TB calf sales

[crashbox]

So wondering what sort of prices people are getting for calves, when TB shut down?
We've traditionally reared ours to 12 to 15 months then sold, but orange markets are risky. Might get £600/hd, might get below £400, doesn't seem enough for good strong stock.

What sort of prices are reasonable for dairy and beef cross (Angus/blue) breeds, put onto average Holsteins.

Thanks

 

[sidjon]

So wondering what sort of prices people are getting for calves, when TB shut down?
We've traditionally reared ours to 12 to 15 months then sold, but orange markets are risky. Might get £600/hd, might get below £400, doesn't seem enough for good strong stock.

What sort of prices are reasonable for dairy and beef cross (Angus/blue) breeds, put onto average Holsteins.

Thanks

Couple of quid, if you can get anyone to take them.

 

[Rossymons]

Find someone to take them first then deal with price later.

 

[HarryB97]

Restricted calfs are a steal which is why we are currently converting to an AFU. Sell them as strong stores through someone like meadow quality, you will always get a consistant fair price. We currently sell all our stores direct to AFUs and it works well, the price is no differant compared to selling to a clean unit. On average restricted calves through a dealer or firm are around 60-100 pounds cheaper.

 

[Bald Rick]

Restricted calfs are an absolute steal which is why we are currently converting to an AFU. Sell them as strong stores through someone like meadow quality, you will always get a consistant fair price. We currently sell all our stores direct to AFUs and it works well, the price is no differant compared to selling to a clean unit. On average restricted calves through a dealer or firm are around 60-100 pounds cheaper.

Why do we love acronyms in farming so much? Can you enlighten me on AFU please? Ta

 

[Bramble]

Approved Finishing Unit

 

[Beef farmer]

Restricted calfs are an absolute steal which is why we are currently converting to an AFU. Sell them as strong stores through someone like meadow quality, you will always get a consistant fair price. We currently sell all our stores direct to AFUs and it works well, the price is no differant compared to selling to a clean unit. On average restricted calves through a dealer or firm are around 60-100 pounds cheaper.

Why afu? Surely aqu and clean them up

 

[HarryB97]

Why afu? Surely aqu and clean them up

We currently buy everything in as calves and sell as stores at 500kg around 14-15 months old but want to expand and finish them. They are currnetly all housed anyway so it'll make life easier and lower our costs with the much lower purchase price. No interest in running 'clean' stock anymore it's to much hassle with TB etc.

 

[Bald Rick]

Why afu? Surely aqu and clean them up

Don’t you ‘kin start ....

Assume “approved quarantine unit”?

 

[crashbox]

We currently buy everything in as calves and sell as stores at 500kg around 14-15 months old but want to expand and finish them. They are currnetly all housed anyway so it'll make life easier and lower our costs with the much lower purchase price. No interest in running 'clean' stock anymore it's to much hassle with TB etc.

Good job Harry without farmers like you, a lot of TB shut down dairy farmers would have a big challenge on their hands

 

[Beef farmer]

Don’t you ‘kin start ....

Assume “approved quarantine unit”?

Yep, stick em in an aqu. 2x 60 day tests clear and there clean.

 

[sidjon]

Acer

We currently buy everything in as calves and sell as stores at 500kg around 14-15 months old but want to expand and finish them. They are currnetly all housed anyway so it'll make life easier and lower our costs with the much lower purchase price. No interest in running 'clean' stock anymore it's to much hassle with TB etc.

Who do you purchase the calves through?

 

[Sheepykid]

Yep, stick em in an aqu. 2x 60 day tests clear and there clean.

Don’t think you can get AQU anymore. You can still get isolation units. But all the calves have to come from one farm. Not that easy to do on any scale.

 

[Bald n Grumpy]

Only what I was told by someone under restrictions
He was going to sell stores at an orange market and was sorting licensing with ministry and they told him they wouldn't lift restrictions until the cattle being sold were slaughtered no matter what his future test results
Sounds extreme to me but he didn't go ahead and sell

 

[Beef farmer]

Don’t think you can get AQU anymore. You can still get isolation units. But all the calves have to come from one farm. Not that easy to do on any scale.

Why is it not easy to scale up?

 

[Rossymons]

Why is it not easy to scale up?

I'm guessing it's to do with the time limit on filling each shed. You need to be able to fill it before that runs out else you could end up with loads of part filled yards.

 

[Beef farmer]

I'm guessing it's to do with the time limit on filling each shed. You need to be able to fill it before that runs out else you could end up with loads of part filled yards.

You've 42 days. So easy to take out the entire beef portion of any 12 week block calving herd. There are some monstor herds of cows, i could point you in the direction of a spring calver whis gone down with tb, would have circa 800 herefords due in March.

 

[miniconnect]

Only what I was told by someone under restrictions
He was going to sell stores at an orange market and was sorting licensing with ministry and they told him they wouldn't lift restrictions until the cattle being sold were slaughtered no matter what his future test results
Sounds extreme to me but he didn't go ahead and sell

That was pretty much what our ministry man said, we're getting close to bursting with store size cattle, and even if there were any such units in Scotland that's the way it would work.

 

[Rossymons]

You've 42 days. So easy to take out the entire beef portion of any 12 week block calving herd. There are some monstor herds of cows, i could point you in the direction of a spring calver whis gone down with tb, would have circa 800 herefords due in March.

Its something i've discussed doing here with the potential of 3 seperate holdings.

Once the family had stopped shouting at me I skulked out of the kitchen with my tail between my legs

 

[Sheepykid]

Why is it not easy to scale up?

Depends on your definition of scale.