Anybody Here Raising Veal ?

[WILF 46,872]

As per the title, is anyone here raising/has raised a calf for veal ?

 

What what the cost to get it to 20 weeks ?

[Blackdog92 2,047]

Cost varys on what you put into it Do you have the calf now? Concentrate Feeds running around £200 a ton.

[WILF 46,872]

Not yet mate, it would be January or February when calfing starts that I may look to take one off a diary herd.

 

It would only be for me, and probably rose rather than white which should keep the cost a bit more sensible.

[Blackdog92 2,047]

Atleast you will be able to get it out in the spring on to some decent pastures to finnish it on with a bit of cake.

[WILF 46,872]

I was just having a browse last night and I reckoned it would stand in around €700-€900 at 20 weeks and should yield about 150-200 kg of veal

That's all back of a fag packet calculations but someone may be able to tell me if I am way off the mark

[VOON 1,317]

Not yet mate, it would be January or February when calfing starts that I may look to take one off a diary herd.

It would only be for me, and probably rose rather than white which should keep the cost a bit more sensible.

Two bags of milk replacer 110 euro plus around 170kg meal based on killing in Sept. You'd be better off rear two or maybe a calf and a kid goat for company.

 

Have you grass?

Edited November 18, 2015 by VOON

[riohog 5,707]

have a look at this wilf http://farmingforum.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?2622-Rose-Veal

[WILF 46,872]

 

Not yet mate, it would be January or February when calfing starts that I may look to take one off a diary herd.

It would only be for me, and probably rose rather than white which should keep the cost a bit more sensible.

Two bags of milk replacer 110 euro plus around 170kg meal based on killing in Sept. You'd be better off rear two or maybe a calf and a kid goat for company.

Have you grass?

I do have grass mate but it's only a small 3ha concern, I am running 10 ewes on there at the moment.

There's a chunk of rush to deal with although I have it thinned out a lot even in the last few months, it was left for a long few years and the fields not looked after.

[VOON 1,317]

 

 

Not yet mate, it would be January or February when calfing starts that I may look to take one off a diary herd.

It would only be for me, and probably rose rather than white which should keep the cost a bit more sensible.

Two bags of milk replacer 110 euro plus around 170kg meal based on killing in Sept. You'd be better off rear two or maybe a calf and a kid goat for company.

Have you grass?

I do have grass mate but it's only a small 3ha concern, I am running 10 ewes on there at the moment.

There's a chunk of rush to deal with although I have it thinned out a lot even in the last few months, it was left for a long few years and the fields not looked after.

Go in a get a can of mcpa in the local co-op for the rushes, before you have to have a cert to buy it. Cut the rushes back with a slashers and spray it in the spring when it's soft.

 

If you know a local farmer with bull calves see can you get a beef/friesan cross, Angus/friesan around 300 for a good calf. Tell him you want some electrolytes and dosed for coccidiosis as well as part of the deal(to dear for you buy the treatments for one or two calves. Better to pay a couple of quid for a good strong calf. Bit of grass and meal will do a good job on them.

300 in feed etc will go a long way on two calves. Killing in Sept the would be 250 to 275 depending on how well you do them. Milk replacer is the cheapest way to get weight on them, think whey protein.

 

I'll do up a feed plan for you, if you go ahead.

[WILF 46,872]

Thanks mate, that's brilliant if you.

I had the rushes licked and they are dieing back just nice.

I sprayed off one field myself and got rid of 75% of them myself.

I am going to experiment with a re-seed on one field although some of the old farmers have advised against ploughing as they reckon it can make the rush worse??

I may experiment with a wheat crop then grass after that to choke out the rush?

 

Anyway, that's brilliant advice, thanks a bunch mate

[Blackdog92 2,047]

Thanks mate, that's brilliant if you.

I had the rushes licked and they are dieing back just nice.

I sprayed off one field myself and got rid of 75% of them myself.

I am going to experiment with a re-seed on one field although some of the old farmers have advised against ploughing as they reckon it can make the rush worse??

I may experiment with a wheat crop then grass after that to choke out the rush?

 

Anyway, that's brilliant advice, thanks a bunch mate

You dont need to plough it to reseed it you could over drill it wich should work well and be less work/labour

[WILF 46,872]

I thought spray the field off totally then a plough may help rip out the rush root system altogether, then seed with a white clover/grass mixture.

I'd be looking to get a fairly dense clover sward to really choke out the rush.....what do you reckon lads ?

[Blackdog92 2,047]

Is it fairley wet ground? Im just guessing as if there is a fair bit of rush it usually is. It may need draining?

[WILF 46,872]

I have had all the ditches done mate, it's a peaty soil (west of ireland) and I think it's the rush now helping to hold water.

It dryed back pretty well in the spring summer.

 

The place was a long time left empty and any man and his dog was grazing his cows on there.....the ground was poached to f**k when I got here.

It's been a big task to get it this far, all fenced, ditches cleaned all round.

I broadcast a load of grass seed after the ditches were cleared on the bare ground left by the machine tracks, it's taken very well in most places.

 

PH is around 6.5 so I don't think it needs lime.

[Blackdog92 2,047]

have you cut/topped the rushes? Make sure your aloud to plough the feild before you do i dont know what the rules are in ireland but here in the england feilds can have ESA agreements that dont allow you to disturb the soil. It probaly isnt as im assuming your in a lowland area.