What to do with weanling bulls

Poor Farmer in the hills

I have weanling charolais bulls 300-400 kg born last spring which i usually sell in March. With all the negative talk about bulls should i castrate them now

simx

Poor Farmer in the hills wrote: »

I have weanling charolais bulls 300-400 kg born last spring which i usually sell in March. With all the negative talk about bulls should i castrate them now

I would be anyway but that's my opinion

bbam

We have a few.
Going to cut them when they are leaving the shed for grass in April (hopefully April).

49801

Cut on turn out or start feeding them now

simx

49801 wrote: »

Cut on turn out or start feeding them now

I presume he was going to sell them in march, that's what I got from that anyway

49801

simx wrote: »

I presume he was going to sell them in march, that's what I got from that anyway

Either way castrating during winter housing not a great idea.

If started feeding now he could have them factory fit by mid April.
Bulls not likely to be a product in demand come spring. If selling would have to castrate on turn out and leave them at grass for a few weeks before selling. Buyers would prefer not to have to deal with castrating themselves.

With both options you are talking similar enough timing before they are away.

Poor Farmer in the hills

i am tempted to start feeding the best of them. has anyone done any costings on this . how much meal per day would they eat

49801

Poor Farmer in the hills wrote: »

i am tempted to start feeding the best of them. has anyone done any costings on this . how much meal per day would they eat

Budget on 12kgs per day

severeoversteer

Poor Farmer in the hills wrote: »

i am tempted to start feeding the best of them. has anyone done any costings on this . how much meal per day would they eat

pick the best of them, and mark on your calender when they are 16 months, count back 120-130 days from this and this is the date they need to be started on finishing

between now and then build them up to 6 kg 16 percent nut, fed half morning and half evening

for finishing, a 14 percent high energy nut or ration fed 3 times per day with total of 9-10 kg per day with straw and the best silage you can find

the factory can pay bulls under 16 months on the grid

you'll have to sell flat if they arent fat enough though

you'll be living in the shed with them, as i am

straw bed is essential

bob charles

severeoversteer wrote: »

the factory can pay bulls under 16 months on the grid

you'll have to sell flat if they arent fat enough though

you'll be living in the shed with them, as i am

straw bed is essential

Yes pay on the grid, but using what base price, not bullock base price nowadays. I had a few off at bullock base on the grid during the summer under 16's and they were coming into okay money. flat price of say 3.80 for colored bulls would be a nightmare

severeoversteer

bob charles wrote: »

Yes pay on the grid, but using what base price, not bullock base price nowadays. I had a few off at bullock base on the grid during the summer under 16's and they were coming into okay money. flat price of say 3.80 for colored bulls would be a nightmare

i was quoted 3.95 base the other day, which is 5 cent less than bullock

was for 15 month bulls

they will cut on weight over 420kg dw

i have a few early bulls that i reckon would kill over 400 and they are only 13 months old, according to the passport :rolleyes:

bob charles

severeoversteer wrote: »

i was quoted 3.95 base the other day, which is 5 cent less than bullock

was for 15 month bulls

they will cut on weight over 420kg dw

i have a few early bulls that i reckon would kill over 400 and they are only 13 months old, according to the passport :rolleyes:

Thats not too bad so, if this market gets flooded with under 16 months bulls that same will happen as has happened with the older bulls this year. Bulls of any age are impossible shift across the water. Passports are always 100% right my man

limerick farmer

If you squeeze them you have lots of potential customers in the mart for them but if you feed them you only have one road to go bulls might not be as plentiful in april and you may get them away alright but if you are not a regular supplier they may be slow in taking them and where do you go then?