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Child Item

Buying calves

garlic bread

Considering buying a few calves, maybe 5 or 6 weeks old as my son has me plagued for some. It would be a new venture for us as we only keep ~ 25 bullocks for the 7 months every year. I have a shed which is ideal and know what's involved (I think!) But slightly concerned about scour and other problems in young calves.

Is this a stupid move for someone who has zero experience with calves? I don't particularly want to bring more work on myself but trying to encourage my sons interest in the farm and so think it would be good for this reason..

All opinions appreciated. Thanks

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Anto_Meath

@garlic bread yes keep them separate from your bullocks. As you will need to keep giving the calves about 1.5kgs of meal a day for the summer when the are finished milk but on grass. I mix rolled oats with the meal (calf / weanling crunch) as I find it keeps them in good form. 1 part oats to 3 parts crunch. Move the calves regularly to fresh grass, not new grass or after grass that will run through them. You might need divide up the field with electric fences. Are you planning on wintering them or sell next backend?

garlic bread

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120278384#Comment_120278384

Agree re the life skills, my lads have learned a lot from doing the few bits and pieces on the farm. It's so good for kids to be out and in nature in addition to cultivating an interest in the farm for the future.

garlic bread

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120282625#Comment_120282625

It was all Angus we had last year, only 25 bullocks and they did v well over the summer. Presumably though any calves we'd buy would have to be kept separate from this year's bullocks which I'll be buying over the next few weeks. I had planned on keeping the calves in one field near the yard once they are old enough to leave the shed, but separate to bullocks.

garlic bread

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120282528#Comment_120282528

Ok that is cheaper than I thought, good to know. I have already asked a neighbour casually and will probably pick a few good looking Friesians there.

garlic bread

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120279633#Comment_120279633

Yes this is exactly the situation with my son, he has a couple of hundred euro saved and it's a good investment and will hopefully develop his interest in the farm. And of course keep him busy and off screens as you say 😏

Water John

I wouldn't buy a Fr X Je. The young fella needs animals he can take pride in.

Anto_Meath

If you are buying cattle every year for 7 months maybe buy something that will match in with them, in that if you feed Angus bullocks for 7 months buy Angus bull calves as I assume you will be keep them for the winter and then sell back end of 2024. As said above if there is a farmer you know selling calves then buy from them as less chance of picking up bugs if they haven't been in a mart. Try an buy strong for their age square calves, (avoid anything with JE breeding in them as they will only disappoint you). Keep a small bit of fresh meal on offer to them once they are over 3 weeks and increases quantity as they eat it. Keep a good bed under them and nice fresh hay. If you have a nice sheltered paddock you could let them out into it on fine days to pick at grass and then after a few days you could leave them out altogether.

Bass Reeves

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120278335#Comment_120278335

If you are starting off I would not worry what I buy. At present starting off I would buy Friesians. You will buy a decent calf 3+ weeks old for sub 70-80 euro. A HE or AA same age will cost 3-4 times that.

I would not be afraid if buying in a mart. Vaccinate them as early as possible and make sure to dehorn them.

monseiur

If your young lad has some savings make a deal with him that if he buys two you'll buy another two and all profits from eventual sale of all four will end up in his bank account. Once he has a financial interest/investment it may keep his interest over the summer and not just for the first week or two after which the novelty may wear off. Whether he ends up with a profit or loss the actual experience/responsibility at his age is priceless and will get him away from staring at that little screen continuously😁 (if he's anything like some young lads I know!)

Stationmaster

How long do you leave them on milk replacer for and have they to be kept indoors fulltime for next few weeks/months? Thinking of doing the same with my kids here - just buying 3/4 max. Have sucklers already.

screamer

If you’re only buying them I’d actually buy 2 beef breeds rather than dairy. Angus are docile enough we find and they don’t grow huge, so kids are happy enough around them. It’s amazing to see how much rearing a few calves and helping out around the place teaches kids, life skills that no screen or computer game can.

Water John

Buy direct from a farmer you trust. There should be HEX and AAX and others available in a months time. Make sure there's no JE in the breeding.

Base price

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120277737#Comment_120277737

???

Good loser

Get a friend to buy them. Decide first on breed and sex. Get five anyway. Fr bulls should be got at €50, near a month old.

Base price

If you buy calves from a farmer ask her/him what type of CMR they use to feed them. Most dairy farmers will give you enough CMR powder to feed the calves for two to three feeds whilst they transition onto the CMR that you buy locally. Don't skimp on straw bedding especially for young calves - the deeper the straw the safer the calf.

If you're not used to buying sucks then take your time to look at each individual calf - watch out for swelled navels, drooped ears, snotty noses etc or ask an experience neighbour for guidance.

garlic bread

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120277573#Comment_120277573

Thanks, will try that and see how we get on with a couple this year. Can always go bigger next year if the interest is there.

garlic bread

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120277496#Comment_120277496

Thanks, that's probably a better idea to with only a couple to start. A neighbour sells calves every year so will approach him. What money are 3-4 week old calves making this year?

Base price

It's more difficult to source 5 to 6 week old calves at this time of the year as the majority of dairy farmers have only started to calf in the last two to three weeks. As 50HX suggested above I would go with a couple of calves and see what interest your young lad has in rearing them.

50HX

Buy 2 out of the one farm to start with this year

3 weeks old+ if you can, find out if they are on whole milk or milk replacer, if milk replacer keep it the same

Start him on them 2 & see will he develop a like for it can up numbers then nxt year