A desirable Fleckvieh x Holstein bull calf (see full picture below).
Dual Purpose = Dual Income
For the last 30 odd years many people looked down their noses at dual purpose dairy cattle. I know because I was one of them.
Recently there has been a renewed interest in cattle that produce a reasonable amount of milk PLUS the additional income from a high value cull cow and bull calf.
Crossbreeding is an option to quickly obtain these benefits.
Brian and Terry Barnes of Kirby Lonsdale, Lancs. report receiving over £200 each for their 3 week old Fleckvieh cross bull calves. In one case topping the market at £335 at Bentham Auction. As Brian said "at first they didn’t know what these calves were. But now that the buyers have seen the results, they are after them."
In the Southwest Martin Shere of Woolsery Bideford has experienced the same pattern. Recently he achieved £132 for his bull calves while the Holstein bull calves were virtually given away.
You can do the arithmetic yourself selling a bull calf for an additional £130 means just 1 pence per litre more on a 7000 kg lactation. Where else can you pick up an extra penny a litre just like that?
In the variety of breeds we sell both the Fleckvieh and the Norwegian Red are selected both for milk and meat production. You can choose how much emphasis you want.
A desirable Fleckvieh x Holstein bull calf!