Calf to beef thread

My father used to rear 4 calves on a cull friesan, not as much trouble as it sounds, after a few days, just let them in morning and evening, if rearing small number, it might not be a bad idea

I 100 % agree with you, not for me anyway, but there's some out there doing it

On the prices do ye think they will back down to similar to last year's when the numbers come to the market?

It's all supply and demand right? Supply, there will be similar numbers calved as last year. Demand, has anything changed on the export side? Farmer demand will be up a bit with some lads not wanting to buy expensive cattle so might buy calves instead. But will there really be enough of them to change the market?

how much do you give from 3 weeks at OAD? Would it make them bellied?

Depending on the brand of replacer your using but the mix for Shine Original was 600g to 3 Litres of Water OAD but I will need to double check the directions on the bag in case of any changes to ingredients before we start using it again this year.

We're they friesuan cows. If you were buying friesian culls and putting calves on them I coukd not see there would be many issues. Traditionally a lot of dairy farmers used to do it with problem cows with high cell count or too low udders.

I remember doing it back in the 70's with su klers with a lot of milk. 9 out of ten were grand. You woukd have the pair settled and off in 7-10 days, admittedly you would have to watch them for a week or so after.

But with friesian cows it should be fairly easy to manage. The average friesian would rear 3 calves no problem. Some farmers used to get a couple groups of calves off the Fr cows. They would wean the first bunch last 10 weeks to 3 months and start another group. Very hard on the cows condition wise.

You option would have the option of drying the cows from May/June on and finishing them

And lads think 2500 just double the price is mighty money now for a bullock but the silage contractor is now gone from 30 to 150 an acre.

https://www.agriland.ie/farming-news/calf-prices-strong-friesian-bull-calf-trade-shocking-us-all/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR0zQbdUViTxCcikVHUr5C7ssOUjljcxzjoa3g5LH0GMo5f9mflaXpMdO6Y_aem_jFwCtW_xvDKAgpj7lOQw3w

Remember what Teagasc and all the other experts advised Friesian calf buyers 2 years ago, and now those 2 year olds are making over €3/kg in the marts. Teagasc advice should be taken with a grain of salt.

I'm no expert. You should know that by now. 😉 All I know is that they never had a negative value.

Dealers will try to pull the price in the mart but when they are selling in the farmers yard they will be talking them. Shipping out calves is what will put the floor under the calf price & by default if enough are shipped out that will keep the prices strong in circa 2 years.

Looks Like the exporting of calves is a profitable business. The exporters stopped the new boat to prevent the status quo.

Dealers will go down to the dairying heartlands in the south of the country. Pick up calves for feck all, deliver them up the country and make a killing on them off their next victim farmer. Farmers get screwed on both sides and the dealers don't even have to feed the calf.

I think the year before BSE hit (1995/6?) and knocked the ass out of the whole thing my dad gave around £300 Irl pound (circa €380) for good BWH bull calves that would have been out of good British Fr cows.. at the the time he would have been killing them at 30 months off grass, all would grade R and were coming over £1,100 pound (circa €1,400)

Where can you pick up calves for sweet f all.I don't know any foolish dairy farmers. They are the hungriest of all farmers With milk at 50 cent a litre whey are still looking for more . The beef farmers on the other hand can't wait to spend the extra money they made this year.

https://images.app.goo.gl/hhiXCJyeSCCQaozA6

Beef farmers