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Posted: Sat Oct 02, 2010 4:46 pm
by djaneyb
This I guess is our first year with a full compliment of calves, eight in total. So our first year of selling. We have someone interested in buying 5 of them. The problem is the first could be ready now, born in May, the last was born August, Ideally we want them to all go together because of the distance they may have to travel and being a cheapskate one TB visit from the vet!! What is the rec weaning age and where would we get an idea of current prices of calves.
Posted: Sat Oct 02, 2010 8:56 pm
by Colin
I tend to wean at around 8 to 9 months. I did it once at 7 months, due to logistical challenges, and regretted it. The cow lost her voice calling for her calf.
Regards,
Colin
Posted: Sun Oct 03, 2010 8:24 am
by Broomcroft
We wean at 8-9 months. We've sold a few batches of weaners this year at average 10 months for around £265, that's TB tested, wormed and delivered (locally). Except for a couple of weedy ones, those were all good quality calves that will make good beef animals or for breeding. If you're weaning them early I'd get them onto some sort of calf creep feed before weaning.
If they were 6 months old, I guess I'd ask about £175'ish? Don't know really. There's a lot of work goes into a calf, takes nearly 2 yeas to get there!
Hope that helps.
Edited By Broomcroft on 1286090899
Posted: Sun Oct 03, 2010 10:12 am
by Mark Bowles
I think it is easier to price castrated males, whatever age,weighband them and price £1.30 to £1.40 per kg. An average weaned at 9 months,non-short male at 12 months old should be around 200kg liveweight, thats around £260-£280.
I use the same principle for shorts but obviously they are a lower livweight. Using a weighband i tend to find it removes the guesswork, they are reasonably accurate, and the customer can see the measured weight.
I have no problems selling at these prices.
Posted: Sun Oct 03, 2010 11:48 am
by Broomcroft
Forgot I had this, here's what I use a a price guide. It obviously varies with the animal but this table does make sense when compared to what we get as fatstock to butchers. The weights shown are for my type of animal and are based upon a steer. A heifer is just calculated as being a percentage of a steer. A bit rough, but gives me a handle on things.
When we have been selling lately live, we have been selling more like £1.30-1.40 a kilo LW as Mark said, because that's how it is at the moment. But £1.65 equates to the butcher value. I use a weighbridge so know these are somewhere in the right region.
Edited By Broomcroft on 1286102981
Posted: Sun Oct 03, 2010 6:32 pm
by djaneyb
Many thanks for your replies they were indeed most helpful, We had in our minds that 8 months was a good time but nice to know what the experts think. Thanks for the prices that also was very helpful.