Cheap suckler system

larthehar

We have charloais here, spring calving herd. heifers are calf to beef o
, finished off grass at end of the second grazing season averaging 4kg/hd of meal of the last 40-60 days.. hanging at 320-340kgs 18-22 months. these i see a few bob in..
the males however i find it hard to manage to them to maximise their potential.. we usually get them into 580kg stores bullocks end of second grazing season but this year i wintered as bulls rather than steers.. are up to 440kg av now but not sure whether to sell now or push for 20mth bull beef.. what do others do?

tellmeabit

Grueller wrote:

Sorry the photo didn't attach to the last post. All calves born from Feb 1st on as far as I remember.

What date did you sell?

Grueller

tellmeabit wrote: »

What date did you sell?

End of October.

grassroot1

A weanling will convert meal at a rate of 5 kg meal to 1kg liveweight approx they will never convert at this rate again in there life time. Mealing them will pay at that rate if you are selling
Those finishing their own suckler bred stock around here are finishing under 16 months which requires only one winter but a high level of management. It is not for everyone though.

Cavanjack

patsy_mccabe wrote: »

Start feeding meal here to weanlings on 1st Sept every year. I'm not one for calendar farming but that's one I follow. I think it's well worth it.

• For starters, they eat feck all. It could be 2 weeks before they are even up to 1/2kg a day.
• It helps break the bond with the mother.
• They get used to people near them. Helps quieten them.
• If cow is short of milk, these cavles gain the most.
• Puts on muscle on them. Good to sell cont type calves.
• Keeps them warm in bad weather. Less pneumonia.
• Puts shine on coat.

Win win as far as I can see.

Also as the buyer i would prefer weanlings that were after eating a bit of meal, especially if they are just off cows. They'll not pine as long for the mother if they get a bit of meal in the next place. It's also a help reducing pneumonia to feed before weanling as there is less stress on them when weaned.

memorystick

I'm hoping to get back into a few sucklers. Thinking of buying old fresian cows in calf and multiple suckle. Let cow off at end of year. 10 cows rearing 20-30 calves. Can't do it this year as I'm not set up with work and fencing. Once they get going, they'd fly it.

Cavanjack

larthehar wrote: »

We have charloais here, spring calving herd. heifers are calf to beef o
, finished off grass at end of the second grazing season averaging 4kg/hd of meal of the last 40-60 days.. hanging at 320-340kgs 18-22 months. these i see a few bob in..
the males however i find it hard to manage to them to maximise their potential.. we usually get them into 580kg stores bullocks end of second grazing season but this year i wintered as bulls rather than steers.. are up to 440kg av now but not sure whether to sell now or push for 20mth bull beef.. what do others do?

If You got them out to graze early for 100 days You'd prob get them up to 550kg. Put them back in then to finish for 90-100 days. You'd have them gone for October at good weights.
Other option is to flog them in the mart now. Probably get from €1150 - €1300 depending on quality

tellmeabit

Grueller wrote:

End of October.

Cheers. We don't see them prices in North kerry in october

Grueller

tellmeabit wrote: »

Cheers. We don't see them prices in North kerry in october

Is there no shipping trade at the weanling sales down that way?

tellmeabit

i dont think as often, but gortalea organise/publish when a crew are coming down, local fellas dont get a look in those night, actually after remind me to ring and ask when next night a few of them around, have a few to move or try finish them myself this year

ShamBlaa

Have teagasc released an update on cost per cow?...as afaik that e700 figure is years old


And price insurance,diesel,electric,fertiliser has risen sunstaniallý since?

Soccer358

What colour would the calf be if the mother was a black Hereford and the bill was a limo

Soccer358

What colour would the calf be if the mother was a black Hereford and the bill was a limo

tanko

Soccer358 wrote: »

What colour would the calf be if the mother was a black Hereford and the bill was a limo

It could be all black, all red, a black whitehead or a red white head. You never know with lims.

Soccer358

What do you think would be the best bull and cow breed for selling the progeny as weanlings

Hard Knocks

Soccer358 wrote: »

What do you think would be the best bull and cow breed for selling the progeny as weanlings

3/4 LM & CH bull

Soccer358

Would black Hereford x limo be good for finishing the progeny

tanko

Soccer358 wrote: »

Would black Hereford x limo be good for finishing the progeny

Why not, once theyre good quality animals.

charolais0153

Soccer358 wrote: »

Would black Hereford x limo be good for finishing the progeny

Ya why wouldnt they, could register them as hex too for bonus

Soccer358

charolais0153 wrote: »

Ya why wouldnt they, could register them as hex too for bonus

How do you register them

charolais0153

Soccer358 wrote: »

How do you register them

When youre regestering the calfs

Soccer358

Do you have any suggestions on cheap but effective breeds for finishing the progeny

charolais0153

Soccer358 wrote: »

Do you have any suggestions on cheap but effective breeds for finishing the progeny

Charolais are only breed in town for finishing

BigSteaks

charolais0153 wrote: »

Charolais are only breed in town for finishing

Only breed in town to leave anything behind still. Dont need stars to tell ya that.

Soccer358

charolais0153 wrote: »

Charolais are only breed in town for finishing

Charlios are expensive and have a record of dieting at birth

charolais0153

Soccer358 wrote: »

Charlios are expensive and have a record of dieting at birth

On heifers maybe. Youll have way more trouble with limousin on a heifer than you will ever have with charolais on a cow. Ther is nothing like a charolais to grow

Soccer358

charolais0153 wrote: »

On heifers maybe. Youll have way more trouble with limousin on a heifer than you will ever have with charolais on a cow. Ther is nothing like a charolais to grow

What would the best breed of bull be for a group of heifers

Soccer358

charolais0153 wrote: »

When youre regestering the calfs

Would you get much of a bonus

charolais0153

Soccer358 wrote: »

Would you get much of a bonus

12c/kg if theyre inspec

charolais0153

Soccer358 wrote: »

What would the best breed of bull be for a group of heifers

Aberdeen Angus

Grueller

BigSteaks wrote: »

Only breed in town to leave anything behind still. Dont need stars to tell ya that.

Depends on your system. For my money BB are ahead of them but doctors differ and patients die.

Grueller

Soccer358 wrote: »

What do you think would be the best bull and cow breed for selling the progeny as weanlings

Parthenaise, blonde, aubrac or Limousin cows. Blue bull.

Bass Reeves

Soccer358 wrote: »

Would black Hereford x limo be good for finishing the progeny

Great cattle to finish as Bulls. It is about 8-10 years ago I bought some and was finishing as 22-24 month old bulls. Used to out preform everything else. Were in great condition coming off grass end of September. Used to grade as well and better than other breeds ( BB's, CH's, Red LM) and out weight hem as well. Were easier to buy too. Used to hang as U's and kill in the high 400's.

I take them ahead of any other type of Continental but very hard to source now as exporters want the red colour in LM's.

Soccer358

Bass Reeves wrote: »

Great cattle to finish as Bulls. It is about 8-10 years ago I bought some and was finishing as 22-24 month old bulls. Used to out preform everything else. Were in great condition coming off grass end of September. Used to grade as well and better than other breeds ( BB's, CH's, Red LM) and out weight hem as well. Were easier to buy too. Used to hang as U's and kill in the high 400's.

I take them ahead of any other type of Continental but very hard to source now as exporters want the red colour in LM's.

Would the black Hereford x limo Bulls be docile

Soccer358

Do ye reckon a black Hereford cow with a limo bull and finishing all progeny would be a good system

Bass Reeves

Soccer358 wrote: »

Would the black Hereford x limo Bulls be docile

In general LM bulls are fairly docile. Bulls that are very dangerous especially in groups that I have come across are AA, FR and JE. However all bulls are dangerous and you need very good handling and loading faculities.

