Worcester Aberdeen Angus sale 3rd April.

I know they aren't everybody's cup of tea on here (naming no names) but is anyone going this Saturday? We have 2 bulls entered and I'm sure there will be a lot of good cattle there.
 
Screenshot_20210329-120104_Gallery.jpg
Screenshot_20210329-120051_Gallery.jpg
Screenshot_20210329-120034_Gallery.jpg
Screenshot_20210329-120013_Gallery.jpg
Screenshot_20210329-115952_Gallery.jpg
Screenshot_20210329-115925_Gallery.jpg
 

JSmith

Member
Livestock Farmer
Worst experience of my life calving heifers to an Angus bull!! Wanted little black easy calved calves, ended up with a well used calving jack an plenty dead big calves!! Is there any traditional non improved Angus out there?? Why people feel they need to turn all the traditional breeds into muscled up continentals baffles me, so called improved!! Neighbours got pedigrees, look like black lims but bigger 🙈
 
Worst experience of my life calving heifers to an Angus bull!! Wanted little black easy calved calves, ended up with a well used calving jack an plenty dead big calves!! Is there any traditional non improved Angus out there?? Why people feel they need to turn all the traditional breeds into muscled up continentals baffles me, so called improved!! Neighbours got pedigrees, look like black lims but bigger 🙈
Not doubting your experience but I'd suggest the problem would have been where you sourced the bull from and the type of bull you bought. We rarely have to touch any of our cows at calving, maybe an odd one that's backwards or a 2 year old heifer needing a little help but on average less than 1 a year. Any bull calf that needs any assistance is steered straight away and that includes dopey ones that won't suck. Blame the breeders not the breed, there are untrustworthy people in all breeds as I'm sure you are well aware.
 

JSmith

Member
Livestock Farmer
Not doubting your experience but I'd suggest the problem would have been where you sourced the bull from and the type of bull you bought. We rarely have to touch any of our cows at calving, maybe an odd one that's backwards or a 2 year old heifer needing a little help but on average less than 1 a year. Any bull calf that needs any assistance is steered straight away and that includes dopey ones that won't suck. Blame the breeders not the breed, there are untrustworthy people in all breeds as I'm sure you are well aware.
It wasn’t far from Worcester market, not naming names but there was a restaurant or a cookery school attached to it!! Herds gone now i think, and the blood hopefully!! If your using a native site surely there’s a purpose for the reason in doing so, characteristics, desired traits if you will, hardy, live out doors, thrive on forage, finish on forage, maternal, docile etc etc, why “improve” them to such a degree to be so far removed from what they are designed to be!!?? Just buy a feckin continental, don’t improve traditional breeds beyond all recognition!!
 
It wasn’t far from Worcester market, not naming names but there was a restaurant or a cookery school attached to it!! Herds gone now i think, and the blood hopefully!! If your using a native site surely there’s a purpose for the reason in doing so, characteristics, desired traits if you will, hardy, live out doors, thrive on forage, finish on forage, maternal, docile etc etc, why “improve” them to such a degree to be so far removed from what they are designed to be!!?? Just buy a feckin continental, don’t improve traditional breeds beyond all recognition!!
Yep pretty much all of those characteristics you mention are high priorities in our herd. Like I said not everyone is going that way but that's life. I know of Limousin herds who are at the top end buying and selling cattle for tens of thousands and every calf born on their farm comes out the side door as routine. Now I wouldn't dare assume that's how every Limo breeder operated but that's how it is! As with anything in farming doing some research and sourcing from the correct people to suit what you want and need daves a lot of hassle and bitching later on.
 
Thank you. Luxtons have got a nice herd down there, they bought some heifers from us when they were building numbers and have selected good stock bulls from what I've seen.
 

Ffermwr25

Member
Livestock Farmer
Yep pretty much all of those characteristics you mention are high priorities in our herd. Like I said not everyone is going that way but that's life. I know of Limousin herds who are at the top end buying and selling cattle for tens of thousands and every calf born on their farm comes out the side door as routine. Now I wouldn't dare assume that's how every Limo breeder operated but that's how it is! As with anything in farming doing some research and sourcing from the correct people to suit what you want and need daves a lot of hassle and bitching later on.
I'm looking at Angus for the native breed advantages, importantly easy calving and the ability to thrive on grass.

I've looked at the ebvs, and your calving EBVs seem lower than many of the supposed harder calving strains. How is this? Would you put both your bulls on young cattle?
 
I'm looking at Angus for the native breed advantages, importantly easy calving and the ability to thrive on grass.

I've looked at the ebvs, and your calving EBVs seem lower than many of the supposed harder calving strains. How is this? Would you put both your bulls on young cattle?
Both bulls have a calving ease score going in the wrong direction than we would like but both were born unassisted and wouldn't have been touched apart from birth weighing and tagging otherwise they wouldn't still have their balls. The older bull was quite heavy at birth which is why his calving EBV is where it is so no I wouldn't recommend using him on heifers or dairy cows. I wouldn't have any reservations using the younger bull on heifers or dairy. These 2 bulls were selected for the sale as they were the right age being from our small Autumn calving herd and their DLWGs were very good. We sell a lot of bulls privately into dairy, beef and a smaller amount into pedigree herds and have a lot of repeat customers so the bulls do the job they are supposed to do. When people come to pick off farm I am honest with them and help them try and pick a bull that would suit their needs.
 

SFI - What % were you taking out of production?

  • 0 %

    Votes: 75 43.6%
  • Up to 25%

    Votes: 61 35.5%
  • 25-50%

    Votes: 27 15.7%
  • 50-75%

    Votes: 3 1.7%
  • 75-100%

    Votes: 3 1.7%
  • 100% I’ve had enough of farming!

    Votes: 3 1.7%

Red Tractor drops launch of green farming scheme amid anger from farmers

  • 1,284
  • 1
As reported in Independent


quote: “Red Tractor has confirmed it is dropping plans to launch its green farming assurance standard in April“

read the TFF thread here: https://thefarmingforum.co.uk/index.php?threads/gfc-was-to-go-ahead-now-not-going-ahead.405234/
Top