- Location
- Norfolk
Doesn't matter what breed just start with hi health.
Suckler startup
- Thread starter Titchlennon
- Start date
yes it will be a good idea if he makes sure he is good and healthy before he starts cos give him ten years of it he will be done in and pulling his hair out
- Location
- Shropshire
Impossible to make suggestions without more information.
Indoor or outdoor
Will calves be creep fed
Will they be sold as stores or fats
Are you looking at a full time herd or more of a flying herd.
How quickly do you want to turn the money around.
Will males be kept entire or steered.
Which local market/ abattoir
Contract?
The list goes on
Indoor or outdoor
Will calves be creep fed
Will they be sold as stores or fats
Are you looking at a full time herd or more of a flying herd.
How quickly do you want to turn the money around.
Will males be kept entire or steered.
Which local market/ abattoir
Contract?
The list goes on
CharcoalWally
Member
- Location
- West of Scotland
Aye, as long as that cow basically suits the farm anyway, but I know that's what you mean.
Otherwise what you say is true, a suckler cow that can't milk is like trying to push water uphill. Especially these days when so many folk want to calve in the Spring and have that calf away in the backend. There's no time to waste, that cow has got to milk to get that calf going as fast as possible.
Hey steady on there - at least it will be small enough to fight with!!!
Bonus - you get to fight both the calve and its mother - as well as any aunties that are in the same parish!!
Titchlennon
Member
Pure breeds. We have plenty of crossbred cows atm. We using AI on all stock this year. Stock bull will be rented in for a week or two at the end.
Titchlennon
Member
Northern Ireland and your cattle are only inside for 2-3mths! Hell your lucky, I know lads over there whose cattle have only been outside for 2-3mths!
And it's Blondes you want
We have 3 or 4 fields around the sheds that are on pure rock. Try to keep the cows out as long as possible on it. Steers and heifers are kept in for longer tho.
- Location
- Norfolk
Run a few of all the major breeds then easy to keep them pure and then find what suits. Breeds and markets change best not to get tied down or blinkered
Titchlennon
Member
All calves will be sold at weanlings. We dont finish any stock on our farm. The calves will never see a shed with us but will be creep fed. As I work full time turning money quickly is not my main concern. However it's not a hobby. If they don't turn a profit they will disappear very quickly. If I wanted a hobby I'd play golf.
Weasel
Member
- Location
- in the hills
Shep and dog
Member
We used them for 8 year calving down 80 we scared 82 last year and two were barren and we had 80 calf alive to sell so top bread I think
- Location
- Norfolk
Angus?
Shep and dog
Member
No stabiliser
- Location
- Owaka, New Zealand
