Costs on a dairy-beef farm

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  • čas přidán 14. 02. 2023
  • Here's a detailed breakdown of all the costs on a 30-animal dairy-beef operation. I tried to include every major cost item from before the calf arrives until the day they walk up the ramp into the cattle lorry.
    Please add any comments on what I might have added or divided wrong, and any suggestions on where I might save costs are also very welcome.

Komentáře • 62

  • @unaoconnor3628
    @unaoconnor3628 Před rokem +15

    First farming channel I've seen which actually talks about the business end of cattle. Well done 👍

  • @paddy294
    @paddy294 Před rokem +7

    It’s amazing the way costs amount up when you tot it up

  • @andykerr9295
    @andykerr9295 Před rokem +2

    The most honest farmer on CZcams would sheep not maybe better profit over the years but great video the lord is with you andy

  • @colmcultra1870
    @colmcultra1870 Před rokem +1

    A good honest breakdown of costs 👍

  • @andrewclarke902
    @andrewclarke902 Před rokem +2

    Great video. Well done. Serious costs on farm

  • @paulthompson8467
    @paulthompson8467 Před rokem +10

    Very informative video I'd say your sums are quite good I have tried dairy calf to beef and sucklers on mainly rented land and I can assure you it doesn't make much money but I enjoy it 🙂

  • @fionnobrien5094
    @fionnobrien5094 Před rokem +1

    Brilliant video very realistic and honest
    You’ve a good system

  • @stevepalmer8285
    @stevepalmer8285 Před rokem +3

    Good morning..Good video that was mate
    Have a great day. 👍

  • @briansul8455
    @briansul8455 Před rokem +4

    Great video Kieran, as the man said you summed it up nicely! The margins are pretty delicate even at the best of times unfortunately

  • @padraiggeaney3167
    @padraiggeaney3167 Před rokem +1

    Brilliant video 👍👌

  • @taraking30
    @taraking30 Před rokem +2

    Great video

  • @brycekirby1567
    @brycekirby1567 Před rokem +1

    Thanks for this video

  • @soloheadlad
    @soloheadlad Před rokem +9

    Once again a brilliant short honest video im calf to beef as well but 2022 I didn't rear calves I bought in weanlings March April born aax bulls off done deal for €380 average in November from 3 farms. Il never rear a calf again to much stress and minding and every year 2 or more calves died as I wasn't there and didn't have time to stay around in d morning because I've a full time job like yourself.

    • @soloheadlad
      @soloheadlad Před rokem +7

      I rented land 1 year for silage ground I quickly realised it wasn't paying at €350 an acre your figures are right in 2017 I sold cattle at a loss but i stayed at it and things did pick up and the future looks good for beef.
      Don't jump ship to dairy yet only if you have to. There is a shortage of beef at the moment and if the calf exports goes ahead this year beef will stay at a high price.
      Thanks love d videos 👍👍

    • @sullivansfarm
      @sullivansfarm  Před rokem +2

      Thanks for that. Great insights

    • @johnhannan7804
      @johnhannan7804 Před rokem +1

      Spent the last 8 r 9 years at calf to beef. Can't make it pay. But defo buying Weanlings in autumn be a better job as this man said. You always get dairy men locked up for few months with tb and then sell up the min they are free. I bought 18 month lads this autumn silage only all winter and hoping to finish on grass only. Pray for me 😁

  • @yant8777
    @yant8777 Před rokem +5

    Great video Kieran and all realistic costs. Would you not consider buying direct from dairy farmers yards ? There must be loads of them down your way.Less disease and cost and they'd be delighted to see you coming as it saves them having to go to the mart.

  • @Hillfarmlamb
    @Hillfarmlamb Před rokem +2

    Great vid kieran you forgot to factor in the price of the gopro to make the videos to tell us these sad stories 🤣🤣🤣🤣

  • @tadhgpheaitwillie
    @tadhgpheaitwillie Před rokem +8

    Great video. Well done, and thank you. I think I'd be reluctant to divide the cost of the shed over the number of calves over a 5-year period (as you mentioned yourself). I'd be more inclined to divide it over, say, a 30-year period. As you say yourself, the shed will see many more years worth of calves through.

  • @garymadden2656
    @garymadden2656 Před rokem +1

    👌

  • @andykerr9295
    @andykerr9295 Před rokem +1

    Great video what about doing same as but on a sheep to lamb and then selling the lambs

  • @raymondwarrington9950
    @raymondwarrington9950 Před rokem +3

    Have you added any costs for vaccines, dosing, tags, pesticides, minerals, contracting eg dung spreading etc

  • @I_LOVEBEACHES
    @I_LOVEBEACHES Před rokem

    Very good video. It's important to know the costs. The EU grants might bring it up. They have us cornered. The grant keeps the farmer struggling along. 40k yearly is needed minimum with cost of living.

  • @barryaherne2342
    @barryaherne2342 Před rokem +1

    I think the idea of milking a few cows is a good idea to feed calves milk replacer is savage money , looking at doing it myself it's something I've thought about for a while, opinions would be welcome

  • @Del-xr9nx
    @Del-xr9nx Před rokem +5

    Looks like you’d want more numbers for calf to beef system, if you’re feeding 30 you may as well feed 70/80, same amount of time really. I suggest trying another system, buy in October when cattle are cheap and sell in march when dear, you probably need a slatted shed though

  • @cyrilboland3713
    @cyrilboland3713 Před rokem +9

    4 Whitehead cows would rear 3 calves+ there own calf no milk power no nuts after a month or so of suckling they would take to them and rear them all summer. You would get them to take to the foster calves by keeping there own calf in the shed that’s 15 calves reared+ 4 = 19 You would make more money that way than 30 bucket calves.

