Weanlings system

ABitofsense

Hi,

Just wondering how people who sell weanlings in the Autumn run their systems? Do they sell all even the light ones no matter what?
I've 19 calves in total so was thinking of holding all 7 heifers and selecting best for replacements and move unwanted ones around Jun. For the bulls, move all no matter how old or weight. Father thinks hold the younger/light bulls (~2-3 of them) over winter.

Be interested in hearing other peoples thoughts

Hard Knocks

ABitofsense wrote: »

Hi,

Just wondering how people who sell weanlings in the Autumn run their systems? Do they sell all even the light ones no matter what?
I've 19 calves in total so was thinking of holding all 7 heifers and selecting best for replacements and move unwanted ones around Jun. For the bulls, move all no matter how old or weight. Father thinks hold the younger/light bulls (~2-3 of them) over winter.

Be interested in hearing other peoples thoughts

Sadly there’s no winning formula
Try to sell bulls when they hit 350kg, sometimes heifers too
Once bulls cross 400Kg there’s less avenues

Generally bring out to the autumn sales and if not getting enough keep till spring (gone by end March)

valtra2

ABitofsense wrote: »

Hi,

Just wondering how people who sell weanlings in the Autumn run their systems? Do they sell all even the light ones no matter what?
I've 19 calves in total so was thinking of holding all 7 heifers and selecting best for replacements and move unwanted ones around Jun. For the bulls, move all no matter how old or weight. Father thinks hold the younger/light bulls (~2-3 of them) over winter.

Be interested in hearing other peoples thoughts

I usually just sell the best of the bulls and maybe one or two of the heifers that are nice shape. I would have my heifers picked out to keep and then all the rest are squeeze and kept.

Who2

It varies here, I like getting the bulls gone at 320-350kg, but poorer ones I often keep until heavier to make up for the price per kilo. Heifers I usually sell a few, keep what I like until year and a half and sell then but I intend to move to calving all in one tight batch and a clear out every back end bar a few replacements. Every year I’ve too many groups and time is getting far too precious when working as well as a young family.

charolais0153

ABitofsense wrote: »

Hi,

Just wondering how people who sell weanlings in the Autumn run their systems? Do they sell all even the light ones no matter what?
I've 19 calves in total so was thinking of holding all 7 heifers and selecting best for replacements and move unwanted ones around Jun. For the bulls, move all no matter how old or weight. Father thinks hold the younger/light bulls (~2-3 of them) over winter.

Be interested in hearing other peoples thoughts

Get rid of bulls around 400kg.dont let them get strong/bullish. Heifers doesn't matter as much. Always saleable no matter what time

valtra2

dh1985

valtra2 wrote: »

Last year was the first year I didn't creep the calves to the same extent as other years. Just a little bit to keep them ticking over as there was talk of the heavy weanling not been wanted. Usually I would start them early august and build them up to 1.5-2kg until sale in October.
I wont be doing that again after last year as it had a big effect on calf weight and price. Feeding per normal from this week on and will take my chances.

Usually sell everything bar a few late calves born in april that do be lighter. Sell them in spring. Dont like selling bulls under 380kg and heifers under 340kg.

Lady Haywire

We usually sell as they come fit here, more to do with weight than age so aim for anything over 300kg to be sold. Though if special sales are around that mark we'd keep them til then.
Always creep here & would never skimp on that, totted it up last year & for €50 per calf you would definitely see the benefits of it, not just on the sale price but able to keep them out longer as the grass was being eked out better, not as much pressure on cows for milk either.

As we have a mix of PB's/ commercial we can't really hold much over the winter if we have bulls to feed. So this winter all will be sold bar 2 or 3 pb bulls (undecided on one yet) & two heifers we've picked as cowmakers. Normally pick two or three heifers we are going to chance early on in the year & then choose the nicer/quieter ones from the selection around September. Sometimes keep only one, sometimes all.

ABitofsense

Thanks for great info & insight.

Started creep last week so there all slowly starting at it. Hopefully that will drive on the later ones. A few of the Mar ones were at 200kg at the start of Jul so should be well fit by Oct

50HX

As an example

2017
Sold any good colored ch or ba bulls at 6 months- market was good in july
Sold balance in sept oct

2018
Sold all at back end of year

2019
Weighed all in sept, any bull over 330 i squeezed and kept...minimal market
Sold remainig bulls and kept all heifers

July 2020
Sold bullock and heifers, average over 1k each, one belter of a ch made 1400
All of those were 16-18months

This year if prices remain ok i will sell as many as i can and keep 2 for breeding

To answer your question, every year with me is slighty different
You need to balance fodder and workload then as well

Micey.ie

Most of my cows calve Feb/march/April and I used to sell weanlings following spring and like most men keep 1/2 best heifers for cows.Last year I bit bullet and sold all calves in October/Novembe-think I was better off - just had odd wee bag meal for 2 heifers I kept over winter.cows usually housed in good condition so can restrict silage for first two months inside. I agree once bulls reach 350-380kgs it’s time to let them go.This year any calves that are hitting target to be 350kgs mid October will only get wee dusting of meal from late August and calves not doing as well hope to start creep feeding next week.last year I lifted electric fence-takes a bit of patience to coax calves to trough and smaller cows can get under it.This year I made a couple of creep gates(gap’s) on field side of gate post with 2” tubular steel concreted into ground and have old top link Fitted across from steel to gate post.gap is 25 inches wide and 42 inches high.Need to put bar across bottom yet few inches above ground.not sure how it’ll work but fingers crossed.

valtra2

Weighed mine the weekend spring born. Bulls 286 adv and heifers 258 adv. Roughly heifers are doing 1.28 and bulls doing 1.44. Will start creep grazing both and meal just to bulls now so that should push them up a bit.

Micey.ie

valtra2 wrote: »

Weighed mine the weekend spring born. Bulls 286 adv and heifers 258 adv. Roughly heifers are doing 1.28 and bulls doing 1.44. Will start creep grazing both and meal just to bulls now so that should push them up a bit.

Excellent daily weight gain, you have good grass and good cows

Micey.ie

Micey.ie wrote: »

Excellent daily weight gain, you have good grass and good cows

Sorry must