Bulling heifers

squinn2912

Guys what do you think you should pay for a bulling heifer. My thinking is that round 900 is more than enough but at some of these special sales they run into fortunes. I don’t know how you’d make it back.

Dunedin

squinn2912 wrote: »

Guys what do you think you should pay for a billing heifer. My thinking is that round 900 is more than enough but at some of these special sales they run into fortunes. I don’t know how you’d make it back.

How long is a piece of string......

Depends on age, breed, quality, etc.

squinn2912

Dunedin wrote: »

How long is a piece of string......

Depends on age, breed, quality, etc.

What’s your own thinking from ones you’d buy? We usually breed our own replacements but we’re a bit under stocked atm

Dunedin

squinn2912 wrote: »

What’s your own thinking from ones you’d buy? We usually breed our own replacements but we’re a bit under stocked atm

Same as that in that I bring my own.

A few rules that I follow;
Keep replacements from the best cows
Never from a cross mother
Must have height and length- will grow to strong cows
Bull around 440kgs

On the basis of that, the animal would be worth close to €1000 even at current prices.

Who2

I’ve paid up to 1500 for bullers. I bought a couple at 1400 but I don’t intend buying any for a good while as I seem to be matching my maternal traits a little better and seem to be getting what I want in my own cattle. If it’s down to figures you couldn’t really afford to be paying much more than 8-900 currently with an intention of having them ready to bull next spring. There’s usually far better value in springers but you need to scour the marts and get lucky too.

Mooooo

Don't mean to go off topic lads, but paying 1400 for maidens and expecting a commercial return from her is a bit much isn't it?. I'd be looking at calved milkers for that? Don't mean to cause an argument or anything but hard to understand when beef prices are where they are. I guess the fact the same animal could go to the factory at some stage also may increase the value as 2 markets for her whereas the dairy cow/ heifers has one market really, other farmers

Who2

Mooooo wrote: »

Don't mean to go off topic lads, but paying 1400 for maidens and expecting a commercial return from her is a bit much isn't it?. I'd be looking at calved milkers for that? Don't mean to cause an argument or anything but hard to understand when beef prices are where they are. I guess the fact the same animal could go to the factory at some stage also may increase the value as 2 markets for her whereas the dairy cow/ heifers has one market really, other farmers

The truth is I liked them, I wanted them and at least if I’m loosing money on them then at least I like them. It’s hard to keep an interest in farming with poor stock especially when prices are poor. A couple of exceptions can sell a whole batch of heifers too.

squinn2912

Who2 wrote: »

I’ve paid up to 1500 for bullers. I bought a couple at 1400 but I don’t intend buying any for a good while as I seem to be matching my maternal traits a little better and seem to be getting what I want in my own cattle. If it’s down to figures you couldn’t really afford to be paying much more than 8-900 currently with an intention of having them ready to bull next spring. There’s usually far better value in springers but you need to scour the marts and get lucky too.

That’s a good point about the springers but a bit of a gamble too... like all cattle. The ones I see at those big prices seem to me to usually be very muscular ones and I’d wonder about them calving. A friend just paid 1400 and traveled about 200 miles to get her. I can’t make sense of that

Anto_Meath

You can't beat your own replacements if you can at all... but it is worth paying for good heifers if you are buying them as hopefully their bred will be in the herd for years... the way I look at anything I am buy is if I was selling it what would I want and then try and get it a little less.. that way I am happy thinking I got a bargain. There is a heifer sale coming up in Carnaross in a few weeks (seen it on Done Deal) a few nice heifers in it so will be interesting to see what they make.

squinn2912

Anto_Meath wrote: »

You can't beat your own replacements if you can at all... but it is worth paying for good heifers if you are buying them as hopefully their bred will be in the herd for years... the way I look at anything I am buy is if I was selling it what would I want and then try and get it a little less.. that way I am happy thinking I got a bargain. There is a heifer sale coming up in Carnaross in a few weeks (seen it on Done Deal) a few nice heifers in it so will be interesting to see what they make.

Yea I’m thinking of going to that even though I’m in the north. They’re being sold at a bad time but those are gorgeous heifers I’d say there’ll be very little under €1000-€1100

Anto_Meath

squinn2912 wrote: »

Yea I’m thinking of going to that even though I’m in the north. They’re being sold at a bad time but those are gorgeous heifers I’d say there’ll be very little under €1000-€1100

Ye its beside me, the ones in the photos on Done Deal look good...

cacs

I was at the mart today I saw someone pay over €1700 for a big U bulling lmx heifer. Every man has his own way

squinn2912

cacs wrote: »

I was at the mart today I saw someone pay over €1700 for a big U bulling lmx heifer. Every man has his own way

That’s big money! I’m mad I didn’t chance a few bids on a nice lim heifer at £660 I’d newr have three of her!

cacs

Yea he’s breeding these U shaped cows. Everyone to their Own

squinn2912

cacs wrote: »

Yea he’s breeding these U shaped cows. Everyone to their Own

How are they working out. Able to calve ok?

