Heifers, fatten up or put in calf. *Now with pics*

893bet

I have 5 heifers around 18-24 months old, 450-500kg. Oldest already in calf and due 3rd October.

Trying to decide what to do with the rest of them. They are all 5 star LMx, 4 AI bred and 1 a “who done it” (one of our AI breed weanlings the culprit, don’t ask how she is still 5 star with an unknown sire).

No real interest in keeping any as replacements. Is there much go for springing 5 star heifers towards the end of the year for the last few years with the bdgp? What kinda money would a LMX 600kg springing AI heifer make typically at that time of year?

Be handy having in calf for the summer just to stop them bulling mad all summer.

squinn2912

Having the same discussion here with 7 heifers that are ready to either push when they go to grass or bull soon after. Gorgeous batch of heifers 18-20 months. One a bit too flighty so we wont bull her its a pity cause she’s a super heifer. Might even advertise them as bulling heifers. It’s hard to say. Sold 2 with meal in them a bit further on round 600kgs at £1320 each so if they wouldn’t make £1200 as bulling heifers they were better fed and sent on.

TooOldBoots

The one in-calf is only gone 50 days so you can still have her injected to get rid of the pregnancy. If you are to sell as a springer than the latest to sell is September. Not a great time of year for Springers but good limX Springers were making from €1100 to €1500 last year, since shes of unknown bull then probably the lower end of the scale

893bet

TooOldBoots wrote: »

The one in-calf is only gone 50 days so you can still have her injected to get rid of the pregnancy. If you are to sell as a springer than the latest to sell is September. Not a great time of year for Springers but good limX Springers were making from €1100 to €1500 last year, since shes of unknown bull then probably the lower end of the scale

Would be expecting the 1500 for 4 of them. Smashing heifers. 3 x Zag and 1 x lm2388. Prob all be put in calf to lm2117.

Will post some pictures. Suspect the one that is in calf will end up being calves here and sold with calf at foot.

Dunedin

TooOldBoots wrote: »

Not a great time of year for Springers but good limX Springers were making from €1100 to €1500 last year,

Springers were making serious money last autumn. Saw good ones make up to nearly €3k but good ones were all averaging over €2k anyways.

To answer op’s question, prices were above normal last autumn coupled with falling beef prices so they were worth a lot more as springers than in beef. I had been selling springers for the previous number of years but last year aside, ran them to beef the last few years as they were worth more that way - it’s a gamble either way.

One thing to remember though if you do keep them for springers make sure and do them with spot on around July time to cover mastitis. One go of spot on with cover them as otherwise your heart will be broke watching for and treating mastitis.

148multi

893bet wrote: »

I have 5 heifers around 18-24 months old, 450-500kg. Oldest already in calf and due 3rd October.

Trying to decide what to do with the rest of them. They are all 5 star LMx, 4 AI bred and 1 a “who done it” (one of our AI breed weanlings the culprit, don’t ask how she is still 5 star with an unknown sire).

No real interest in keeping any as replacements. Is there much go for springing 5 star heifers towards the end of the year for the last few years with the bdgp? What kinda money would a LMX 600kg springing AI heifer make typically at that time of year?

Be handy having in calf for the summer just to stop them bulling mad all summer.

Very good breeding heifers that weight are going 1600-2000, only one thing for them at that money.

893bet

148multi wrote: »

Very good breeding heifers that weight are going 1600-2000, only one thing for them at that money.

That’s more my thinking...


Some pictures.

Heifer 1-already in calf. She is older than I thought actually. 23 months old.

LM (75%), SA (12.5%), SH (6.25%), AA (6.25%





Heifer 2-bulled last week but I think we missed it so assuming not incalf. 17 months old and probably the pick of the bunch. Happy enough to put in calf now as we might keep her as she looks the part. Her mother is breeding serous calves. And her grandmother is here and a lot breeds lovely calves.

HO (3.13%), BB (12.5%), CH (6.25%), LM (78.13%)







Heifer 3-not in calf- 16 months

HO (6.25%), BB (25%), CH (12.5%), LM (56.25%







Heifer 4-not in calf, 17 months,

LM (75%), SH (18.75%), AA (6.25%)







Heifer 5, the who done it, not in calf, 18 months

LM (43.75%), SA (25%), SH (12.5%), AA (9.38%), UN (9.38%)

893bet

There is a local sale that is always great at Xmas for springing heifers. Hassle of carrying them for half the winter though as she’s space is tight.

Am I better if aiming for October for BDGP lads looking for 5 stars so put in calf basically around now.

squinn2912

Lovely group of girls you have all the info on them fair play

893bet

squinn2912 wrote: »

Lovely group of girls you have all the info on them fair play

Herdplus app.

60 quid and all info available at a glance. Worth it alone for bdgp and beeps schemes