cost of bull calves

[mother katherine]

Country Boy
Trust me, you don’t want Devons as a first team, unless you have somebody right there who’s experienced with you. They’re not a “bad” breed, just smart and head strong; better for an experienced teamster – this is personal experience and Drew’s book talking.
They also go for $900 a calf in this area. A Devon/Holstein cross might be a different story in both departments.
Where are you in New York? If you’re anywhere around Otego, I know a farm where you can pick up some calves reasonably with full assurance they’ll get their colostrum. The farmer will also give them the nasal innoculation for pneumonia for an extra small fee.
Let me know.
oxnun

[sanhestar]

Countryboy,

I made the decision to start with devons – resp. Rotes Höhenvieh as they are called in Germany (they share the same ancestry than devons) – and I can second what mother katherine writes: smart, VERY smart and VERY!! headstrong.

I’ve trained Iceland horses (also very smart), Scottish Highland Ponies, goats and dogs but this heifer is getting the best of me every day. The steer is more inclined to work with me, if he wouldn’t I would be out of the working cattle business by now.

[mstacy]

I can see from all the activity that DAP is alive and well. I’m glad to see it.

Geoff,

I neglected to tell you that all four of my boves are American Milking Devons. That’s a pretty limited dataset to generalize from and I’m extremely green at this whole teamster thing. That said, I’m a firm believer that socialization is the main difference between these two pairs. But I could be dead wrong. And genetics or even individual temperment could certainly be at play here.

Fortunately I did not read Drew Conroy’s “tractability” ratings until after I was already committed.

Josh,

You have a very astute memory. Luke, Magnolia, Stanley, and Earl (bull, heifer, nigh steer, off steer respectively) are all indeed AMD’s. Stop by if you’re ever in the neighborhood. Pittsford is not that far. Going to NEAPFD?

Mother Katherine,

I agree whole heartedly that Devons are headstrong and challenging to say the least. But I don’t have any regrets. That Devon intelligence and spirit is a double edged sword but I suppose a lack thereof would be as well. Earl quickly taught me that 3 strands of barbed wire is NOT a fence. We later progressed to 5 strands and most recently a portable electric setup that I absolutely love (but that’s another story for another day).

From what I have read and from my own limited experience this breed posseses some fantastic virtues. They are easy keepers, walk fast for a cow, and have a very agreable temperment. They don’t kick (though I certainly wouldn’t attribute that to a breed characteristic) while I’m working behind them and they absolutely love to be brushed.

Anyone shopping for their first team would do well to heed or at the very least ponder Mother Katherine’s advice long and hard. Don’t neccessarily rule out Devons but be aware of the magnitude of effort and commitment required to train them. Any draft animal deserves all the effort and commitment you can give them. Perhaps Devons just demand a bit more.

Earl and Stanley have been a huge project (they probably say the same about me on the “darn human drover” bulletin board). The challenges have been … well CHALLENGING, but extremely rewarding. Just this week they started dragging what I consider to be good sized boulders (I need help to roll them onto the sled). We’re still working up to the McD 9 mower. They can pull it but really can’t cut yet. We’ll get there.

Matt Stacy
W. Topsham, VT

[mstacy]

Sanhestar,

How long have you had your Rotes? What sorts of training and work are you doing with them? I look forward to hearing about your experiences with them.

Regards,

Matt Stacy
W. Topsham, VT

@sanhestar 10843 wrote:

Countryboy,

I made the decision to start with devons – resp. Rotes Höhenvieh as they are called in Germany (they share the same ancestry than devons) – and I can second what mother katherine writes: smart, VERY smart and VERY!! headstrong.

I’ve trained Iceland horses (also very smart), Scottish Highland Ponies, goats and dogs but this heifer is getting the best of me every day. The steer is more inclined to work with me, if he wouldn’t I would be out of the working cattle business by now.

[sanhestar]

Matt,

I bought the two April this year but spent some weeks with basic training with them while they still were at their breeders farm.

Both were born summer 2008 and mother-raised – first disadvantage
Emma is very smart, has an extraordinary memory and I made a few beginners mistakes with her – next disadvantage
She has no need for human companionship although she’s curious and generally interested in what I do, as long as I don’t expect her to do anything FOR me.

Since I brought her to our place I’m working on the basics like being touched, put a halter on and lead her. So far we have come to being touched while I offer her her favourite treat – salt. She’s not shy or afraid, just unwilling to work with me and rewareds the slightest mistake or mis-step with distrust (f.e. my hubby tripped two weeks ago, when he filled the water basin. She spooked and since then he’s “monster man” and she refuses to go near him).

She will follow her herdmate, the steer Roy and f.e. loads without problems into a trailer as long as he goes in first. But I don’t think that she will ever become a reliable worker.

[mother katherine]

I would like to get some Devons again, for the reasons you stated: smart and quick. This was a “problem” team at 6 years old when I got them. Bottle calves would have been a different story altogether. For my first team to train, I wanted something a little slower on the uptake. These Jersey crosses are certainly bright, but willing – and that has made all the difference.
Once I’ve gotten some more experience and need to get another tream started, I know a guy who has Devons nearby and will consider getting a pair of newborn calves. I think I’ll do what I did with bRod and Bright – kept them on the bottle until weaning. It’s a little more work, but kept that bond and dependence/dominance thing going without conflict or open battle of wills.
oxnun

[mstacy]

Sabine,

I’m far too green to even pretend to have the answers. But given the age that you these two I’d try to focus on building a relationship with each one of them individually. A brush was my greatest ally in winning over Earl and Stanley. They hated it at first, but quickly grew to love having their necks scratched.

They a calm around me but tend to get nervous around other people still. There is always a new challenge to focus on.

Moderated doses of isolation might work in your favor. You become alot more interesting if they don’t have any other social outlets.

Regards,

Matt
@sanhestar 10854 wrote:

Matt,

I bought the two April this year but spent some weeks with basic training with them while they still were at their breeders farm.

Both were born summer 2008 and mother-raised – first disadvantage
Emma is very smart, has an extraordinary memory and I made a few beginners mistakes with her – next disadvantage
She has no need for human companionship although she’s curious and generally interested in what I do, as long as I don’t expect her to do anything FOR me.

Since I brought her to our place I’m working on the basics like being touched, put a halter on and lead her. So far we have come to being touched while I offer her her favourite treat – salt. She’s not shy or afraid, just unwilling to work with me and rewareds the slightest mistake or mis-step with distrust (f.e. my hubby tripped two weeks ago, when he filled the water basin. She spooked and since then he’s “monster man” and she refuses to go near him).

She will follow her herdmate, the steer Roy and f.e. loads without problems into a trailer as long as he goes in first. But I don’t think that she will ever become a reliable worker.

[Nat(wasIxy)]

Calves/cattle are VERY expensive here right now – two years ago my simmX was £53 at 10days old. He’d probably be easily £250 now at the same age! I was quoted nearly £400 for a dairyXhereford heifer a few months ago!!!???!!!

However, dairy bull calves are still affordable even though they have gone up now too. I have a dairy shorthorn on the way and have been quoted £80-150. For a first try I don’t think you can go wrong, at least if they don’t turn out right you haven’t lost too much. I would then go on to something more expensive or unusual once I’d got the basics down.

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