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Cattle Farmers....
- Thread starter Squirt239
- Start date
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Just cut’em thicker. Same weight. Smaller cuts/joint/ roast’s mean less leftovers, lot of empty nesters like dexter, mini Hereford, less out o pocket dollars for halves or whole carcass still a bunch o meat.
Four years ago, I took over my Father-in-law's six Black Angus when they moved back into suburbia. I was raised in suburbia, had no livestock growing up and only started getting interested in owning livestock within the last decade.
- I have not had to purchased any livestock, I have been able to grow through calving.
- I have sold a bull and a cow at auction.
- I have turned a field used for row crops into pasture...not as fast as I would have liked.
- I have built, mended the fence, replaced the fence, learned what I like and what I do not like.
- I have learned how to get the cows going in the direction I would like them to go.
- I have lost calves. I have lost cows. And I have had to get rid of both.
- I have not purchased any equipment, yet. I roll and wrestle round bales.
- I have developed relationships to have the opportunity to buy hay.
By no means do I have all the answers, I do have some and it has all come at the expense of learning the hard way. I have held calves as they expired and I have experienced the joy of the whole family standing along the fence as a calf approaches them. If I can be of any help, I would be happy to answer specific questions.
- I have not had to purchased any livestock, I have been able to grow through calving.
- I have sold a bull and a cow at auction.
- I have turned a field used for row crops into pasture...not as fast as I would have liked.
- I have built, mended the fence, replaced the fence, learned what I like and what I do not like.
- I have learned how to get the cows going in the direction I would like them to go.
- I have lost calves. I have lost cows. And I have had to get rid of both.
- I have not purchased any equipment, yet. I roll and wrestle round bales.
- I have developed relationships to have the opportunity to buy hay.
By no means do I have all the answers, I do have some and it has all come at the expense of learning the hard way. I have held calves as they expired and I have experienced the joy of the whole family standing along the fence as a calf approaches them. If I can be of any help, I would be happy to answer specific questions.
I was seperating calves from moms useing the old feed bucket trick, the bull was in with the moms, I got complacent and turned my back to walk through the gate into the paddock. He got me right between the rear back pockets. Wife said I went over the head shoot and landed about 8 ft from where he butted me. The head shoot is about 7 ft. tall and cow wide. Dog saw it all and took over, it rattled my bells. Bout went out, mite have for a half second.
Never turn your back on a bull.
I came off and landed on my head, knocked me out cold. My dad told me later that I was sitting up but unconscious and he hit me in the ribs with his head and I flew about 10’, then he ran his head up my back and then pawed me into the ground… I thought one of the bullfighters stepped in meI was seperating calves from moms useing the old feed bucket trick, the bull was in with the moms, I got complacent and turned my back to walk through the gate into the paddock. He got me right between the rear back pockets. Wife said I went over the head shoot and landed about 8 ft from where he butted me. The head shoot is about 7 ft. tall and cow wide. Dog saw it all and took over, it rattled my bells. Bout went out, mite have for a half second.
Never turn your back on a bull.
D*** on your head. You my friend are very lucky. I landed on my right knee. E-R only. Worst thing is neither one of us got a buckleI came off and landed on my head, knocked me out cold. My dad told me later that I was sitting up but unconscious and he hit me in the ribs with his head and I flew about 10’, then he ran his head up my back and then pawed me into the ground… I thought one of the bullfighters stepped in me
Advice start out with something smaller. Look at the cost to benefit ratio. What would be your end game? Dairy, beef, raising and selling?
Ha, yeah no buckle, but that’s ok, We can both say we went toe to hoof with 1,500 pounds of pissed off hamburger!D*** on your head. You my friend are very lucky. I landed on my right knee. E-R only. Worst thing is neither one of us got a buckle
our first cow we had butchered was named norm. i told my son to go get packages of norm out of the freezer. he did not want to eat it he was 13. now when i tell him to get captain out hes fine with it. we name them partly because we do a corn maze and the customers like them named.
My sons name is Norman. I’m not sure how I feel about this…
it was a facebook poll. i wanted to name him porkchopMy sons name is Norman. I’m not sure how I feel about this…
Sage advice about not turning your back / trusting a bull. No matter the breed. Even "docile" breeds like the belted galloway that I mentioned above. Yes, they're "docile". Docile for a bull cow.
