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pinkcow · Joined: 26 Mar 2009 Posts: 30

Hi all

After watching river cottage last night where it showed veal calves (bulls) being raised in a farm in England, instead of being killed after being born, it got me wondering if I could raise one, for our own consumption. The only thing is I have never had any experience with cattle, we do have sheep, pigs, horses, goats and plenty of fowl, so I suppose the only thing missing is a cow, or in this case bull. We milk our goats twice a day and any surplus milk could be used for the calf, along with grain or nuts. Have any of ye raised calves for veal, I know its not really popular in Ireland but if I could save a wee bull calf and give it a good life until it meets its maker Id love to try it.

Any advice or thoughts, one way or another would be great

Bríd
Very Happy

phil · Posted: Fri Jun 05, 2009 11:24 pm Post subject:

I had to get a herd number no problem if you already have a flock number,
i also had to have a cattle crush, but if you send your animal to the butcher early it won't have to be too fancy,that's all you need really,if your keeping it in the wintertime it would need to be inside.

pinkcow · Joined: 26 Mar 2009 Posts: 30

Hi Phil

I have a pig herd number I assume getting a cattle herd number wouldn't be difficult, we have stables so keeping it inside would not be a problem either, I was thinking of sending it to slaughter about seven months, well thats if it is at slaughter weight by then, I was hoping to buy one soon, just a quick question, are bullocks easy enough to handle at that age if you get them young enough that is?

Bríd

phil · Posted: Sat Jun 06, 2009 9:41 am Post subject:

I think any calf up to that age would be easy to handle, it depends what type
of animal you get, some breeds or crosses grow quicker than others.

Guest · Posted: Sat Jun 06, 2009 10:49 am Post subject:

If you can get one from a dairy herd - say an angus cross it will have been handled and bucket fed. Much calmer than those from sucklers which have little or no human contact.

pinkcow · Joined: 26 Mar 2009 Posts: 30

Thanks everyone I'll do a wee bit of reading into it and maybe try it next year, thats unless I get an offer of a calf between now and then

Bríd

wayland · Joined: 14 Dec 2006 Posts: 1171 Location: Campile. Wexford

Calves can be a bit of a handful with all that youthful vigour. So when you want to handle them, put them in a small enclosure so they cant run too far from you. Question! Is it wise to castrate them?

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