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Going into dry cattle

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  • 05-09-2023 11:53am
    #1
    Mikeh22
    Registered Users Posts: 31 ✭


    Hi all,

    Moving away from the sucklers in the next year or so and going into dry cattle.

    Approx 80 acres, 60 acres of good grazing ground.

    Work full time and live away from the farm.

    What systems would be the best ?

    I am thinking about going down the route of buying weanlings in the spring for grass and keep them for 12 months and let them off again.

    Any advice ?

    Thanks



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    #2
    Hard Knocks
    Registered Users Posts: 4,033 ✭✭✭Hard Knocks


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058312376/going-into-dry-cattle

    Can you keep 15/20 of this year’s weanlings away from herd until spring 25, this would allow you trial at a lower risk



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    #3
    Siamsa Sessions
    Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 3,816 Mod ✭✭✭✭Siamsa Sessions


    What kind of sheds or slatted units have you? As in, will they suit cattle?

    There's a few on here who buy weanlings in the Autumn, winter them, and kill off grass the following June/July.

    Trading as Sullivan’s Farm on YouTube



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    #4
    Mikeh22
    Registered Users Posts: 31 ✭Mikeh22


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121071914#Comment_121071914

    Sold most of the weanlings - only 5/6 small lads left around sucking



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    #5
    Mikeh22
    Registered Users Posts: 31 ✭Mikeh22


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121072172#Comment_121072172

    4 slatted pens and 4 dry pens. I wouldnt be a bord bia member as of yet and not sure if killing them would suit me as i would have a bit of grass management work to do before i could even consider killing off grass



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    #6
    Bass Reeves
    Registered Users Posts: 18,656 ✭✭✭✭Bass Reeves


    Dry stock is always about weight gain whether finishing or selling in the mart. I presume you are thinking of buying suckler weanlings. That is a tough high risk game. Add to that a spring to spring system.

    IMO it is very tough for three lads to have a decent margin out if the same animal especially if you take away 150+ in mart transport and slaughter fees.

    Bite the bullet and start finishing what you buy off grass. Fencing and paddocking need not be a deal breaker. Stick water troughs in middle of fields put 3-4 stakes around them to fence off and use pigtails and reels to make paddocks. I would not worry about grass management a disc mower can solve a lot of grass management

    QA from board bia is fairly straightforward the first attempt. I see no point in producing cattle for another lad to have most of the margin if you have decent land.

    Slava Ukrainii



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