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Farming a few in the garden

  • 21-07-2013 4:43pm
    #1
    STEEL COMET
    Registered Users Posts: 71 ✭✭


    Hey guys,

    so my dad has a farm 4 miles from our house where he keeps some suckler cows

    I have a few hundred euro to spare and have 3 acres of good land at the back of my house and always wanted to have some calves or wealings in it.

    Is it too late in the year to go buying and sell in October?

    if not what should i keep there? 3 calfs or something?

    would it be hard to make a few quid? it would be a good experience for me as a farmer im only 17.

    thanks guys and i welcome any advice in what to do
    Tagged:


Comments

  • #2
    KatyMac
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,209 ✭✭✭KatyMac


    Would you consider sheep?


  • #3
    STEEL COMET
    Registered Users Posts: 71 ✭✭STEEL COMET


    KatyMac wrote: »
    Would you consider sheep?

    havent got a sheep flock number :pac:


  • #4
    Manoffeeling
    Closed Accounts Posts: 931 ✭✭✭Manoffeeling


    STEEL COMET wrote: »
    havent got a sheep flock number :pac:

    My neighbour keeps a small flock of ewes. No tags or paperwork. All lambs sold to a butcher and neighbours for cash.


  • #5
    Masseymad
    Registered Users Posts: 116 ✭✭Masseymad


    maybe you should make hay/silage and sell it :)


  • #6
    KatyMac
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,209 ✭✭✭KatyMac


    Make hay/silage for this year - I think it's too late to be looking at anything else. You could get a nice few bales that when sold could go towards the 'animal' fund.
    If you really want to go into calves get them early next year and you would need some form of shelter for them.
    Are you any way experienced with calves? They can go well, but they can also go very badly wrong, especially if you don't know what to look for in the way of sickness. I've been buying 3 weeks old calves for years and still don't know all there is that can happen to them!


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  • #7
    funny man
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 908 ✭✭✭funny man


    KatyMac wrote: »
    Would you consider sheep?

    maybe you should make hay/silage and sell it smile.png

    i think this would be the most sensible option; take one cut of hay/silage and then buy store lambs. fencing would be very important.


  • #8
    RobertKK
    Registered Users Posts: 33,750 ✭✭✭✭RobertKK


    Calves will graze it like sheep do, I had the calves eat my lawn then the heatwave and drought finished it.

    BPxKWIUCYAAPTCB.jpg:large


  • #9
    STEEL COMET
    Registered Users Posts: 71 ✭✭STEEL COMET


    KatyMac wrote: »
    Make hay/silage for this year - I think it's too late to be looking at anything else. You could get a nice few bales that when sold could go towards the 'animal' fund.
    If you really want to go into calves get them early next year and you would need some form of shelter for them.
    Are you any way experienced with calves? They can go well, but they can also go very badly wrong, especially if you don't know what to look for in the way of sickness. I've been buying 3 weeks old calves for years and still don't know all there is that can happen to them!

    I cut bales on it 4 weeks ago got 35 sold them to a friend on the cheap :rolleyes: anyway i think you could be right about waiting till next year i have a small shelter/cover in the field.... do you think i could winter out a few wealings? if not what should i do next year?


  • #10
    JohnBoy
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,343 ✭✭✭JohnBoy


    dunno what you should do, but I'd say you shouldnt outwinter on such a small area of land as you need to keep some land fresh for the spring too, you'd be dividing too small a plot.

    Spend the winter fencing, cutting back your ditches and maximising the ground you have, there's no cheaper land than the stuff you own that's hidden under briars etc.

    if you have the fencing for them then maybe some store lambs, I got some good info on them a few months back in this thread:
    http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=80878933

    the dogs thing has put me off, been watching the place since and I'd often enough see dogs crossing our or neighbours fields, not a good start with sheep.


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