Dairy bred calves

[Choochter]

AngusX, 2-3mo, off milk. What price these?

 

[FatBelinda]

AngusX, 2-3mo, off milk. What price these?

Bull or heifer?

 

[FatBelinda]

'Decent' sorts at 10 weeks would be £300 bulls/£250 heifers on a named sire.
Sweeter heifers around £160-£200.
Bambi sorts were £120 at that age.

I'll look at the Gisburn write up tonight

 

[Choochter]

ok, thanks, fatty
best time of year to buy theses sorts now or in the spring?

 

[FatBelinda]

'Decent' sorts at 10 weeks would be £300 bulls/£250 heifers on a named sire.
Sweeter heifers around £160-£200.
Bambi sorts were £120 at that age.

I'll look at the Gisburn write up tonight

I know you can't see them, but it's a bit of a guide.

 

[FatBelinda]

ok, thanks, fatty
best time of year to buy theses sorts now or in the spring?

Cheaper now because you've all the rubbish weather of winter to rear them through. Less risk in Spring but will probably be dearer.

 

[Choochter]

Just wondering if it's worth getting a dozen, would have to be off milk though
Or maybe 8

 

[Bovrill]

I think I might have to get my long distance animal transport badge and join those "Long distance arable" area men to get some calves, there's just nothing to be had round here these days. It's 80 miles to Ashford, and I think those miles might be better spent going North or West to find a more suitable market.

 

[FatBelinda]

Just wondering if it's worth getting a dozen, would have to be off milk though
Or maybe 8

How do you go on for pneumonia? That's the biggest risk when you move stuff at this time of year.
You might even be better buying at 5 months old. Calves don't seem to alter much in price between weaning and 6 months old

 

[FatBelinda]

I think I might have to get my long distance animal transport badge and join those "Long distance arable" area men to get some calves, there's just nothing to be had round here these days. It's 80 miles to Ashford, and I think those miles might be better spent going North or West to find a more suitable market.

The arable boys are coming from York and Harrogate and say the same. There just aren't the numbers over there. I try to time my auction day with them coming, although I might have missed for next week by that report

Wanna buy some Blues? I've about ten ready to go.

 

[Bovrill]

The arable boys are coming from York and Harrogate and say the same. There just aren't the numbers over there. I try to time my auction day with them coming, although I might have missed for next week by that report

Wanna buy some Blues? I've about ten ready to go.

They might be a bit exotic for me, I'm more of a Red poll/Angus man these days.
But they'd probably go down well at Ashford for Christmas '23 . . .

 

[Multi-power]

Just wondering if it's worth getting a dozen, would have to be off milk though
Or maybe 8

You can have plenty of blues here for £100, but you will have to feed them milk for a while

 

[Choochter]

How do you go on for pneumonia? That's the biggest risk when you move stuff at this time of year.
You might even be better buying at 5 months old. Calves don't seem to alter much in price between weaning and 6 months old

none in my own calves, but I suppose they'll be immune to the bugs in my shed through their mums.
Calves from another place might be a different story though.

 

[Choochter]

You can have plenty of blues here for £100, but you will have to feed them milk for a while

dont have the experience or the kit for calves on milk

 

[Multi-power]

dont have the experience or the kit for calves on milk

I'm sure you are more than capable of rearing calves, you only need a few teat feeders