The best option

Mrrice

Hi, new here first time Posting but always on here reading other threads very interesting and good information on here just looking for some advice I'm a young lad wasn't born into a farm just always loved everything about farming working with cattle and machinery i work with a suckler farmer and we're talking about me buying some of my own stock and using his land what would be the best system here as I have to give him something back just trying to think of the best deal our whatever any opinions would be greatly appreciated thanks

Bullocks

Mrrice wrote: »

Hi, new here first time Posting but always on here reading other threads very interesting and good information on here just looking for some advice I'm a young lad wasn't born into a farm just always loved everything about farming working with cattle and machinery i work with a suckler farmer and we're talking about me buying some of my own stock and using his land what would be the best system here as I have to give him something back just trying to think of the best deal our whatever any opinions would be greatly appreciated thanks

He sounds like a sound fella that will let you get a start and probably doesn't expect much back .
Maybe do a few hours here and there for free especially if he is stuck for a hand with cows calving or drawing bales . When the pressure is on an extra pair of hands is invaluable .

Mrrice

Ya I was thinking something like that too myself was thinking of buying a few Calves in spring and sell off end of October but how many Calves should I start off with obviously I can't start off with too much was thinking maybe 4/5

Bullocks

Mrrice wrote: »

Ya I was thinking something like that too myself was thinking of buying a few Calves in spring and sell off end of October but how many Calves should I start off with obviously I can't start off with too much was thinking maybe 4/5

Would it work out easier if you bought stock similar to what he is running himself so they could all be grazed / fed/ dosed alongside his ? A couple of heifers for the bull would probably leave as good money as calves

Mrrice

Would you reckon I'd do better with a few heifers to run along with his own so fatten them up over summer and sell off in autumn

Bullocks

Mrrice wrote: »

Would you reckon I'd do better with a few heifers to run along with his own so fatten them up over summer and sell off in autumn

Well it would be easier managed that way along with whatever he has himself , whether it's fattening heifers or bulling replacement heifers
If you buy suck calves you would nearly have them seperate in a sheltered field and they would want milk twice a day for awhile and maybe a shed to get them started , you would have to be there twice a day yourself if he wasn't feeding them for you .
At least the other way there wouldn't really be any extra work over what he is already doing .
What does he think himself ?

Mrrice

That's true too I guess and he's enough to be doing then having to feed my Calves on top of his own stuff to do what if I ran my few with the replacements and got them few in calf and sold them on just an idea don't know if it work out though and he just wants me to do what I want whatever suits me best kind of a thing he's not really pushed

Bullocks

Mrrice wrote: »

That's true too I guess and he's enough to be doing then having to feed my Calves on top of his own stuff to do what if I ran my few with the replacements and got them few in calf and sold them on just an idea don't know if it work out though and he just wants me to do what I want whatever suits me best kind of a thing he's not really pushed

Thats what I'd do , if you get a couple of heifers they might leave as much money as calves with little trouble bar getting them in for bulling , if you're lucky he might have a bull aswell

Mrrice

He has a bull so it might work out I'll say it to him and see what his view on it is was also thinking on buying a few bullocks instead and fattening for the summer

TITANIUM.

Bullocks wrote: »

Well it would be easier managed that way along with whatever he has himself , whether it's fattening heifers or bulling replacement heifers
If you buy suck calves you would nearly have them seperate in a sheltered field and they would want milk twice a day for awhile and maybe a shed to get them started , you would have to be there twice a day yourself if he wasn't feeding them for you .
At least the other way there wouldn't really be any extra work over what he is already doing .
What does he think himself ?

Spot on. You have to minimise impact on him would be what id be thinking. If you're just doing it as a hobby why not buy a couple of in calf heifers even off him, that fit in with his calving system.
It can be very satisfying when you put allot of thought into breeding and it works out for you. So since your interested this could be very rewarding.These cows could slot into his system immediately. Both yourself and himself will know how to manage them rather than adopting a new system such as bucket reared calves etc. Abit of labour and sort your own vet bills contribute to fertiliser meal etc according to how many cattle you have if you want iwould be fair enough id say.

Mrrice

That is a good idea how much roughly would an in calf heifer be making?

just do it

Firstly best of luck. Study up on entitlements etc and don't get your own herd number until you're in a position to get the most out of what schemes are there. Get an ag qualification as you'll need it to get scheme and grant money.

just do it

By the way the herd number doesn't confer ownership of cattle so you don't need it. As they will be running in the farmers herd they would have to be in his herd number anyway.

I offer this advice as I didn't pay enough attention to this side of things when I got going originally and have left €000's behind me because of it.

Mrrice

Thanks just do it.. Would I be better off waiting till I got my green cert done and then get the few stock so I'll be entitled to scheme's and that?

just do it

Mrrice wrote: »

Thanks just do it.. Would I be better off waiting till I got my green cert done and then get the few stock so I'll be entitled to scheme's and that?

Get the stock alright, but they will be in the farmers herd number. That doesn't mean he owns them and you'll have to do that anyway as they will be mixing with them.

For entitlements you'll need land in your own name, whether it be owned or rented. Same for herd number. Look up the national reserve and what you need to apply for entitlements. It will be there again next year and year after (but check it out) so I wouldn't rush in this year. Rather give yourself plenty time to prepare.

And don't forget Teagasc is there to help you

Mrrice

If i ring teagasc would they'd talk me threw everything would they? .. Would I need to rent a certain amount of land to get entitlements