Soccer358 wrote: »

Do ye reckon a black Hereford cow with a limo bull and finishing all progeny would be a good system

It would be as good a system as any if you were finishing the progeny. Cow would be relatively easy to carry plenty of milk for a calf so calf should have great weight gain off grass. Would be a great bull to finish under 16 months as would have the weight off grass and would be easy to get into FS 2+ and better. As well as cattle go up in FS they are adding more flesh than bone so will grade better as well

valtra2

Soccer358 wrote: »

Do ye reckon a black Hereford cow with a limo bull and finishing all progeny would be a good system[/quote
50 percent of my cows are like that and are the best quite and would calf anything and first to go in calf. Older Cows put on weight very easy so great when culling. Have put my more limousine Cows back in calf to Hereford for replacement. Only sell as wean lings so not sure about finishing but are sold as weanlings bulls at 8 months and this year were adv 425 kg

Bass Reeves

valtra2 wrote: »

50 percent of my cows are like that and are the best quite and would calf anything and first to go in calf. Older Cows put on weight very easy so great when culling. Have put my more limousine Cows back in calf to Hereford for replacement. Only sell as wean lings so not sure about finishing but are sold as weanlings bulls at 8 months and this year were adv 425 kg

Those bulls would be very easy to kill sub 16 months. Add another KG/day for 140 days and then 150kgs for final 100 day finishing period ( they would probably do better) and you are at you are at 715kgs. Even at a K/O of 56% they would kill 400kgs. At a usual June price they would come into over 1700 euro. However finishing bulls is a specialist job you need to talk to fellas that are always at it. It is east to have issues with acidosis.

Soccer358

valtra2 wrote: »

Soccer358 wrote: »

Do ye reckon a black Hereford cow with a limo bull and finishing all progeny would be a good system[/quote
50 percent of my cows are like that and are the best quite and would calf anything and first to go in calf. Older Cows put on weight very easy so great when culling. Have put my more limousine Cows back in calf to Hereford for replacement. Only sell as wean lings so not sure about finishing but are sold as weanlings bulls at 8 months and this year were adv 425 kg

What colour are the calves

Bass Reeves

Soccer358 wrote: »

valtra2 wrote: »

What colour are the calves

Black whitehead with an LM look to them if you know the type. The odd Red whitehead.

Soccer358

Would a black Hereford be able to support two calves

valtra2

Bass Reeves wrote: »

Those bulls would be very easy to kill sub 16 months. Add another KG/day for 140 days and then 150kgs for final 100 day finishing period ( they would probably do better) and you are at you are at 715kgs. Even at a K/O of 56% they would kill 400kgs. At a usual June price they would come into over 1700 euro. However finishing bulls is a specialist job you need to talk to fellas that are always at it. It is east to have issues with acidosis.

Yes I know it's specialist job so have so far kept away from it. Sold all bulls this year at adv 1040 euro so only 7 to 10 months on farm. Not set up for finishing as have full time job. Maybe down the line. Less cows and finish all stock

valtra2

Soccer358 wrote: »

valtra2 wrote: »

What colour are the calves

Mixed black Red. Probably more black than red.

Soccer358

Could a British Freisain x Hereford cow be able to support two calves

charolais0153

Soccer358 wrote: »

Could a British Freisain x Hereford cow be able to support two calves

Yes but they wouldnt grow to potential

Soccer358

Would you have to tube the British Freisain x Hereford cow when drying them off

charolais0153

Soccer358 wrote: »

Would you have to tube the British Freisain x Hereford cow when drying them off

Depends on weather butbit would be advisable

valtra2

Soccer358 wrote: »

Would you have to tube the British Freisain x Hereford cow when drying them off

Never do here but you could if you wanted to.

valtra2

Soccer358 wrote: »

Would you have to tube the British Freisain x Hereford cow when drying them off

Never do here but you could if you wanted to.

Soccer358

valtra2 wrote: »

Never do here but you could if you wanted to.

How do ye dry them off and do ye only have 1 calf per cow