Costs on a dairy-beef farm

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.

[@unaoconnor3628]

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

[@paddy294]

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

[@andykerr9295]

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

[@andrewclarke902]

Great video. Well done. Serious costs on farm

[@colmcultra1870]

A good honest breakdown of costs 👍

[@paulthompson8467]

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]

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

[@briansul8455]

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

[@stevepalmer8285]

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

[@soloheadlad]

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]

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]

Thanks for that. Great insights

[@johnhannan7804]

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 😁

[@taraking30]

Great video

[@padraiggeaney3167]

Brilliant video 👍👌

[@brycekirby1567]

Thanks for this video

[@yant8777]

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.

[@sullivansfarm]

That’s what I’m doing this year

[@tadhgpheaitwillie]

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.

[@Hillfarmlamb]

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

[@raymondwarrington9950]

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

[@andykerr9295]

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

[@I_LOVEBEACHES]

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.

[@michaelconroy7445]

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

[@sullivansfarm]

Yup, it’s on the list

[@michaelconroy7445]

@@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..

[@garymadden2656]

👌

[@Del-xr9nx]

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

[@barryaherne2342]

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

[@gerryskelly3845]

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

[@Davymeares]

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]

1000 gallons = 1 bag of 19/7/20

[@sullivansfarm]

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

[@brianmoynan500]

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

[@joeclancy868]

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]

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

[@WindowReviewInterviewsThomas]

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

[@donalcrowley3326]

Did you give up the videos u were good at it

[@kieranbohane9406]

What dif they sell for on average

[@sullivansfarm]

Mostly between €1,200 and €1,300

[@smalldairyfarmer]

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

[@cyrilboland3713]

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]

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]

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]

@@nialllynch125 9

[@michaeloconnor9809]

Would a Friesan dairy cow allow stepcalves to take milk.

[@polki1482]

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

[@denisreidy8106]

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

[@homesweethome6583]

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

[@sullivansfarm]

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

[@guy9681]

You forgot about the dead stock to add to the cost

[@sullivansfarm]

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]

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

[@jamescoyle1528]

What the cubs

[@brianmoynan500]

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

[@tristangibbs2351]

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]

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

[@richardwilson4379]

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

[@86dmcg]

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

[@ag8556]

Rent your ground to a dairy farmer and get a job