The popularity of farm-to-farm cattle sales continues to grow – and they are slowly catching up on cattle movements through marts. Last year, there were 1,262,596 farm-to-farm cattle movements – an increase of 39,165. The numbers have been increasing since 2009.
The number of cattle movements through marts also rose last year. They increased by a similar figure, 38,245, to 1,755,803. But over the past decade the gap between the two has narrowed and so far that shows no sign of changing.
The rise in both farm-to-farm and mart movements reflects the growth in dairy herds after the ending of milk quotas. Also driving the growth in farm-to-farm movements has been the rising use of the internet by farmers.
Several categories of animal again featured strongly in farm-to-farm sales in 2016:
Farmers sell bull dairy calves to other farms. Last year, 161,290 male dairy-type calves aged up to six weeks moved this way. In contrast, just 17,666 female dairy-type calves of this age were sold from farm to farm. However, dairy farmers sell springing heifers to other farmers. Last year, 44,018 such dairy-type cattle moved from farm to farm. Dairy farmers also sell older cows to other farmers. Some 99,422 cows aged over 30 months were sold last year, many of which would be cull animals. Last year, 171,537 calves with a beef sire were sold farm to farm, before six weeks. It is likely that a large proportion of these were born on dairy farms. They divided approximately half and half on gender. Weanlings also show strongly on farm-to-farm movements. Last year, 93,033 males and 64,033 females, aged six to 12 months and from a beef sire, sold farm to farm. Read more
Aberdeen Angus sires pass out Charolais
Talks continue on calf welfare scheme
The popularity of farm-to-farm cattle sales continues to grow – and they are slowly catching up on cattle movements through marts. Last year, there were 1,262,596 farm-to-farm cattle movements – an increase of 39,165. The numbers have been increasing since 2009.
The number of cattle movements through marts also rose last year. They increased by a similar figure, 38,245, to 1,755,803. But over the past decade the gap between the two has narrowed and so far that shows no sign of changing.
The rise in both farm-to-farm and mart movements reflects the growth in dairy herds after the ending of milk quotas. Also driving the growth in farm-to-farm movements has been the rising use of the internet by farmers.
Several categories of animal again featured strongly in farm-to-farm sales in 2016:
Farmers sell bull dairy calves to other farms. Last year, 161,290 male dairy-type calves aged up to six weeks moved this way. In contrast, just 17,666 female dairy-type calves of this age were sold from farm to farm. However, dairy farmers sell springing heifers to other farmers. Last year, 44,018 such dairy-type cattle moved from farm to farm. Dairy farmers also sell older cows to other farmers. Some 99,422 cows aged over 30 months were sold last year, many of which would be cull animals. Last year, 171,537 calves with a beef sire were sold farm to farm, before six weeks. It is likely that a large proportion of these were born on dairy farms. They divided approximately half and half on gender. Weanlings also show strongly on farm-to-farm movements. Last year, 93,033 males and 64,033 females, aged six to 12 months and from a beef sire, sold farm to farm. Read more
Aberdeen Angus sires pass out Charolais
Talks continue on calf welfare scheme
This is a subscriber-only article
SHARING OPTIONS: