farming-profiles?

wiggy123

just to pass the time...a quick profile of users here?

ur breed make-up of ur cattle herd
or even sheep herd???? example....1/2 suckler herd limousins,1/4 simm,1/4 angus!

my herd--is a 100% angus..purebreds...

mite crossbreed some cows next year with BB...opinions??

snowman707

dairy Herd approx 50% Br Fr.. remainder 1/2 and 3/4 MOX.

Stock bulls LM & MO

a few PB LM cows and my daughter keeps a couple of sucklers 3/4 lm and pbnr lm


Sheep.. Texel, Vendeen, and suffolk X ewes

Rams . Charollais, Texel and vendeen

Cran

sheep 80% mule remainder suffolk cross (soon to be gone) plus pedigree charollais's, rams all Charollais

millertime78

Suckler Herd ( part time)- Bit of a mixed bag but gradually refining it!!

Cows - mix on Hereford, AA, CH
Bull - CHX ( had an LMX also last year but now sold)
Weanlings - All home bred CH &LMX
20 mth cattle - LMX & HEX

Rujib1

Suckler herd. Mostly charolais cows. No purebreds but most cows this stage are over 7/8 bred. People say charolais cows have no milk, and might not be the best to get them back in calf.
I'm now finding the quantity of milk coming from the youngest and nearest to pure charolais is not huge, but quality must be good as calves really thriving.
Charley bull: Use AI when I can. I like em white

blue5000

suckler herd some british fr cows, mostly AA x, couple of whiteheads, BB's, lim x. Running an angus bull with them, thinking of buying a blonde bull to run with daughters of present bull. Angus on a blue cow is a nice cross. Haven't used a bb bull on an angus cow though.

pakalasa

Suckler Herd (part Time), started 3 years ago.
Cows mostly red limousin, using all AI, with bullock and chin-ball harness to pick up heats.
Bulls used
Lim - MBU, NIN
Char - PTE, HWN
BB - FHZ
Simm - HKG, IS4

Casinoking

Sucklers, all pedigree Angus bar 2 AAX cows. Most of the Angus are PBNR at this stage though. A bit of tillage as well, and contracting because I just can't get enough hardship farming!

red bull

Dairy herd, I had holsteins but started crossbreeding to nomtbeliarde in 2001. All montbeliarde cross now very happy with them

dar31

dairy herd. non pedigree keep all hfs, breed and sell.
cows are about 80% Holstein, crossed with brown swiss about 10 - 12 years ago, currently crossing with Norwegian reds, oldest of these are 2nd calvers.
also running a red and white Holstein fresein bull first off spring this spring
only use ai for crosses, first 2 weeks, all the rest stock bull, slowly converting, doing technicians course soon

red bull

How do you like the norwegian reds. many of my cows are 7/8 montbeliarde I wonder Will I be ever able to get them on blue card as MO or will they remain MOX

nilhg

No stock, all cereals, winter wheat and barley mostly.

whelan1

holstein friesian cows nearly all pbr .. also have a herd of pedigree angus for our troubles

dar31

red bull wrote: »

How do you like the norwegian reds. many of my cows are 7/8 montbeliarde I wonder Will I be ever able to get them on blue card as MO or will they remain MOX

find the reds good, as yet, touch wood, havent had a case of mastitis in any of them and only one lame out of about 20 - 25 of them. they will hold milk yield, and are a hell of alot hardier, first into parlour, first to field, still out grazing while the black and whites lay down for a rest. need to be careful what kind of fr you cross with, not much point putting across a fat British fr type.
as for mox on cards, reg as mo. dept will send out form saying this breed conflicts with previous info and request conformation of breed, put down mo again,and send off job done

millertime78

pakalasa wrote: »

Suckler Herd (part Time), started 3 years ago.
Cows mostly red limousin, using all AI, with bullock and chin-ball harness to pick up heats.
Bulls used
Lim - MBU, NIN
Char - PTE, HWN
BB - FHZ
Simm - HKG, IS4

Very interested in your experience of using AI esp being a part timer ( like myself). I've kept a bull up to now but am not runnning the current guy next season. I've never heard of the chin ball harness? How often do you monitor the heats? What is the repeat rate with the AI?? Do you use the mineral supplements in the water to ensure cows come in heat soon after calving??

