The fit:
A farm that has come out of milk usually has the two things a finishing unit needs most: buildings designed for cattle and people who know how to look after them. AFU status is one of the more natural next steps.
The advantages:
Cubicles, handling and slurry storage are already there. Silage ground is already in the rotation. The learning curve is shorter than for most other entrants.
What to watch:
Cash flow moves from monthly milk cheques to cattle sold in batches. Plan for that gap before the first cattle arrive.
Next step?
Talk to your fieldsman about batch sizes and timing that would keep money coming in through the year.
