New year- new season

[lithuanian farmer]

The first calves are due pretty soon. Have moved calving season forward, but with a weather like it's this winter, it's for the best. Almost no snow, except for a couple days and just warm temperature and rain. Mud everywhere...
The feeding area is a mess...

Despite all the mud, cattle are looking pretty good, thankfully.

This one will be the first to calve. She's limoxcharx, due with charolais calf on the 3rd of February. There will only be three cows calving in February in total.

This one is due on the 8th of March. Last year has calved on the 20th of April,came in heat fast and it seems that she held.

One of last year born calves. Simmental sired heifer. The first ever Simmentalx heifer born in the farm and the only one yet.

This year almost all calves will be from AI sires, maybe one or two from the natural service. This year the bull will get abit more work, but still most girls will be served by AI. The first heifers from AI should be AI'd this summer too. All AI sires will stay the same, except that have only one straw left of the charolais bull and will add one Limousine bull to the tank. Really excited about that new boy.
https://www.google.com/search?hs=qv...AgHEAE&biw=1533&bih=748#imgrc=ffW9hwVZHzDbGM:

 

[frieghttrain]

Glad I dont have that mud calving season is always fun! Esp because you get to see if you messed up or hit it out of the park on the breeding selections

 

[Nesikep]

The second one there seems to have found the nice high ground!

 

[ALACOWMAN]

We're in the same mess..rottin Mud...one calf two weeks old, doesn't even realize theres a whole nuther life waiting outside of the hay feeding area..born and raised right there on the mound..

 

[JWBrahman]

We are restricting which pastures we use because the mud will swallow one in some places.

 

[lithuanian farmer]

Personally, I can't remember a year with so little snow. We used to have snow for around 5 months and colder temperatures. This "winter" can count maybe 4-5 days when there actually were some snow. Really hope for some colder weather soon...

 

[HDRider]

I am living in mud city.

We keep having these cold rains. I hate the rain on the cows at about 30 to 40 degrees. Can't be good

 

[ALACOWMAN]

It ain't good ..they can handle rain, they can handle cold..but cold rain, stresses the crap out of em..

 

[lithuanian farmer]

The cow has calved today- 284th day. Has a bull calf, 136.7lbs :shock: Calved herself thankfully. The 3rd calf for the cow. Photos abit later.

 

[lithuanian farmer]

Here are the pics.

Really big calf, massive bones. Had very similar color calf last year and it was from this cow's dam and the same Charolais sire. That calf had 2.9lbs ADG until weaning. This cow has weaned 707lbs limousinex heifer last year, so this boy should have a very good growth too.

 

[HDRider]

How do you take your calves to market LF? What is your primary market outlet?

 

[wbvs58]

Looks a bit tight in the tendons Lith. Is he knuckling over at all?

 

[lithuanian farmer]

How do you take your calves to market LF? What is your primary market outlet?

There are a couple ways to sell your animals. One, which we've used until last year, was to fatten our calves until they reach a needed weight for the factory. Last year sold weaned calves for the export. There are a couple buyers from different countries, who search for weaned calves to buy, comes to your farm, offers you a price, either per head or per kg liveweight. Many look at the weight, the most needed are calves up to 660-760lbs, and usually from 450lbs. Heavier usually get lower price, if buyer agrees to buy them. If you have a good number of animals and of good quality can get better price.

 

[lithuanian farmer]

Looks a bit tight in the tendons Lith. Is he knuckling over at all?

He moves well. Have found him lieing with all legs bent under him. Haven't noticed anything unordinary with him.

 

[HDRider]

How do you take your calves to market LF? What is your primary market outlet?

There are a couple ways to sell your animals. One, which we've used until last year, was to fatten our calves until they reach a needed weight for the factory. Last year sold weaned calves for the export. There are a couple buyers from different countries, who search for weaned calves to buy, comes to your farm, offers you a price, either per head or per kg liveweight. Many look at the weight, the most needed are calves up to 660-760lbs, and usually from 450lbs. Heavier usually get lower price, if buyer agrees to buy them. If you have a good number of animals and of good quality can get better price.

Live cattle here were $1.21 Friday. That is your factory ready equivalent. How much do you get per pound?

A 600 to 700 pounder would most likely be sold at a local weekly auction here, ranging in price from $1.30 to $1.40 per pound on Friday? What would your local price be?

 

[lithuanian farmer]

Live cattle here were $1.21 Friday. That is your factory ready equivalent. How much do you get per pound?

A 600 to 700 pounder would most likely be sold at a local weekly auction here, ranging in price from $1.30 to $1.40 per pound on Friday? What would your local price be?

Got around $0.83 per pound for weaned heifers, around $1.145 per pound for weaned bulls.
When fattened bulls are sold, we get payed for deadweight. For a decent bull the price now is around $1.51 per pound of deadweight.

 

[lithuanian farmer]

Had a Gasconnex heifer born two days ago. 285days gestation, 101,4lbs bw, out of limxcharx cow. Photos later today.

 

[lithuanian farmer]

Here's the little girl.

Hiding from the wind.

And here's another newborn from yesterday. Limousinex bull calf from a heifer. Born at 287th day, should be around 100lbs, maybe. Left heifer alone for ~30mins and when I came back the calf was already on the ground.

 

[lithuanian farmer]

Some photos from last week. The website, which I use to upload photos to was down for abit, so had to wait for it to be working well again.

Gasconnex heifer at ~2 weeks age.

2 weeks old Limx bull calf from a heifer.

Had two new calves born last week.

Very small(to me) Parthenaisex bull calf, approx 80lbs.

Charolaisx bull calf, maybe around 120-125lbs

 

[limftw]

That little bull with the heifer momma is going to be a beast!