outwintering cattle

vermin99

Well, I have being toying eith the idea of buying 2 or 3calves , grazing this summer then outwinter on stubble of about 8 acres a neighbour owns and gave me permission to outwinter on.then graze next summer and sell or slaughter at 18 months.i have a few questions though,is it worthwhile or should I buy calves now and sell in october.how many silage bales would I need to keep 2 going? What breed of cattle? And what else would I want to feed along with silage like fodder beat etc? Thanks

Capercaillie

vermin99 wrote: »

Well, I have being toying eith the idea of buying 2 or 3calves , grazing this summer then outwinter on stubble of about 8 acres a neighbour owns and gave me permission to outwinter on.then graze next summer and sell or slaughter at 18 months.i have a few questions though,is it worthwhile or should I buy calves now and sell in october.how many silage bales would I need to keep 2 going? What breed of cattle? And what else would I want to feed along with silage like fodder beat etc? Thanks

Will have to get a herd number first. DVO very busy at the moment processing Herd numbers.

vermin99

Have number and all just weighing up how to make maximum profit

Bodacious

vermin99 wrote: »

Have number and all just weighing up how to make maximum profit

any breed would work but in fairness would you be bothered of the hassle for little return on 2 calves could you buy 4 x bulling heifers- ai- and sell on point of calving

Jb1989

And be hay for the first year unless you borrow a box of silage from your neighbour every few days. Silage wouldn't last for two or three

Muckit

You wouldn't have cattle ready for slaughter at 18 mths especially not bucket fed calves.

You'd be better off buying light yearling stores, putting weight on them from grass then selling on through the ring.

djmc

Calves is not what I would start out with if you are new to farming.
Dairy calves can cost more to rear than they will make might not even cover costs in a bad year.
They can also drop dead as quick as look at you.need a lot of minding.
Yearlings would be better.

Capercaillie

djmc wrote: »

Calves is not what I would start out with if you are new to farming.
Dairy calves can cost more to rear than they will make might not even cover costs in a bad year.
They can also drop dead as quick as look at you.need a lot of minding.
Yearlings would be better.

Would dairy calves be as good as pet lambs at dying?

djmc

Capercaillie wrote: »

Would dairy calves be as good as pet lambs at dying?

Don't know but I had a few perfectly healthy ones fed sat evening that were dead Sunday morning.
Rota virus I suspected.
Suckling calves are fine but bucket fed can go very wrong very quick if you haven't everything right.

larrymiller

djmc wrote: »

Don't know but I had a few perfectly healthy ones fed sat evening that were dead Sunday morning.
Rota virus I suspected.
Suckling calves are fine but bucket fed can go very wrong very quick if you haven't everything right.

Especially buying in the mart. Coming from different farms could pick up anything

Midlandsman80

http://www.donedeal.ie/view/8786093
6 Angus X Heifers ~ For Sale

These would be a good start, not huge value but look v good quality and will be hardy as have been out this winter..,

vermin99

Wouldnt be new to farming as have bought in bullocks in march and sold in octover for the past few years. I know the idea of ai seems good but unfortunately the funds arnt there ti support them.if I upped it to 5 or 6 calves would it be feasible and just sell on in march or april of next year? Thanks for the help so far