young, like under 18 months, even 16.
If going for bulls make sure the place is 100‰ for fencing, preferably with electric on all perimeters if working/living away from the place. I got a call one day at work that a quad had rattled up the road and the dozen bulls we had in the field along the road had tore thru 3 internal hedges and fences before finally stopping for the electric at the boundary. That was the last year we kept them, been heifers ever since

 

[HarryB97]

Initially just farm 20-30 acres of it and have the current tenant have the rest. Over time as your income and confidence increases take more back in hand. Buy 2-4 week old calves on milk, heifers will be cheaper and sell them at 400-500kg as stores don’t focus on age. Buy some electric fencing so you can make the most from your grass and focus on buying meat not metal as kit won’t make you money on a small scale.

 

[Courier]

Need to be selling at least some retail to make any proper money out of the job -" Big Barn " seems to have a presence in RoI.

Local Food Map – Big Barn

Find local food from the 6,500 outlets on the BigBarn map. Buy artisan food & drink in the BigBarn MarketPlace. See recipes and videos.

www.bigbarn.co.uk

About us – Big Barn

Find local food from the 6,500 outlets on the BigBarn map. Buy artisan food & drink in the BigBarn MarketPlace. See recipes and videos.

www.bigbarn.co.uk

 

[willie waver]

is a small suckler herd crazy? lot to be said for the enjoyment of breeding your own cattle. wont get rich though

 

[Tom19]

Will ya get rid of bulls that r still be finished at 19 months?, r the factories not still looking for them finished mad young, like under 18 months, even 16.
If going for bulls make sure the place is 100‰ for fencing, preferably with electric on all perimeters if working/living away from the place. I got a call one day at work that a quad had rattled up the road and the dozen bulls we had in the field along the road had tore thru 3 internal hedges and fences before finally stopping for the electric at the boundary. That was the last year we kept them, been heifers ever since

No they'll be squeeze and kept as Bullocks bulls are just too dangerous around the place