MikeKenn

in process of selling off the suckler cows, keeping the weanlings. have bought in 30 angus store bullocks and 20 angus store heifers, will aim to finish them for may 2010 and pray the price of beef in the factory is somewhere above 310c/kg

pakalasa

millertime78,
I bought the chin-ball on the net from these guys
http://www.allivet.com/The-Kow-Ball-Chin-Ball-Marker-p/50027.htm
It was half the price of the local Coop. I buy the paint from the COOP.
It works fine for me. There is a lot of work with AI but the plus side is you don't have to look after a bull for the year.
I use a yearling bullock and even used the same guy the following year again. You need a guy with a bit of height to get up over the cows and mark them right.
The things I've learned about AI are
- timing is everything. Almost better to be late than early when AI'ng. You have to know when 'standing heat' starts so you will still have to look at the cows twice a day.
- Cows will come back quickly in heat after calving if they are in good condition.
- train the cows to come into the yard for a bit of meal and they will come when you call them. Every 3 days or so I give them a handful of meal to keep them interested.
- if you are working off farm then only use easy calving bulls. Tell the AI guy which bull to use too. Don't let him decide.
Hope this helps.

vanderbadger

pakalasa wrote: »

millertime78,
I bought the chin-ball on the net from these guys
http://www.allivet.com/The-Kow-Ball-Chin-Ball-Marker-p/50027.htm
It was half the price of the local Coop. I buy the paint from the COOP.
It works fine for me. There is a lot of work with AI but the plus side is you don't have to look after a bull for the year.
I use a yearling bullock and even used the same guy the following year again. You need a guy with a bit of height to get up over the cows and mark them right.
The things I've learned about AI are
- timing is everything. Almost better to be late than early when AI'ng. You have to know when 'standing heat' starts so you will still have to look at the cows twice a day.
- Cows will come back quickly in heat after calving if they are in good condition.
- train the cows to come into the yard for a bit of meal and they will come when you call them. Every 3 days or so I give them a handful of meal to keep them interested.
- if you are working off farm then only use easy calving bulls. Tell the AI guy which bull to use too. Don't let him decide.
Hope this helps.

have put a kamar heat detection strip on a cow there the other day, first time trying one, she is calved about 40 days so figure she should come bulling soon, she is in shed with other cows so would probably notice her anyway but just trying to make sure I catch her, will defo try and get a few more of the early calvers ai'd if I can, working full time though so once they go out the bull will be back in action

Farmer 1

suckler herd started 4 years ago.
mostly AAX cows and some BBX cross.
went 100% AI this year.
used all maternal lim bulls in hopes of
expansion with these lim X calves.

wiggy123

i ai all this last 2 years! i run a strong weanling bull with them..gettin gd results!
i do see them a bulling--a mounting etc..the get them ai'd the following morning!
so far so good...10/10 incalf for spring 2010..
autumn cows to do now

Farmer 1

wiggy123 you mentioned maybe using BB bulls on your AA cows.
i have never tried this but sm told it isnt the best cross for AA cows.
did you hear anything like this and are you going to chance it?

wiggy123

farmer1..only hav the 2 cows...not producing great pb stock!
thought a blue would b gd for them! hav a gd square calf+hardy...thinking mayb flogging them-incalf to a easy calving BB...edj!

think charolais---they'd mite b brown!ppl dislike them so..brown charolais's...want white,or orangey?get me drift!

limousin--nah!
simmental-all legs!
Saler--no,narrow calves i think,mayb wrong!

what would u suggest! be ready for ai'ing soon!

