Archive Article: 2002/07/19

19 July 2002

Cheap grain plus bull calves equals profit

Cereal prices of £55/t are enough to dull the spirits of even the most die-hard arable optimist. But they can offer an opportunity for bull beef producers.

Mix low grain prices with another cheap input – Holstein bull calves – and you could have the ingredients for a profitable enterprise. So, rather than condemn calves to an early death in the belief that they have no market, why not use them to help maintain slaughtering capacity at a time when British cattle numbers are low and make yourself some money?

In a well run system, Holstein bull calves could generate much needed extra income and help to stem the flood of cheap imports.