starting off with cattle

Dylan collins

hello lads i am farming sheep at the moment. however what to expand to cattle i farm a hill farm and wondering what cattle would be the best i was thinking charollais, limousin, hereford what do u think would be the best breed to start with?

IH784man

Hereford/whitehead to start off with for docility and they might do a bit better on the hill farm,cheaper to buy at the start but cheaper than continentals when selling

Dylan collins

thanks would they be alright om bog land for a wee while

greysides

Angus are another hardy breed associated with hill farming.

Dylan collins

thanks i was looking at the simmental what r they like

Who2

Stick with sheep on that sort of ground, it's hard enough turn a bob on good ground let alone poor ground.

greysides

Hill breeds tend to be smaller and hardy. Simmentals are larger framed animals.

I think a lot depends on what constitutes a 'hill' for you and what facilities you have. Simmentals, Limousins and Charolais would more normally be seen as lowland cattle. That is despite Simmentals originating in Switzerland and Limousins coming from a rugged area of France.

Dylan collins

like i have good hill land quite flat however got bog aswell mostly hill though and theres no money in sheep so wanna get a few cows that i can have on the bog aswell as hill land

IH784man

What are you doing with sheep,maybe you could change your system,if there's no money in sheep there definetly won't be money in cattle

Farrell

If your ground is anyway heavy Stay away from Continentals.
Try some AAX & HEX heifers, buy good & sell early

Dylan collins

is there a market for angus cattle in donegal and also what are the belgium blue cattle like

IH784man

Most buyers around donegal definetly give a premium for Charolais,limo etc the more stylish cattle,not as much for plainer cattle like the aa or whitehead but there's buyers for them if you can find them outside the mart

Dylan collins

would charolais be the way to go then

IH784man

Sounds like you have bog,won't thrive as well as whiteheads or Angus on that type of ground,just don't get too excited and pay to much for them in the ring and there should be a pound or two in them

kay 9

What about rare breeds and get your 200 per head in glas. Most of the rare breeds are as tough as they get so it's a win win on mediocre ground.

Dylan collins

does anyone know if there is a market for angus cows in donegal cause i think im going to go with them and hereford then i might get into charolias im going to see