Farmer 1

ya thats the limitations of the AA cows.
while the demand for incalf heifers is v strong the same cannot be said about cows.
you could be better off fattening them on a cheap high energy ration with silage or whatever and get rid of them.
if you want to sell them in calf you will have them a lot longer. will they be making money in those extra few months??

wiggy123

2 cows are 2nd calvers+calfs on them at mo...are gd milkers! ok calfs--just small
so will see--prob will ai them once--if keep well enough! if not...b factory next summer for them

zetorman

red bull wrote: »

How do you like the norwegian reds. many of my cows are 7/8 montbeliarde I wonder Will I be ever able to get them on blue card as MO or will they remain MOX

I have been using Montbellird as well and like them. maybe not tops but milk but great for everything else. Have some norwegian red weanlings but they seem to be on the small lightish side . Wonder will they AI ok in may /june. At this stage my motto is anything but those reindeer holsteins !!

dar31

zetorman wrote: »

I have been using Montbellird as well and like them. maybe not tops but milk but great for everything else. Have some norwegian red weanlings but they seem to be on the small lightish side . Wonder will they AI ok in may /june. At this stage my motto is anything but those reindeer holsteins !!

norwegian reds are a bit smaller alright, but a good compromise between Holstein and jersey. mine calved in between 22 and 25 months of age. all in calf to fresein stock bull, did nt have to go near any of them at calving, like any breed, dry cow management is essential

red bull

dar31 wrote: »

find the reds good, as yet, touch wood, havent had a case of mastitis in any of them and only one lame out of about 20 - 25 of them. they will hold milk yield, and are a hell of alot hardier, first into parlour, first to field, still out grazing while the black and whites lay down for a rest. need to be careful what kind of fr you cross with, not much point putting across a fat British fr type.
as for mox on cards, reg as mo. dept will send out form saying this breed conflicts with previous info and request conformation of breed, put down mo again,and send off job done

Thanks very much for your help, may you have a great year;)

dasheriff

Suckler herd part time with abit of contracting with a track machine and slurry aswell..

Cows-30% LMx, 30% CHx, 20% BBx, 20% BAx.
Bull-CH PBR

I used to sell all the weanlings but im trying to finish the male as young bulls now at 14 months..

And i buy in freisen stores aswell then for my troubles.

djmc

A dairy farm with a mix of
holstain,british fr,brown swiss,mountbeleard,rothbunt,swedish red,jersey,norewegen red and red holstian running with a rothbunt bull
So NOT EVRYTHING IS BLACK AND WHITE

poor farmer

dairy holstein mo and crossbreds 20 sucklers mixed breeds 200 beef mostly dairy crosses maize and barley also fond of hardship

_Skitso_

djmc wrote: »

A dairy farm with a mix of
holstain,british fr,brown swiss,mountbeleard,rothbunt,swedish red,jersey,norewegen red and red holstian running with a rothbunt bull
So NOT EVRYTHING IS BLACK AND WHITE

I would be very interested in your breeding program and you views on some of these breeds!! Am looking to mix some of them into my herd in time to come!!!

Have an group of maiden heifers to bulls this May, some more holstain than others, some with a fair bit of British Fr and a few Jersey cross. What do you feel would be a good easy calving bull for them!! Anyone else any ideas??

Ginja Ninja

suckler herd[my father is full time at it] 55 cows

cows: a mixed bag most being blakc limousin,3rd generation freisian crosses.

getting into bb cross heifers slowly.3 holstein freisians left for unwanted calves/multiple suckling.

Stock BB bull imported from belgium.

Buying about 70 weanlings for winter feeding/export every year,edging to a higher rate of our own claves making the grade.

I wouldn't advise going from pure bred angus to bb cross.The BB double muscle gene is recessive so unless you have a very "badly" bred cow[i.e a cross of two mixed breed cattle] the fancy shape they're known for won't come out.

