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DOUBLE SUCKLING FR COWS

  • 24-08-2012 10:32pm
    #1
    keep going
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,551 ✭✭✭


    might try this next year with a few over quota cows. thinking of starting them in the shed as i would have a building that would suit and training them in twice a day and once i have got them going let them off to an out farm for the summer.then i would sell late in the year and dry off the cows.would aa or fr bull calves be better and what would they make 1 oct


Comments

  • #2
    bbam
    Closed Accounts Posts: 7,410 ✭✭✭bbam


    keep going wrote: »
    might try this next year with a few over quota cows. thinking of starting them in the shed as i would have a building that would suit and training them in twice a day and once i have got them going let them off to an out farm for the summer.then i would sell late in the year and dry off the cows.would aa or fr bull calves be better and what would they make 1 oct

    Some cows never take to the extra calves and it can be a torture.. We did it years ago and never again..
    They seem to put up with it while yo have them in a tight space... then once they have freedom they will kick the calf until it's afraid to suck :mad:


  • #3
    Mac Taylor
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,747 ✭✭✭Mac Taylor


    Have done it in the past. Definitively alot of work iniatially. A bucket of oats/barley helps;)

    Bull calves are easier, less inclined to be worried about the odd kick or two.


  • #4
    Farmer Pudsey
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,326 ✭✭✭Farmer Pudsey


    It depends on what you do with the rest of your calves. Do you sell as calves or weanlings.

    The fresian will put on more weight than the angus they would probally make much the same. However if selling any calves not used for this AA may sell better as sucks while fresians woule leave a bigger margin because of this. Also it will depend on what calves you have available when the cows you have selected calf. Make sure to sellect big framed calves.


  • #5
    freedominacup
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,920 ✭✭✭freedominacup


    Are you milking cows anyway? If you are I'd suggest you go for at least quadruple suckling. I have 5 cows being milked into churns this year and they are on at least 20 calves reared at this stage. Nothing fancy 2 ends of a barrel with middle ft cut and dumped just divide the milk between the 2 and walk away.

    If you are talking about suckling the only experience I'd have is years ago when we'd leave 2/3 cows into a yard with 7-10 calves at milking time and just leave them back with the herd after milking. Somehow this pratice stopped once I got hardy enough to be doing less time consuming work.


  • #6
    keep going
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,551 ✭✭✭keep going


    wont plan to make it a life time choice only until 2015 but just think might add value to the calves and i find that aa bull calves dont make fantastic money-the heifers beat them this year as drop calves.i have a shed near the parlour which has 3 pens off it that can hold up to 8 or 10 calves each and if that shed is busy with calving i could use the yard outside it to suck them.i dont think there will be massive go for dairy stock next year and dont want to sell them anyway for 2015. going by what i saw in the mart yesterday the dry cow trade could be a bit quiet for a while and whereas this spring was the time to sell cattle this winter is the time to hold them.


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