What preparatory work needs to be done before buying calves?
Many cattle farmers nowadays basically go and buy calves themselves to raise, so all the preparatory work before buying must be done well to avoid being caught off guard by unexpected changes. So what preparatory work should be done before buying calves?
1. Choose the cattle-buying location well
The cattle-buying location needs to be determined; there are fixed places for buying cattle, and each place has its own advantages and time periods. In order to buy better cattle, it is best to first clearly understand some nearby cattle-selling locations in advance, including their opening hours, and find a relatively reasonable route, so that if you do not see anything satisfactory at the first place you choose, there are still other places to switch to. Do not easily let some words from others disrupt your own plans.
2. Decide on the breed in advance
Every place has some breeds suited to local conditions; do not easily be fooled by others into changing your breed choice. Choosing the breed in advance is quite important. Some cattle are cold-resistant, some put on meat quickly, and some resist diseases; there is no all-around calf, so everyone should base their choice on the actual needs of their own area. For example, the north needs cold resistance as the first priority; southern coastal areas need disease resistance as the first priority; central regions need fast meat gain as the first priority. These are all very core things. At the farm, what others recommend to you will definitely only mention the benefits, and you will not conveniently be able to look up information on the spot.
3. Make transport preparations well
Transport matters are best prepared in advance. After all, transporting calves is not something that can be solved all at once, and looking for someone to transport them after buying the calves will waste a lot of unnecessary time. The preparatory work mainly involves doing good research for the route: which places will be colder and require cold protection, which places will have slippery roads and require anti-slip treatment for the vehicle, roughly how many cattle are to be bought, and how much space is needed. Preparing in advance gives ample time to get ready to face these problems, so that the calves can arrive as safely as possible during transport.
4. Handling after bringing them back
Cattle also need adaptability. After transport, they will feel tension, and some cattle are also prone to becoming restless, so some items should be prepared in advance to soothe the cattle's emotions. Warm water is one item that helps cattle relax relatively well; next is a clean cowshed, which will make the cattle feel relaxed. Putting some green feed in between, under these factors, the cattle will gradually lose their resistance to you. Finally, there is the vaccine aspect; it is best to inject it the same day.
The above are some of the preparation processes before buying cattle. After the calves are bought back, you should interact with them more in the early period to speed up the calves' familiarity with you, so that they will be easier to raise later.