Cattle

[M5farms]

there is profit to be made although the margins are slim. working with older equipment , not hiring anything out, working a very well paying day job and never being gone more than 3 days in a row are things you have to do. majority of people do not do it for the money . it is in you blood and it is a a personnel satisfaction endeavor , I grew up in it and didn't start my on my own until I was in my 30's after i realized i was not happy off the farm . I can count on 1 hand the vacations I have taken over the last 20+ years and I have no regrets. I started with a dozen and some years I run up to 50+ head others I sell down to 25+ head. They pay for themselves and I invest everything back into the operation. That is why I have been able to buy more equipment and continue to build. Being able to do EVERYTHING and I mean EVERYTHING will save you major bucks as long as it is done right. Rebuilding and engine , puts seals in a gear box , weld a broken spindle , build fence, vaccinate and worm , pull a calf, kill a downer , spray and cultivate, fix a well, castrate or band, work 20hrs a day during hay season , build a barn and the list goes on and on .

 

[EddieWalker]

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

Because he will mount all of them again as soon as they give birth, and then mount his daughters as soon as they can walk. A billy is only good for one thing, and when he's done his job, give him to somebody else and let the babies grow up. Keep the ones you want to add to your herd, sell the others, including all the males, and wait for the young ones to be big enough to breed, and do it all over again with a new male.

 

[kenmac]

As far as hay. I would have to buy. I have the grass but no haying equipment. Around here, large round bales go for $25.00-$30.00/ It would most likely cheaper to buy the hay than to invest in the equipment

I have 50 acres here that is fenced. Would just have to make a few repairs to some of the wire.

As far as the vet stuff. I would have to learn to perform the basic shots, worming, etc,.

Travel ? I really don't travel that much. At the most I would be gone would be two weeks. Most people I have talked to say that you could leave them for that long without any problems. I have no idea if this is true,or not as those around me have sons, Brothers, brothers in laws, etc, that can see after their cows when they are gone

I would do the cow /cave operation. Sell off the caves when they get to around the 600# mark is what I'm being told.

I have the means to get the cows to market, so that wouldn't be an issue



A guy I know that has about 150 head of cattle stated he has several cows slaughtered a year and all is good except the steaks. He said no matter what the does, or how he feeds, the steaks always come out tough.
He said he has tried different processors and the steaks are always tough. He said he thinks it's because processors aren't allowing the beef to hang in the cooler and age very long. He said the processors get them in , cut up and processed as fast as they can and won't let the beef hang and age.


I have contacted my insurance company, and they tell me I would have to get a farm /business insurance policy instead of the regular H O policy I now have. This other /different policy would increase my insurance cost

I'm just wondering at 60 yrs old and having no knowledge of cows, or the cow business, if I should jump in with both feet,or stay away from it.
I really don't care to put in hard work for no profit.


On another note. There is an older guy up the road from me that cuts hay, I asked him what he does with the hay ? He says, I sell it and make money.
So I ask, how much do you sell your round bales for ? ''He says $25.00-$30.00 per roll''
I say you pay the co-op to spray your hay fields, you have approx 100 K in hay equipment, your time, your fuel,etc.
I ask him, where is the money ? ''He looks at me puzzled and says, I guess you could say I do it for something to do''

 

[nybirdman]

To put it bluntly;find another hobby.We raised our own beef for 15-20 years.Loosing proposition all around.

 

[M5farms]

sure you could leave for 2 weeks and likely not have any issues , but One cow down and needing assistance and your gone you are 750 to 1200 dollars in the hole . or a tree falls and they are out in the road or on someone else property and you are 3 days into 2 weeks they are not going to be to pleased when you say I will be there in 11 days. buying hay is most economic for the vast majority but the 25 to 30 dollar roll cut late or full of weeds has no value except filler and you have to supplement . with no experience I would say dip your toe in the water and try to learn.

50 acres is plenty to run a dozen pair but to maximize productivity you would likely need to sub divide to be able to move animals into smaller fields and move to to a handling facility.

 

[japody]

I'll sell you mine.

 

[kenmac]

sure you could leave for 2 weeks and likely not have any issues , but One cow down and needing assistance and your gone you are 750 to 1200 dollars in the hole . or a tree falls and they are out in the road or on someone else property and you are 3 days into 2 weeks they are not going to be to pleased when you say I will be there in 11 days. buying hay is most economic for the vast majority but the 25 to 30 dollar roll cut late or full of weeds has no value except filler and you have to supplement . with no experience I would say dip your toe in the water and try to learn.

50 acres is plenty to run a dozen pair but to maximize productivity you would likely need to sub divide to be able to move animals into smaller fields and move to to a handling facility.

I don't know about the hay being full of weeds. They have their hay fields sprayed and fertilized.

I know some buy minerals, and some grain for their cows.

I have been trying to dip my toe in and learn. The Problem is, they all say, there's no money in cows, don't get in.

Maybe I'm too ignorant to understand why they continue in the cow business with no money to be made.

Was discussing the topic with my vet the other day. He stated if you have to call in a vet for any birthing, or medical issues. It can get expensive real quick.

I think eddie mentioned goats. That would probably require me to re fence. I doubt goats would stay in barbed wire installed to contain horses, or cows.

Maybe it would be cheaper to just let the place go back to woods, and I wouldn't have to spend 7-8 hrs to cut the grass in spring and summer

 

[kcflhrc]

Don't know anything about the cattle business. However, my wife wanted chickens, they have become my chickens. They are a pain in the @ss so I'm sure cattle would be worse.

 

[jaxs]

I was born on a farm and cattle ranch,still have several family and friends in the business. To answer your question with one word,FORGETABOUTIT. Look at it like this. If a 60 year old with no experience asked if they should open a business in the same profession you make your living ,what would you say?

 

[M5farms]

I don't know about the hay being full of weeds. They have their hay fields sprayed and fertilized.

I know some buy minerals, and some grain for their cows.

I have been trying to dip my toe in and learn. The Problem is, they all say, there's no money in cows, don't get in.

Maybe I'm too ignorant to understand why they continue in the cow business with no money to be made.

Was discussing the topic with my vet the other day. He stated if you have to call in a vet for any birthing, or medical issues. It can get expensive real quick.

I think eddie mentioned goats. That would probably require me to re fence. I doubt goats would stay in barbed wire installed to contain horses, or cows.

Maybe it would be cheaper to just let the place go back to woods, and I wouldn't have to spend 7-8 hrs to cut the grass in spring and summer

im just being realistic, It is very rewarding and a price can not be put on that. back in 14 prices were historic , everyone thought it would last forever and folks started dropping 2000 to 2500 for bred heifers . the next year those cows were could be bought for 1500 . in 14 cull prices were 1000 to 1200 per cow right now I am seeing some as low as 300 for the same kind of cow.

Alot of cows you see standing in fields are two expensive to sell because of the what I just described It could take 5 or 6 years of calves just to break even on them. With that being said a fellow can buy in pretty cheap right now and make a profit just off gain on older cows if he has the feed and facilities to do it. My situation is similar right now although all of mine have paid for themselves outright I am not going to give them away but if the market were somewhat up i would sell everything because it will take at least a year to fix all the fences from hurricane Michael. I have plenty of hay so i will feed until spring and hope things improve. Spray and fertilizer is a vital part of making good hay but even the best looking hay can have low protein because the vast majority of hay producers want quantity over quality.