I will say, though, that SOME breeds you're able to keep the bulls in with the cows, heifers, and calves more than other breeds. That may also be an issue if you want to keep a bull and don't want to be forced into maintaining another smaller pasture/paddock with it's associated feeding, watering, and fencing needs.
Another thing to consider: Processing. Processors now, at least in west-central / central Indiana are scheduling MONTHS out. Literally. If you have animals that were born this past spring, you're already going to be late getting them processed if you haven't scheduled already. And processing is flipping expensive - but at least the customer pays for that.
Grain feeding will hasten the fattening process (ahem). Vice versa, hay feeding / forage feeding slows the process. Both have plusses and minuses. Grain is flipping expensive. Hay is flipping expensive. Being able to grow and harvest your own grain is hard and expensive - especially if you don't already have the equipment and knowledge. Being able to grow and harvest your own hay is hard and expensive - especially if you don't already have the equipment and knowledge. Having access to a neighboring farmer's equipment and/or knowledge will go a LONG long long way.
My folks are quite fortunate in that my step-dad's uncle lives close. Lifelong row crop farmer and cattle raiser. Maine-Anjou, I think. Anyhow, if it weren't for all his equipment and knowledge, my folks couldn't ever do what they need to do. All that - and my dad still has to hire someone to do his hay.
I will say, though, that SOME breeds you're able to keep the bulls in with the cows, heifers, and calves more than other breeds. That may also be an issue if you want to keep a bull and don't want to be forced into maintaining another smaller pasture/paddock with it's associated feeding, watering, and fencing needs.
Another thing to consider: Processing. Processors now, at least in west-central / central Indiana are scheduling MONTHS out. Literally. If you have animals that were born this past spring, you're already going to be late getting them processed if you haven't scheduled already. And processing is flipping expensive - but at least the customer pays for that.
Grain feeding will hasten the fattening process (ahem). Vice versa, hay feeding / forage feeding slows the process. Both have plusses and minuses. Grain is flipping expensive. Hay is flipping expensive. Being able to grow and harvest your own grain is hard and expensive - especially if you don't already have the equipment and knowledge. Being able to grow and harvest your own hay is hard and expensive - especially if you don't already have the equipment and knowledge. Having access to a neighboring farmer's equipment and/or knowledge will go a LONG long long way.
My folks are quite fortunate in that my step-dad's uncle lives close. Lifelong row crop farmer and cattle raiser. Maine-Anjou, I think. Anyhow, if it weren't for all his equipment and knowledge, my folks couldn't ever do what they need to do. All that - and my dad still has to hire someone to do his hay.
I grew up with beef cows and unless you are going to live on the ground where they are would pass on doing anything with them. Number one reason is fencing, they are really hard to keep penned up without a regularly maintained fence, electric or otherwise. When they find something they prefer to eat outside the fence, like your neighbors lawn, garden, or crops, they will be getting out constantly.
They are large, dumb, and expensive. I've been stepped on and smashed into gates more times that I can remember as a younger man, and that's just the cows being clumsy. Both hogs and cows can be dangerous animals if they decide to go after you.
Depending on natural forage they will require some feeding through the year mainly in winter and early spring when hay gets expensive. Not sure what's on the ground you are looking at, but consider both water and shade for them.
Best of luck
They are large, dumb, and expensive. I've been stepped on and smashed into gates more times that I can remember as a younger man, and that's just the cows being clumsy. Both hogs and cows can be dangerous animals if they decide to go after you.
Depending on natural forage they will require some feeding through the year mainly in winter and early spring when hay gets expensive. Not sure what's on the ground you are looking at, but consider both water and shade for them.
Best of luck
We’ve figured a work around for the processing, me and a few other cattlemen call and each claim 3 or 4 dates. Then when a customer wants a beef we contact one another and trade dates. That way we can get a beef in when the customer wants it.
About 2 years ago our processer was 18/20 months out. That just ain’t good.
About 2 years ago our processer was 18/20 months out. That just ain’t good.
I think that day happens to all of us, some just sooner than later