Limestone Cowboy

cacs wrote: »

I was at the mart today I saw someone pay over €1700 for a big U bulling lmx heifer. Every man has his own way

I picked up a lovely red lim with a roan belly yesterday. U grade as well 505kg 1160.

Hard Knocks

Limestone Cowboy wrote: »

I picked up a lovely red lim with a roan belly yesterday. U grade as well 505kg 1160.

Would her dam be Shorthorn?

Limestone Cowboy

Hard Knocks wrote: »

Limestone Cowboy wrote: »

I picked up a lovely red lim with a roan belly yesterday. U grade as well 505kg 1160.

Would her dam be Shorthorn?

No, I'd say she was a lim x bb.

Hard Knocks

Limestone Cowboy wrote: »

No, I'd say she was a lim x bb.

Nice cross for an export calf
Hope she good width at the hips?

Who2

Limestone Cowboy wrote: »

No, I'd say she was a lim x bb.

Beautiful cross but as I found to my detriment be careful with ch.

Limestone Cowboy

Hard Knocks wrote: »

Limestone Cowboy wrote: »

No, I'd say she was a lim x bb.

Nice cross for an export calf
Hope she good width at the hips?

ya she's a grand square heifer.

Hard Knocks

Limestone Cowboy wrote: »

ya she's a grand square heifer.

Great cross to the CH or BB

squinn2912

Hard Knocks wrote: »

Great cross to the CH or BB

Have one like that too she’s a lim off bb And has had black calves with a blue hint with one lim bull and red roany ones with the newer one. Lovely animal but not over muscled

squinn2912

Limestone Cowboy wrote: »

No, I'd say she was a lim x bb.

That’s what money I would be thinking of but hoping 400 kgs and 150 or so cheaper

squinn2912

Bit the bullet and got two heifers today in the mart both from the same man. Deep red sims with white. 440 kgs at £880 and 560?at £1120
Spent a bit more than I wanted on the bigger heifer but I like her so God willing they’ll do me good. Lovely quiet cattle

tanko

squinn2912 wrote: »

Bit the bullet and got two heifers today in the mart both from the same man. Deep red sims with white. 440 kgs at £880 and 560?at £1120
Spent a bit more than I wanted on the bigger heifer but I like her so God willing they’ll do me good. Lovely quiet cattle

What happened to your £900 limit?:D
Hopefully they'll be lucky, what ages are they?

squinn2912

tanko wrote: »

What happened to your £900 limit?:D
Hopefully they'll be lucky, what ages are they?

Haha stop proving me wrong!!! I felt I got off easy on one so then I wanted a comrade and really liked the other.
14 & 19 months. If she had to be 100 kgs lighter I’d be flying but she was the one. Know the fellas selling them so I felt them pretty reliable etc

Take a look at her what do you think?

tanko

Nice colour, shape and good deep body to her, should make a good cow hopefully.

Limestone Cowboy

squinn2912 wrote: »

Bit the bullet and got two heifers today in the mart both from the same man. Deep red sims with white. 440 kgs at £880 and 560?at £1120
Spent a bit more than I wanted on the bigger heifer but I like her so God willing they’ll do me good. Lovely quiet cattle

I'd never mind giving a bit extra for a breeding heifer if they were quiet and turned out lucky. Bought a nice weanling privately off a friend today. January born around 350-360kg. €720. Might bull her next June. Should be plenty strong enough.

Muckit

Yo6 got her right. Cant go too far wrong at that money!!

Have u his number? I'd buy 10 of that sort no bother at that money!!

Limestone Cowboy

Muckit wrote: »

Yo6 got her right. Cant go too far wrong at that money!!

Have u his number? I'd buy 10 of that sort no bother at that money!!

If he had 10 of that sort I'd have them all snapped up

Muckit

She's a good R which l like as opposed to a U.

Limestone Cowboy

Muckit wrote: »

She's a good R which l like as opposed to a U.

Ya she prob is alright. Like those fleshy types for the winterage though. The more shapey ones are harder kept.

Who2

Limestone Cowboy wrote: »

I'd never mind giving a bit extra for a breeding heifer if they were quiet and turned out lucky. Bought a nice weanling privately off a friend today. January born around 350-360kg. €720. Might bull her next June. Should be plenty strong enough.

Your some friend, you stole her

Limestone Cowboy

Who2 wrote: »

Your some friend, you stole her

I gave what I was asked.

squinn2912

tanko wrote: »

Nice colour, shape and good deep body to her, should make a good cow hopefully.

