Cattle

[kenmac]

Been thinking about getting into the cattle business. It would be small (10-15) cows.
I have no knowledge of the business, or what to do. So it would be a learning process.
Just thought I would try to make a little money, and have some help with the grass.

I just don't know if there is any money to be made in a small operation. I sure don't want to get myself into allot of work with very little,or no return.


I have discussed this with some of these older guys around me. About all I can get out of them is....
''Do you know know how to make a small fortune in the cow business ? I say no. The say start with a large fortune'' ! LOL

The thing is, They still have cows. When I ask why, they say. ''it's just a hobby, it gives me something to do''

So, any advise about getting cows, or not, would be appreciated

 

[goeduck]

It is a lot of work. Do you have haying equipment? Able to do your own basic veterinary treatments to your stock? Do you travel? If you travel, do you have a backup to feed and keep an eye out for the cattle? Can you haul to market or will you hire that? Will you cow/calf or buy calves? Will you put hay up? If so, do you have a dry storage area for the hay? ..
So many questions. Need more info.

 

[Roy Russell]

I have been trying for 4 years here in Texas - started out with 2 heifers and then added a bull a year later. I now have 9 cattle on the property - and as yet have not made a dime. Seems that you need a large herd with big acres to actuallymake $$ these days here in Texas. On the plus side - my family always has fresh organic raised chemical and hormone free beef to eat without paying store prices and wondering if it's the real deal on our plates. The property tax discount is also a help here in Texas when you produce and sell the extra beef to the public. And the cattle are fun to work with and nice to see out the window when you sit and eat a meal with the family.

 

[RNeumann]

A lot of folks do it for tax purposes around me. I guess you can call that a hobby. Like horses or wine I guess. If it was an easy way to make a few bucks everyone would do it.
Tell us what you “have” so far. Fenced pasture or acreage? Or were you planning to bring feed in year round? Dairy or meat or just breeding etc....

 

[oosik]

If you are looking for a great way to declare business losses on your taxes............

Substantial to tremendous initial investment - marginal returns to great losses with time.

One advantage - to be born into cattle. The weight of the Albatross is significantly less.

To even hope for success your time must be devoted to the cattle business - 24/7/365.

This from watching my neighbor who is third generation cattle rancher.

I have observed him and his methods for 37+ years

 

[Alan W.]

If your plan is to just raise and sell at the stock yards then profits will be slim at best for a small operation.
My friend started like you are wanting to but he sells direct to people at a premium. They want grass fed hormone free beef.
He hauls to the processor then his customers pick up their half or whole beef there. Word of mouth has been his only advertising. He buys all his hay as he doesnt have enough land for grazing and hay production.
He would give potential customers some hamburger or steak to try. He said that was the best way to seal a deal.

 

[3Ts]

I was going to do the same thing as you so I took a course in cattle raising and management. One of the things they emphasized was that to be successful, you first had to be a grass farmer. Management of your pasture is very important and that a cow averages about 35 pounds of hay a day depending on her condition and the weather.

 

[LouNY]

As all the above have said, plus
if grass fed the quality of your graze and hay is extremely important.
Crap feed equals crap beef.
Plus adequate and close fresh water.

 

[EddieWalker]

Once I get my fencing done and my pastures into decent shape, I plan on having a couple of steers on my place to raise for our personal consumption and sell what we don't eat to friends to cover expenses. We are currently doing this with two different friends as the buyer of what they sell us, but both of them combined do not have enough extra to last us a full year. We can tell the difference in taste, and the cost per pound is half of what we pay for meat at the store. They are good friends and helping us learn about it as they learn as they go with the hope that we can do this sooner, rather then later.

We also have pygmy goats and they sell quickly, but we don't sell for top dollar like others out there. Hundred bucks each seems to be more then fair. Currently we are at 9 nannies and no billies. We've learned that as soon as they are all pregnant, the billy has to find a new home. Goats are small and easy to handle. They are easy to feed since they eat just about everything and they do a great job of cleaning up the under story in our woods. I think about 20 goats will give us $3,000 a year gross and hopefully come close to paying for feed for the goats and the steers.

Our goal is to be less reliant on the grocery store and able to eat food that is more healthy for us.

My wife had cancer last year at age 53, with no family history of cancer, and it was a good motivator for us to put more effort into what we eat. A lot of research has shown that processed foods can lead to cancer.

 

[widefat]

We've learned that as soon as they are all pregnant, the billy has to find a new home.

Why is that? Know nothing about goats - just curious.