A new, growing market for beef calves from the dairy herd has emerged on the back of a buoyant prime cattle trade, with demand and prices rising on an almost weekly basis.
Add in the increased value for store cattle, and weaned calves are now seen by many to be a better investment, and especially this year when there is a real shortage of grass and silage supplies are running out fast.
“Calves are an unbelievable trade and going from strength to strength on the back of the beef market. Demand is outstripping supply,” Joe Bowman, calf auctioneer at Harrison and Hetherington, Carlisle, told The Scottish Farmer.