Small beef cattle operation

littlevillage

I am looking into resurrecting my dad's Herd number which has gone dormant. Have about 15 acres of fairly good grass.

My plan (presuming all goes well with the Herd number) is to buy in maybe 4 weanlings 250kgs for about €550 each and put them out on grass for the spring/ summer. Will be looking to sell in the Autumn with weight up to about 400kgs so for approx €750 a piece. If this is successful go for bigger number next year.

My questions.

- I will probably go for Hereford or Angus. (Crosses possibly). Charlaois, Limousine etc are just exorbitantly expensive. Am I about right in terms of my above buy & sell prices?

- How many acres of grass would I have to give over to them ? (I rent out some fields at the moment). I have one standalone field about 6 acres... would that be sufficient for the 4 animals?

-Is grass enough on its own, would they need anything else to bulk them up?

greysides

Moved to more appropriate forum.

Fireside Solicitor

Would you not sell it for grass (silage / hay) during summer and sheep over winter. Don't attempt to buy cattle with what's coming down the track next year or two

Who2

Fireside Solicitor wrote: »

Would you not sell it for grass (silage / hay) during summer and sheep over winter. Don't attempt to buy cattle with what's coming down the track next year or two

Why not, these are the times that there will be money made and lost, it's four cattle he'll hardly loose the house over it.

CloughCasey1

Fireside Solicitor wrote: »

Would you not sell it for grass (silage / hay) during summer and sheep over winter. Don't attempt to buy cattle with what's coming down the track next year or two

Id say we shouldnt bother gettin out of bed at all.

Bass Reeves

OP six acres is takes for 4 weanlings. Can you split it in 3 or 4 1.5 acres sections with an electric fence and reels. I think you know you may not make much money. Will be hard to get HE or AA for that kind of money. I be trying to buy ASAP as I think they will go up on price. If you pick a few Friesian's I gamble them as well. I carried 10 yearlings on 7 acres around my house,however you have to have it split into 4-5 paddocks from April until early September. However I was able to destock some in September back onto the farm.

Fireside he is hardly going to go broke, make or lose a fortune on 4 or even 8 cattle. While I think the next few years will be tricky I am not sure I would throw in the towel and destock completely. Actually lads that purchased last autumn will do ok . By the way what coming down the track

Nobbies

Fireside Solicitor wrote: »

Would you not sell it for grass (silage / hay) during summer and sheep over winter. Don't attempt to buy cattle with what's coming down the track next year or two

Is this wat ur telling anylad who will listen???whilst uhead for the sales with lorry in tow and buy all round ya when no 1else is.if you know wats coming dwn the track and don,t tell any 1 umight b able 2sit by the fireside.(don,t attempt to buy)u,ve made me laugh.thanks

Good loser

Go for 6 - 3FR and 3 others.

djmc

Bass Reeves wrote: »

OP six acres is takes for 4 weanlings. Can you split it in 3 or 4 1.5 acres sections with an electric fence and reels. I think you know you may not make much money. Will be hard to get HE or AA for that kind of money. I be trying to buy ASAP as I think they will go up on price. If you pick a few Friesian's I gamble them as well. I carried 10 yearlings on 7 acres around my house,however you have to have it split into 4-5 paddocks from April until early September. However I was able to destock some in September back onto the farm.

Fireside he is hardly going to go broke, make or lose a fortune on 4 or even 8 cattle. While I think the next few years will be tricky I am not sure I would throw in the towel and destock completely. Actually lads that purchased last autumn will do ok . By the way what coming down the track

Over supply of cattle and brexit factorys will use as an excuse to pull prices.
New CAP reform will be under more pressure with UK gone as other European countries will have to pay more into it at a time when a lot of them want to pay less.

Sam Kade

Nobbies wrote: »

Is this wat ur telling anylad who will listen???whilst uhead for the sales with lorry in tow and buy all round ya when no 1else is.if you know wats coming dwn the track and don,t tell any 1 umight b able 2sit by the fireside.(don,t attempt to buy)u,ve made me laugh.thanks

Ouch, my eyes

Bass Reeves

djmc wrote: »

Over supply of cattle and brexit factorys will use as an excuse to pull prices.
New CAP reform will be under more pressure with UK gone as other European countries will have to pay more into it at a time when a lot of them want to pay less.

Chicken Licken

Who2

All this talk is just pegging fuel on the fire. I bought a few animals last November and had to listen to lads saying they were too dear and no turn in them. Everyone of them would easily turn 250 today, one made 450 after expenses, now if you stick with a reasonably good system and adapt it slightly when you reckon there's a margin there will always be something out of it. Selling and not replacing going to leave you with a good bank account for a short while but a cruel fight down the line when you have to restock. Tighten the belt if you have to but curling up and hiding altogether won't help.

greysides

Nobbies wrote: »

Is this wat ur telling anylad who will listen???whilst uhead for the sales with lorry in tow and buy all round ya when no 1else is.if you know wats coming dwn the track and don,t tell any 1 umight b able 2sit by the fireside.(don,t attempt to buy)u,ve made me laugh.thanks

Sam Kade wrote: »

Ouch, my eyes

MOD: I'm inclined to agree. No 'text-speak' on the forum please, it's hard to read and the post is inclined to be ignored.

Fireside Solicitor

I'd agree with you, curling up and dying ain't an option. But as a man at this a long time you have to know when to pull back for a while. I'll trade a few but anyman wintering is off his head.

Now maybe I'm being too hard but by the sounds of it this chap is not a farmer and is looking to trick around with 15 acres, if that's the case then he has a few routes.

If money isn't an option then buy a few pedigrees and at least you'll get the enjoyment of them. But that costs.

If not loaded and your heart is set on buying a few, then make sure your around regularly for the weanlings and dont mean twice a day. If your not used to them you'll need to watch them carefully as they can go down quick. Get a good neighbour to show you and also get a good vet. You don't want to lose one of them in your first time at it. It's a killer.

If your not used to buying cattle get someone to buy them for you who you can trust otherwise you will get properly rode.probably by one of these shower here.you need to know what your at buyin, selling is easy just set your price and pull if your not happy.Mind the grass and give them a shake of decent meal twice a day.

Enjoy it but stick with the day job.

Pidae.m

Buy a couple of her or as blks they're the easiest to sell on in the back end, main thing is if you've only 4 on that much land the grass will be too strong. Keep fresh grass in front of them!

littlevillage wrote: »

I am looking into resurrecting my dad's Herd number which has gone dormant. Have about 15 acres of fairly good grass.

My plan (presuming all goes well with the Herd number) is to buy in maybe 4 weanlings 250kgs for about €550 each and put them out on grass for the spring/ summer. Will be looking to sell in the Autumn with weight up to about 400kgs so for approx €750 a piece. If this is successful go for bigger number next year.

My questions.

- I will probably go for Hereford or Angus. (Crosses possibly). Charlaois, Limousine etc are just exorbitantly expensive. Am I about right in terms of my above buy & sell prices?

- How many acres of grass would I have to give over to them ? (I rent out some fields at the moment). I have one standalone field about 6 acres... would that be sufficient for the 4 animals?

-Is grass enough on its own, would they need anything else to bulk them up?