    • @nialllynch125
      @nialllynch125 Před rokem +2

      I couldn’t see a whitehead cow producing 24 litres of milk per day with no nuts. If you were bucket rearing them 4 calves they would be fed 3 litres each twice a day. It’s a hard game to make money from now too much risk on the farmer.

    • @markocarroll9424
      @markocarroll9424 Před rokem

      you would still need a bull to get the cow pregnant or else AI
      you would have to separate the cow from the calves and let them to her 2 or 3 times a day
      he might be better off just milking a few cows through old parlour

    • @michaeloconnor9809
      @michaeloconnor9809 Před rokem

      @@nialllynch125 9

    • @michaeloconnor9809
      @michaeloconnor9809 Před rokem +2

      Would a Friesan dairy cow allow stepcalves to take milk.

    • @polki1482
      @polki1482 Před rokem

      @@michaeloconnor9809 she would and rear a good few calves to but she would need to be fed.

  • @smalldairyfarmer
    @smalldairyfarmer Před rokem +1

    Interesting about the cost ya it's hard to make money

  • @michaelconroy7445
    @michaelconroy7445 Před rokem +4

    Will you do a video on the bucket you made from the old fleming transport box looks a good job.

    • @sullivansfarm
      @sullivansfarm  Před rokem +1

      Yup, it’s on the list

    • @michaelconroy7445
      @michaelconroy7445 Před rokem

      @@sullivansfarm good man whenever you get the chance should make a great video look forward to it... Keep up the good work.. Cheers for the reply..

  • @WindowReviewInterviewsThomas

    Really interesting video private conversation looking to move towards just a dairy to beef system on my family Farm

  • @denisreidy8106
    @denisreidy8106 Před rokem +2

    You have the costs fairly right but dont for a minute think its white gold if you go milking, the capital costs and workload is underestimated, id say relish the office job, its not all about money but you must make a living

  • @donalcrowley3326
    @donalcrowley3326 Před měsícem

    Did you give up the videos u were good at it

  • @Davymeares
    @Davymeares Před rokem +2

    Just wondering would you not use pig slurry it's great value and its beside you, I get it beside you and its hauled to kilmac evening with the price of haulage, it's great value

    • @Davymeares
      @Davymeares Před rokem

      1000 gallons = 1 bag of 19/7/20

    • @sullivansfarm
      @sullivansfarm  Před rokem

      I’d be interested in trying it anyway. Who draws it for you? Thanks

    • @brianmoynan500
      @brianmoynan500 Před rokem

      How long does it take round trip to haul? Do you have to give maps or how do you go about it

  • @joeclancy868
    @joeclancy868 Před rokem +2

    Great honest account of expenditure not worth it just the love of it could not make a living from that type of farming what will you do to make your farm viable?

    • @sullivansfarm
      @sullivansfarm  Před rokem +1

      That’s the big question. I had hoped scaling up the dairy-beef enterprise over time would allow me to farm full time. But that’s not an option. Realistically, milking cows is probably the only full time option but I’m not committed to that at this stage

  • @gerryskelly3845
    @gerryskelly3845 Před 9 měsíci

    How did you get 3 fills of diesel for 900 euro?

  • @kieranbohane9406
    @kieranbohane9406 Před rokem +1

    What dif they sell for on average

  • @guy9681
    @guy9681 Před rokem +1

    You forgot about the dead stock to add to the cost

    • @sullivansfarm
      @sullivansfarm  Před rokem

      Yup, needs to be factored in too. And the cost is only part of it. You'd be in bad form after losing an animal too, wondering what you did wrong, what could you do instead, did the animal suffer, etc. It can affect your mood and mental health.

    • @guy9681
      @guy9681 Před rokem

      @@sullivansfarm we normally work out at 1.5% dead stock some years better some not

  • @homesweethome6583
    @homesweethome6583 Před rokem +1

    Did u see the price Hereford calfs made in tipperary in today's farmer journal compared to your price?

    • @sullivansfarm
      @sullivansfarm  Před rokem

      I try to follow calf price but it seems very random, depending on breed, early v late, boats going or not, weather, calf dam, etc

  • @brianmoynan500
    @brianmoynan500 Před rokem +1

    I think you need to find a dairy man near you and buy direct from him forget the mart bigger chance of bringing in diseases and regards the meal you seem to be paying a small bit more buy a ration and forget small bags and mixing yourself touch time

  • @jamescoyle1528
    @jamescoyle1528 Před 6 měsíci

    What the cubs

  • @tristangibbs2351
    @tristangibbs2351 Před rokem +1

    Never liked the economics of buying calves to rear. Do dairy beef because it ties in well with the dairy and the arable and makes use of some parts of the business that would otherwise be waste!

    • @sullivansfarm
      @sullivansfarm  Před rokem

      Yeah, probably right. It needs to be part of the overall farm more than a standalone enterprise

  • @richardwilson4379
    @richardwilson4379 Před rokem +8

    You need to get dairy bread calves for free. Your doing the dairy farmer a favour for taking them.

    • @86dmcg
      @86dmcg Před rokem +4

      Or you could look at it a different way and say the factories need to pay more for beef.

  • @ag8556
    @ag8556 Před rokem

    Rent your ground to a dairy farmer and get a job