Farming Chit Chat II

I think it is a general over-supply in pedigree cattle. It's the same with the Limousin society. They report very high prices, but clearance rates are very low.

Richk2012 wrote: »

There very slow lambing this year .
Started a week ago , but havent really got a burst of them yet . And to be honest they can take their sweet time , and the longer the better IMO , because like everyone else i have very little grass and Im trying to compensate with extra meal .

Iv two pallets of pasture sward sitting in the yard looking at me for the last two weeks , but the soil temp is too low to get any of it out .

The lambs are coming very heavy and lively which im happy with but its taking its toll on the ewes .
There is a few that are a bit leaner than id like , but i winter them out and it has been a savage season on them . They'd be using alot of energy to keep warm , plus with the excuse of a summer we had , the silage quality mightn be as good as other years .
So far so good though .

What sort of lambs is that Hampshire bringing ???

Hi Rich,

Yeah, you might be as well off if they don't lamb for a while all right. Altho today is kinda picking up a bit. Its still not very warm, but there is a bit of sunshine

I keep mine out too as long as possible, just bring em in maybe a week or so before lambing. But I might change it next year...
Some this year are shook looking... Some are thin now, and not milking well... They have milk, not as much as I'd like, and the lambs aren't coming on as I'd like... (This is despite them being on good grass, but obviously the weather is playing a big part as well)
Any that are a bit bad looking, am separating off, and feeding them. But that group is growing a bit too big for my liking

Re the Hampshire - happy so far. Good strong lively lambs, quick to get up, good to suck...
I notice a big difference in lambing, and the ease of handling in the case of any issues. Previously, the big Suffolk head was always an issue, but this doesn't seem to be the case with the Hampshire.
But maybe that's down to specific rams... (dont want to get shouted at by the Suffolk supporters)

Time will tell as to whether they come on like Suffolks. Some of the lambs, its hard to tell the difference, as they took Suffolk looks, but I suppose the breeds are kinda close relatives in a way.
We'll see how they do over the next few months... But happy enough with the Hampshire so far...

jomoloney wrote: »

+1

my neighbour runs aa lm he x cows to a hereford bull all heifers are killed at 18 months and steers at 24

with low vet costs low feed bills and the hereford prime top up he reckons he is far better off than the fellows producing this magic €1k weanling

I would disagree strongly with him. At current prices for a start a good shipping weanling will make up to €1500 under a year old. We run a blue bull and have done constantly since 06 and on and off since 00. We have had one section to a commercial suckler in this time. Most of our calves will never see a vet bar testing. They are more sleepy bit for the extra value they bring a couple of days watching them is a small price to pay. A suckler cow to rear a hex costs as much as one to rear a shipping weanling. 2 weanlings would be sold before a hex steer is gone with less eaten and more € left behind imo.

anyone ever have a calf just drop like a bag stones, was up getting a new born sucking last night and a 2 month old in pen beside me just dropped, back legs out kicking, head stretched and eyes rolling, put him up and he crawled into corner and lay down stunned, can a calf be epiliptic, looked like a fit, Vet reckons could be pain from coilic, he was fine this am

vanderbadger wrote: »

found one like this a few years ago when doing herding, he was like he was in a trance, his eyes rolling and seemed out of it, anyway i kinda woke him up and he took off back to rest of herd, he got pneumonia a day or day after though so keep an eye on your one

DID ur one make it, strangest thing i ever seen

vanderbadger wrote: »

he did ya, he was bad enough though, i should have kept a better eye on him after finding him like that but thought nothing of it, i think it was 2 days after he was thrown over in field, not able to walk even, had to bring him into sheds in bucket of front loader, thought he was a gonner, got vet out and he thought he was bad enough but after a few days of antibiotics he recovered fully

I got the vet last night, he gave him antibiotics, lost one this year already so dont want another, was up and about this am, did see him suck this am

Was feeding calves out last night when I found one of the BVD button tags on the ground, pulled out of the ear..

Am I right in saying I'm under no obligation to replace it ??