Friesian Heifer how much??

farming93

Ive been offered a Friesian Heifer with a Charlaois Bull calf @ foot, calf is only very small as is the Heifer (20months old) The reason the farmer is getting rid of the heifer is she is a surplus to his requirements. Anyways how much would should I be willing to pay for them my guess is between 900-1100 euro?? She would be going into a suckler herd by the way..

Timmaay

If she is small now after calving down, she will take her time to grow fully, so don't expect a big calf next yr either. She's very late also now, not worth much to a dairyfarmer either, bar a chap in wintermilk. I don't know why a suckler farmer would want the likes of her over a proper beef suckler cow who will make afew quid as a cull, as well as throwing bigger calves. Only thing really going for her is the price, even despite the small calf size, he is still worth 250 wouldn't he be? I'm guessing the calf was a mistake also, nobody in their right mind would let a 20month old fr heifer calf to a Charlaois, do you know if it was a difficult calving?

1chippy

750 max. what good will she be next year?

royalmeath

Timmaay wrote: »

If she is small now after calving down, she will take her time to grow fully, so don't expect a big calf next yr either. She's very late also now, not worth much to a dairyfarmer either, bar a chap in wintermilk. I don't know why a suckler farmer would want the likes of her over a proper beef suckler cow who will make afew quid as a cull, as well as throwing bigger calves. Only thing really going for her is the price, even despite the small calf size, he is still worth 250 wouldn't he be? I'm guessing the calf was a mistake also, nobody in their right mind would let a 20month old fr heifer calf to a Charlaois, do you know if it was a difficult calving?

The big advantage she has is she could rear three calves a year. Thats her own calf and two I
others.

KatyMac

1chippy wrote: »

750 max. what good will she be next year?

For next year you would definitely need to have multiple calves on her as she would have way too much milk for one. I had a accident like that with a heifer - she had a good calf and was a wonderful mother, she adopted other bucket fed calves herself and by the time all were weaned I think there must have been 5 calves that had benefited. I sold her to a dairy man that saw her in field and liked the look of her. As far as I know she is still going strong.

farming93

No it wasnt that difficult of a calving jack was needed but not excessively used and yes it was an accidental bulling. Im not buying this Heifer but instead will do relief milking in exchange to the value of this Heifer and calf. Also my idea with her is to rear two/three suck calves next year. Thanks for the replys

kowtow

KatyMac wrote: »

For next year you would definitely need to have multiple calves on her as she would have way too much milk for one.

I think that's an old wives tale.

We have about half a dozen FR heifers are suckling a calf each (with one orphan as well shared between them) and they adapt to having just the milk they need. Only one was a bit too bagged up for her calf and once we stripped a couple of quarters she was fine too.

They do rear monsters though - early Feb calves now around 200Kg.

For example (she isn't the biggest heifer, but then he is only a mid-march calf)