Suckler cow enterprise question

[cattlemad]

Hi
We are quite new to the suckler cow businesses after being in stores for 8 years. We have now had 26 cows calves with strong calves at foot.
What do you find the most profitable...??
Sell the calves off the cows?/sell the cows off alone?/ sell cows with calves at foot?
They are all hereford, good strong mainly blk/w cows with hereford calves.

Interested to know as calves are now 5 and 6 months of age so summing up what move to make. Thanks

 

[Northeastfarmer]

Selling the calves as suckled calves straight off their Mam always seems the dearest trade to me

 

[tinsheet]

Selling the calves as suckled calves straight off their Mam always seems the dearest trade to me

Quickest turn over of cash also!
Not ideal if TB is a problem.

 

[Highland Mule]

the most profitable

Retailed as cooked steaks and burgers. It's all a question of how much effort you're prepared to put in, but every stage in the process adds margin.

 

[Whitepeak]

Hi
We are quite new to the suckler cow businesses after being in stores for 8 years. We have now had 26 cows calves with strong calves at foot.
What do you find the most profitable...??
Sell the calves off the cows?/sell the cows off alone?/ sell cows with calves at foot?
They are all hereford, good strong mainly blk/w cows with hereford calves.

Interested to know as calves are now 5 and 6 months of age so summing up what move to make. Thanks

Are the cows back incalf? Male calves castrated or left as bulls?
Selling as calves at foot at that age they might be weaned in the ring

 

[Agrivator]

Hi
We are quite new to the suckler cow businesses after being in stores for 8 years. We have now had 26 cows calves with strong calves at foot.
What do you find the most profitable...??
Sell the calves off the cows?/sell the cows off alone?/ sell cows with calves at foot?
They are all hereford, good strong mainly blk/w cows with hereford calves.

Interested to know as calves are now 5 and 6 months of age so summing up what move to make. Thanks

What breed or cross are the cows. If they are Hereford cross, I certainly wouldn't put them in calf to a Hereford - 3/4 bred Herefords are not the most desirable cross. I would advise a Limousin, or, if you want to go native, an Angus or Shorthorn or Lincoln Red.

A good quality calf will sell anywhere and at any age.