Buying Livestock

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Buying Livestock
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K&K

Joined: 03 Jan 2011
Posts: 19
Location: east midlands

Posted: Mon Jan 03, 11 7:26 pm Post subject: Buying Livestock

we are new today to this forum and wondered if we are able to buy livestock from members here?

If the answer is yes....we are interested in rare breeds and pedigree cattle, rarebreed sheep, rarebreed pigs and rarebreed poultry. Our proposed holding is located in Wales and some two miles inland from the coast at 450 ft above sea level.

If you rear any of the above then we would be very pleased to hear from you.

Ta very much

misty07

Joined: 22 Jan 2010
Posts: 2223
Location: swindon wiltshire

Posted: Mon Jan 03, 11 7:45 pm Post subject:
what breed of rare breed you after? friend owns a rare breed farm so may have breed you want.

chez

Joined: 13 Aug 2006
Posts: 35935
Location: The Hive of the Uberbee, Quantock Hills, Somerset

Posted: Mon Jan 03, 11 8:22 pm Post subject:

Welcome

Do you have any idea what you will be wanting from the stock? Are you looking to produce meat or rare breed stock to sell on? Poultry-wise, are you looking for eggs or dual-purpose birds or meat birds? Sheep-wise, are you looking to produce wool or meat or both? Cattle-wise, are you looking to produce meat or milk? Ditto, goats - fibre, meat, milk?

Are you needing to make a profit or doing it as a hobby? Do you have a business plan, either way?

If you will forgive me for saying so - and I mean to be constructive rather than otherwise - from the information you have posted here, you are going with the broad aims of 'living a rural life' but not have the details of how you are going to do so thrashed out.

K&K

Joined: 03 Jan 2011
Posts: 19
Location: east midlands

Posted: Mon Jan 03, 11 8:38 pm Post subject: Buying Livestock

Thanks for your constructive comments, I would say that we have a business plan, however in truth what I am seeking to do now is put the flesh on the bones:

so to answer your valid questions, here are my responses:

Cattle suckler or beef..NOT MILK
Sheep meat not wool
Poultry
80% eggs with some birds for own consumption
No goats, at this stage at least.

We envisage other income streams from the property including veg and a kitchen garden to service our restaurant requirements combined with a hotel contribution from the property. Land at our immediate disposal is 50 acres and we want to enjoy it as a family if that makes sense. Hobby farming suggests a tepid approach, however we certainly aim to break even on our farming enterprise in the first couple of years at the very least. Hope that that makes some sense.

chez

Joined: 13 Aug 2006
Posts: 35935
Location: The Hive of the Uberbee, Quantock Hills, Somerset

Posted: Mon Jan 03, 11 8:50 pm Post subject:
Right, okay. Thank you for not taking it the wrong way . More questions, then. How are you going to get the veg to the restaurant? That's a LOT of miles? What is your market for the meat and eggs you produce? And, most importantly, what sort of ground is it? What's the grazing like?

Lorrainelovesplants

Joined: 13 Oct 2006
Posts: 6521
Location: Dordogne

Posted: Mon Jan 03, 11 10:25 pm Post subject:

Also, how many staff are you going to have, and what animal keeping experience?
Not rude questions - just caring for the animals frankly.

All that for a couple is a lot.....dont know if you are young, super fit and knowledgeable. I'd give my eye teeth for someone to come and give me a day off and Ive nothing like 50 acres or cattle to look after!

I's be tempted to start with one project - get it successful and then begin another.....but then, thats me.

Ty Gwyn

Joined: 22 Sep 2010
Posts: 4633
Location: Lampeter

Posted: Mon Jan 03, 11 11:37 pm Post subject:
What part of Wales? I could accomodate you with Cattle and Pigs.

Mr O

Joined: 13 Feb 2005
Posts: 5512
Location: Nova Scotia, Canada

Posted: Tue Jan 04, 11 2:35 am Post subject: Re: Buying Livestock

K&K wrote:

Cattle? Suckler or beef? makes no sence to me . Sucklers are beef so i will assume beef is what you want? In that case go with what you can get! Is there housing for cattle? If so go continental, if not look at a hardy breed.

Sheep, all you need to do is look at what everyone around you keeps. They will be the ones to go for.

Chickens I will leave others to comment!

Bodger

Joined: 23 May 2006
Posts: 13524

Posted: Tue Jan 04, 11 7:31 am Post subject:

What previous experience have you had of keeping livestock? While everyone has to begin somewhere, going in at the deep end is a recipe for disaster.
Book reading can only teach you so much. You very much need a hands on mentor, or at least to go on some of the numerous day and weekend courses that are advertised.
Best of luck with your proposed enterprise but please take things slowly.

The use of the phrase " suckler or beef" does make sense, but as Mr O has said, the terms both referr beef production methods.
Suckler herds usually produce beef animals. In theory the cows are mated to beef type bulls and do the work of raising their calves to an age where they can either be sold for finishing or are finished on farm.
Farmers with suckler herds would consider themselves to be beef farmers.

Other beef farmers might not find this system suits their set up and so decide to buy in their calves or store cattle and either take them through to their finishing weight or sell them at market for other farmers to finish and sell for meat.

K&K

Joined: 03 Jan 2011
Posts: 19
Location: east midlands

Posted: Tue Jan 04, 11 8:21 am Post subject: Experience

I have owned two Hill Farms in the past, one in Cumbria and one in Grampian. Two very different climates to be fair. I farmed Commercial Suckler herds and sold the cattle on for finishing. West Wales and rare breeds are a new departure for me hence the posting. I will have assistance on the farm. I am now simply trying to determine what rare Breeds might be best suited to a coastal farm.

Thanks for your comments. All very much appreciated.

Bodger

Joined: 23 May 2006
Posts: 13524

Posted: Tue Jan 04, 11 8:27 am Post subject:
With that sort of hands on experience KK, you should be fine. As I said earlier, all the best in whatever you decide upon.

Shan

Joined: 13 Jan 2009
Posts: 9075
Location: South Wales

Posted: Tue Jan 04, 11 11:27 am Post subject:
The west coast of Wales is a rather long stretch, perhaps, you could narrow down the area?

Rob R

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 31902
Location: York

Posted: Tue Jan 04, 11 11:27 am Post subject:

Kerry Hills are the sheep to go for, and native to Wales, and very adaptable. I chose most of my animals based upon how they taste but I bought the Kerry's from a friend who recommended them for (lean) meat, wool and good mothering and I wasn't disappointed.

I guess been in Wales the Welsh Blacks are the local cattle and NeathChris from the forum used to be a big fan of Welsh pigs, although he's doing more with Large Whites since some problems with the breed society. I have little experience of either breed though, so I'll leave their advocates to advise.

I get sick of reading about how great 'Welsh' lamb is, only to find they're using continental breeds fed in much the same way as continentals in any part of the country, so I think the marketing potential is improved if you use a Welsh breed.

These are just ideas though, ultimately you have to go with a breed that suits you and you can be passionate about. There's no point having a field full of one breed if you think they're butt ugly, stubborn and lacking in taste. I prefer to think about native, rather than rare, breeds, as if you're sucessful the breed will become less rare.

Bodger

Joined: 23 May 2006
Posts: 13524

Posted: Tue Jan 04, 11 12:25 pm Post subject:
Texels certaily seem to rule in our part of Wales Rob. They certainly seem to be the rams of choice for the local farmers.

K&K

Joined: 03 Jan 2011
Posts: 19
Location: east midlands

Posted: Tue Jan 04, 11 12:26 pm Post subject: breeds
i am sold already on Kerry Hills!!!! But thanks Bodger anyway.

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