Buying dairy to beef calves, any tips

locky76

I'm currently buying freisan bull calves for dairy to beef.
My number one concern is what age I should be buying them at. Needless to say the dairy farmers want them gone asap but what is a reasonable age to buy them at?

blackdog1

locky76 wrote:

I'm currently buying freisan bull calves for dairy to beef. My number one concern is what age I should be buying them at. Needless to say the dairy farmers want them gone asap but what is a reasonable age to buy them at?

3 weeks, they'll be showing signs of disease at 2 weeks on so any sick calf you'll spot . Dose them for coccidiosis straight when you buy them.

50HX

http://www.independent.ie/business/farming/beef/tips-sourcing-the-right-stock-is-half-the-battle-with-calf-to-beef-systems-35430824.html

Buford T. Justice XIX

blackdog1 wrote: »

3 weeks, they'll be showing signs of disease at 2 weeks on so any sick calf you'll spot . Dose them for coccidiosis straight when you buy them.

If you're buying from different sources, I'd do them for Crypto as well. It's fairly widespread out there.

Jacquesdalad

Buford T. Justice V wrote: »

If you're buying from different sources, I'd do them for Crypto as well. It's fairly widespread out there.

What product for crypto?

whelan2

Jacquesdalad wrote: »

What product for crypto?

Holy water

Sam Kade

whelan2 wrote: »

Holy water

Is it better than halocur or do you use both

Buford T. Justice XIX

blackdog1 wrote: »

3 weeks, they'll be showing signs of disease at 2 weeks on so any sick calf you'll spot . Dose them for coccidiosis straight when you buy them.

Jacquesdalad wrote: »

What product for crypto?

There's only 2 choices, Halocur or Parofor. Halocur is dearer but easily used, just a single dose for 7 days. Parofor is a lot cheaper but is a powder so has to be dissolved before using so a good bit more work if calves are different ages.

pedigree 6

Plenty of straw. No draughts but good ventilation.
Try and have a house that the sunshine can reach all of the pen.
Ultraviolet and vitamin D is a good combination.

blackdog1

Buford T. Justice V wrote:

If you're buying from different sources, I'd do them for Crypto as well. It's fairly widespread out there.

That's why I said 3 weeks, crypto appears from 8 days to 21...

Buford T. Justice XIX

blackdog1 wrote: »

That's why I said 3 weeks, crypto appears from 8 days to 21...

The first year we got hit with crypto, from a bought in calf, even the older calves were hit with it. Not as bad but they were still looser than I'd have liked so we were recommended to do the whole lot.

locky76

blackdog1 wrote: »

3 weeks, they'll be showing signs of disease at 2 weeks on so any sick calf you'll spot . Dose them for coccidiosis straight when you buy them.

My vet told me not to do them for coccidiosis until they are four to five weeks old. You need them to build up some exposure or otherwise you will get no resistance if you treat them too early.
(Not sure if I've explained this correctly)

simonhm

You should buy the cheapest calves possible more chances of making money and less losses

CloughCasey1

simonhm wrote: »

You should buy the cheapest calves possible more chances of making money and less losses

Well thats utter bollix

davidk1394

If you can buy them off a farm. For FR calves no more than €110 unless his a fine animal. Good deep be of fresh straw and no drafts but have it airy. Clean water, fresh dust free hay and a nice bite of meal. Feed them at set times and make sure all the teats in the feeder are in correctly and aren't worn. In terms of scours or vaccinations you can give a powder called decox on the feed. If your giving fresh milk adding in a powder called milkshake helps to curdle the milk in the stomach. If you have a nice sheltery paddock near the yard leave them out for a few hours on a nice day. If you do the first things right you should have no issues with sickness unless it came in with a calf. Buy good milk replacer. I learned the hard way if you buy cheap you buy twice. When it comes to calves it pays to give the extra 10 or 20 euro as it will come back to interms of calf health and thrive. Got caught here badly before buying cheap calves. If your buying in the mart look at the age and the movements. If your registered on bord bia the movements will come against you. Once the first week is over everything should be straightforward