We have a very,very plain black limousins mostly,the bull takes dominance in the calf and the cow has the milk and long teats to feed the calf[they have shorter necks than usual,making suckling harder].You won't ge tthe top grade calf but it has been 4 years since we've jacked a calf.

this year being the exception[we had to feed better quality then usual with the weather] so we've some calving difficulty as a result.

sorry if that's a mess,I've no idea how to lay one out

tismesoitis

40% sim x 60%lim x 100% AI lim on heifers and bb on everything else. chinball harness is class ,have it on vasectomised bull.

pakalasa

Ginja Ninja wrote: »

I wouldn't advise going from pure bred angus to bb cross.The BB double muscle gene is recessive so unless you have a very "badly" bred cow[i.e a cross of two mixed breed cattle] the fancy shape they're known for won't come out.

We have a very,very plain black limousins mostly,the bull takes dominance in the calf and the cow has the milk and long teats to feed the calf[they have shorter necks than usual,making suckling harder].You won't ge tthe top grade calf but it has been 4 years since we've jacked a calf.

Are you saying that plainer cows will produce better calves. Are you sure it's not the extra milk thats giving them the shape. So a half bred limousin, (50% lim & 50% Holstein) will produce a better calve than a 3/4 bred one (75% Limousin & 25% Holstein). I'm not saying you're wrong, it just seems strange.

djmc

_Skitso_ wrote: »

I would be very interested in your breeding program and you views on some of these breeds!! Am looking to mix some of them into my herd in time to come!!!

Have an group of maiden heifers to bulls this May, some more holstain than others, some with a fair bit of British Fr and a few Jersey cross. What do you feel would be a good easy calving bull for them!! Anyone else any ideas??

I brought a few of each breed in late 07 when milk price was good to get a feel for different breeds after 2 very wet years still not sure anyway my ideas
of breeds thus far

Holstain FR Nothing will milk like a holstain but nothing will drop dead like them either they need TLC

British FR Less milk but tougher cow easier keep in condition

Rotbunt Tough cows good milkers like Br FR maybe better

Brown swiss Lovely quite cows every one should have one even as a pet great feet and udders milk good after calving and during summer but seem to dry off a bit early, grow to be big cows. Had 2 bs x fr and I thought they were a bit dopy they were so quite Id prefer the pure BS

Sweedish red x
Smaller cows lighter bone as they were bread from Ayrshire (scotland) so far they are only fair in milk but a good summer could be different story need more time to tell

jersey x
small cows ok milk high protein

mountbelard x
Good cows good milk white head

norwegian red and red fr are only yearlings from AI no trial yet

As for breeding I am using mixed AI and following up with rothbunt bull
When his daughters reach breeding I will switch to mountbeleard or norwegian red bull and probably back to FR again.
I am trying to move away from holstain as I dont think they are suited to my farm but I also want to keep the milk yeild.

haybob

30 % pure whiteheads

50% whithead friesian X with a limousin or charolais bull

20% angus and find em hard to finish

I keep the bullocks until they are 2 and a half and sell of the heifers as yearling but I might keep a few for replacements

dairygene

Well I am completely Holstein-Fr, I do like the look of a mixed red breed. Norweigen, swedish and rotbunt with up to 25% red hostein to maintain milk and udder quality. A friend is moving down this route and has 20 customers to every breeding bull he sells.

Indubitable

wiggy123 wrote: »

just to pass the time...a quick profile of users here?

ur breed make-up of ur cattle herd
or even sheep herd???? example....1/2 suckler herd limousins,1/4 simm,1/4 angus!

my herd--is a 100% angus..purebreds...

mite crossbreed some cows next year with BB...opinions??

Suckler Herd:

BB X BA
and a few BB x LM

i also keep 25 suffolk ewes and a texel ram.

As a side kind of hobby I keep a handful of Blonde D'Aquitaine fullbreds. - i just think they are an amazing breed.