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4 & 5 Star replacement heifers for BDGP

  • 12-07-2015 11:17AM
    #1
    cacs
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 832 ✭✭✭


    What are your thoughts on picking replacements heifers in 2015.
    I think you should only use 4 and 5 star as the market will more than likely require / demand those types of cattle in two or three years as the scheme Ramps up.
    I have 6 heifers kept 3 four and five and three lower. I am thinking of replacing the lower star rated heifers now with 4/5 star.
    Any comments?
    Tagged:


Comments

  • #2
    TITANIUM.
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,313 ✭✭✭TITANIUM.


    cathal irwin wrote: »
    What are your thoughts on picking replacements heifers in 2015.
    I think you should only use 4 and 5 star as the market will more than likely require / demand those types of cattle in two or three years as the scheme Ramps up.
    I have 6 heifers kept 3 four and five and three lower. I am thinking of replacing the lower star rated heifers now with 4/5 star.
    Any comments?

    I've 5 kept. Four of um are 5 stars on both the replacement and terminal side. The fifth is 5 on the terminal side but only 2 for replacement.


  • #3
    cacs
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 832 ✭✭✭cacs


    Mine are more less the same. But if read the guidelines on the BDGP the replacement index is the only one that counts for heifers. Bulls at the moment are either replacement or terminal. I just wonder in a few years will these cattles progeny be getting better prices in the marts and factories


  • #4
    blue5000
    Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 12,811 Mod ✭✭✭✭blue5000


    TB problem here, everything I had went to the bull this year whether they have 1 or 5 stars. But only using maternal bulls then will cull hard in a few years.

    If the seat's wet, sit on yer hat, a cool head is better than a wet ar5e.



  • #5
    cacs
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 832 ✭✭✭cacs


    That's tough going


  • #6
    votuvant
    Closed Accounts Posts: 56 ✭✭votuvant


    cathal irwin wrote: »
    What are your thoughts on picking replacements heifers in 2015.
    I think you should only use 4 and 5 star as the market will more than likely require / demand those types of cattle in two or three years as the scheme Ramps up.
    I have 6 heifers kept 3 four and five and three lower. I am thinking of replacing the lower star rated heifers now with 4/5 star.
    Any comments?

    If you calve a heifer down at 24mths her index will go up so you might get the ones you have up to 4* that way.

    In my opinion if I know the history of the heifer and her mother I can judge if she's going to make a good cow. I prefer to breed my own replacements anyway because I operate a closed herd as much as possible. You might swap your own heifers and buy a 5* but be no better off.


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  • #7
    Kovu
    Closed Accounts Posts: 14,241 ✭✭✭✭Kovu


    If I read the text I got off IFJ correctly, cows that are currently in your herd will qualify regardless of age.
    E.g. A cow we have that was born in 2010 and is four stars, can be kept 'til 2020 and will qualify for the scheme. The 2013 age restricton won't apply to her.


  • #8
    Future Farmer
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 430 ✭✭Future Farmer


    Progressive have 86 bulls BDGP Qualified : http://www.progressivegenetics.ie/Blog/Post-Detail/Our-Full-Listing-of-BDGP-Qualified-Bulls lots of choice. Salers & Limos well on top.


  • #9
    votuvant
    Closed Accounts Posts: 56 ✭✭votuvant


    Kovu wrote: »
    If I read the text I got off IFJ correctly, cows that are currently in your herd will qualify regardless of age.
    E.g. A cow we have that was born in 2010 and is four stars, can be kept 'til 2020 and will qualify for the scheme. The 2013 age restricton won't apply to her.

    Yes you are right it seems

    http://www.farmersjournal.ie/more-farmers-will-be-bdgp-compliant-185077/

    Also ICBF seem to have dropped the 4* index from 140 to 130 so animals that were 3.5* are now 4*.

    I was looking at two heifers I have here with same dam and sire but one has calved at 24 months and her index is 50 points above her sister who is due in September also at 24mths. Interesting to see if she jumps the same amount.

    if I'm right with this and calving down at 24 months means a 50 point jump then any heifer with a rating above 80 (1.5*) can get to 130 (4*). Anyone know if this is right?


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