Calf to beef thread

Ah middling enough, I averaged around €1400 I kinda was hoping for more but such is life. The other lad selling had 40 Charolais and Limousin cross cows and he got over 2k for nearly them all, mine were Angus Cross and just didn't have the same weight on them. My blue cows did best for me alright and I ended up bringing home 3 cows that I was only getting 650 for.

Expecting a four fold increase in organic beef by 2030:

Certainly most sucklers would need to be switching to make that happen. Not many dairy farms have gone organic. Would be delighted if they opened that option Bass, but I doubt it.

That's mad..I didn't know that. Like farmer buys a three week calf being fed organic feed most of its life, kills at 28 odd months but doesn't qualify.

Yes, there are differences between us and other countries in organic detail. Tractotporn may know more, the other one I am aware of is in seed. any seed in Ireland that's not organic needs a derogation whilst in other countries, once the seed mix is over 70% organic there is no need. I think there may be differences in slurry also. not to derail the thread. Having the calves staying on whole milk on an organic dairy farm would be economic lunacy with winter/spring organic milk at 60c/l. That means a lot of organic male calves from dairy herds are sold conventionally, IWT.

Organic milk replacer I hear is €6000/ tonne or €1.20/ litre fed so that’s quite a tab to run up for a little calf

I think 1:20 slope on the floor really helps reduce the amount of bedding needed. Some people baling rushes, what we cut 50 years ago. May have been on this thread, someone was putting down a layer of wool first.

Well both organic bodies are taking on staff, if anyone feels its a cushy number.

Don't get hung up on the straw bedded area, plenty of lads giving an acre beside shed and no bother from the societys or department with it.

Don't know where they are going to sell all this beef.

It was only a few years ago you were allowed to enter on a points system, sheep no points, beef 10 points, dairy 20 points, tillage and horticulture 30 points.

It seems the dept now want to use the scheme to stop farmers using chemical fertilizer.

Did you take his temperature? Does he suck your finger? Is he bloated? Is he pulling on the wind/breathing fast/noisy? Has he an unpleasant smell from his mouth/brownish looking tongue? Has he a swelled navel? Is he star gazing/standing with his head stuck in the corner of the pen?

Best advice is put the jacket on him asap, bed up your trailer/back of your van and bring him to your Vet for proper advice.

Try to get him to your Vet if you can when you finish work. IMO you have to think about his value in the future and keeping him thriving. He is going to cost you more than his present value if goes on the knackery lorry.

I bought three cracking FR bull calves for €20/hd in late January and also bought six HEx calves (4 heifers & 2 bulls) for €145/hd plus luck money from the same farm. I don't differentiate within breeds when it comes to feeding and Veterinary care. At the end of the day they all cost the same to rear/feed with CMR, crunch/pencils, bedding, vaccines etc.

Remember the knackery lorry ain't going to pay you when it comes into your yard to collect fallen stock but waits for you to sign the cheque.

Temperature 38.5°C for a calf

@jfh how is the calf this evening.

Much better thanks, but the jacket on him and gave him one of those calf saver shots, feed the following morning no issues. Will keep an eye on hik

First batch of calves landed here yesterday.

I setup a new water heater this morning.

Yes, it's an outdoor / camping one from Amazon. Working fine so far but I guess time will tell just how up to the job it is.