Thanks lad yea she has all the ingredients I wanted. I know her home well and that’s a help. I’ve been asking that man to sell me heifers the last 2 years so it’s nice to get those two.

squinn2912

Muckit wrote: »

She's a good R which l like as opposed to a U.

Good point that it’s hard to beat a good thick R cow with milk for calving and rearing. Upper end of R I like some shape

squinn2912

Limestone Cowboy wrote: »

I'd never mind giving a bit extra for a breeding heifer if they were quiet and turned out lucky. Bought a nice weanling privately off a friend today. January born around 350-360kg. €720. Might bull her next June. Should be plenty strong enough.

You got on great she’s lovely. I’d have got something like that yesterday but I wanted onesbto bull this year. As a farmer you’re giving tgevwee bit extra for handling and keeping so yes it’s worth it cos hopefully she’s about for s long time yet. Good luck with you’re wee girl

squinn2912

Here’s a photo of the other girl. 14 mtgs, 428kgs at £815. She'll tighten up a wee bit in the next 6 weeks then I’ll try to get her bulled. I’ve a feeling she could work out better value

tanko

Limestone Cowboy wrote: »

I gave what I was asked.

I haven't been in a mart far a month or so but from what i'm hearing it's doubtful she make any more there??

squinn2912

squinn2912 wrote: »

Here’s a photo of the other girl. 14 mtgs, 428kgs at £815. She'll tighten up a wee bit in the next 6 weeks then I’ll try to get her bulled. I’ve a feeling she could work out better value

Oops the photo didn’t upload

Who2

tanko wrote: »

I haven't been in a mart far a month or so but from what i'm hearing it's doubtful she make any more there??

A good square heifer like that not overly muscled and suitable for breeding will hold its value relative to other stock. If I was selling I definitely wouldn’t take it. But throw the mart fees and haulage onto it and the fact it was his mate buying it then he wasn’t far out on what she’d be worth to run through the ring.

squinn2912

Anyone go to Carnaross today for the special sale?

p dogg

Yeah I was at Carnaross today, I had my eye on a couple of Simmental
heifers that were advertised but didn't even bid on them. Prices were bananas. One made 1500 around 340kgs. The other made around 1600 and was 365 kgs. While there was some outstanding heifers on show there were some pretty ordinary run of the mill weanlings in it aswell, making ridiculous money. A lot of limousin and Simmental heifers ranging from 300 to 350 kilos today making 1200 to 1500, at a normal weaning sale these same heifers would be bought between 850 and a thousand. Don't know how to make sense of it all.

squinn2912

p dogg wrote: »

Yeah I was at Carnaross today, I had my eye on a couple of Simmental
heifers that were advertised but didn't even bid on them. Prices were bananas. One made 1500 around 340kgs. The other made around 1600 and was 365 kgs. While there was some outstanding heifers on show there were some pretty ordinary run of the mill weanlings in it aswell, making ridiculous money. A lot of limousin and Simmental heifers ranging from 300 to 350 kilos today making 1200 to 1500, at a normal weaning sale these same heifers would be bought between 850 and a thousand. Don't know how to make sense of it all.

I totally agree! There’s a list of weights and prices on Facebook they look nuts. I dunno how they’d pay you back. Even 1100 looks a lot for plenty of them.
Whatever avottbrhar the halter trained calves were crazy too. 3500. Only way to make that back is to do the same thing

tanko

There was a special Simmental sale in Ballyjamesduff on Wednesday nite, from what i heard prices weren't anything like today.

squinn2912

tanko wrote: »

There was a special Simmental sale in Ballyjamesduff on Wednesday nite, from what i heard prices weren't anything like today.

One in north on Thursday. All sims in calf. Ie tags mainly. Making silly money. Calving mid nov on. 650/700 kgs and lots hitting £1600-£1800. Add 200 for euro. Some hit over the 2000. They weren’t showy type heifers just grand and in good calving order.

Simmental.

tanko wrote: »

There was a special Simmental sale in Ballyjamesduff on Wednesday nite, from what i heard prices weren't anything like today.

Same in Gort mart the other night. You would get an in calf heifer for the price of a maiden heifer at last years sale

Limestone Cowboy

Simmental. wrote: »

Same in Gort mart the other night. You would get an in calf heifer for the price of a maiden heifer at last years sale

Thought anything worth buying in gort made enough. Was a lot of middling heifers in it.

squinn2912

Limestone Cowboy wrote: »

Thought anything worth buying in gort made enough. Was a lot of middling heifers in it.

What sorta money we’re good ones making?

Limestone Cowboy

squinn2912 wrote: »

What sorta money we’re good ones making?

Weanlings 320-340kgs 1000-1200.