Cattle

[beowulf]

This is not exactly on topic, but this post has meandered a bit, so likely it is okay to post this here. Anyway, if anyone wants a reason to grow and consume their own beef, read The Omnivore's Dilemma. Even if it does not make you a vegetarian (I am not) it will cause you to buy only organic, or grass fed beef.

 

[goeduck]

This is not exactly on topic, but this post has meandered a bit, so likely it is okay to post this here. Anyway, if anyone wants a reason to grow and consume their own beef, read The Omnivore's Dilemma. Even if it does not make you a vegetarian (I am not) it will cause you to buy only organic, or grass fed beef.

Many organic foods are very competitive (or at least reasonable) in price. Organic beef in my area is not. Natural (if you can believe that) no so bad. I try to only buy organic produce of what I do not grow.

 

[M5farms]

Everything is organic , y'all have been brainwashed

 

[robbyr]

Everything is organic , y'all have been brainwashed

Yep, just costs more.

 

[M5farms]

Yep, just costs more.

A couple pages back folks were talking about CAB and how they used marketing to push it on the masses and somehow these same people believe organic is what they say it is. Lol . They say one is born every day.

 

[Wakey]

I think most of you guys are pretty much spot on what the guys around me are saying.
Having cows there is something to do 7 days a week, with little profit to be made.

As I have stated, I was going to do the cow /cave business where the cows have caves. Take the calves to the stock yard and sell them, but it appears it is just going be much work with little returns.
I just can't understand why these old guys around me would do so much for so little profit.

At 60 almost 61. It appears, getting into something I know nothing about is just going to be too much.
Maybe I'll just get a donkey to help with the grass.

I appreciate all the advise.

I came to the same conclusion. When my lessee retires I'll either partner with my neighbor and his cattle or I'll buy a couple donks and (lease) hay the pasture.

 

[Dadnatron]

Everything is organic , y'all have been brainwashed

You are correct, by definition of Carbon atoms. However, the real issue is the term 'organic' is used to mean so many different things... that it has lost its meaning entirely. But I suspect you know enough to recognize the term is not being used as meaning 'made up of a carbon atom and derivatives'.

 

[Soggy Bottom Outdoors]

So, some thoughts from a 40 year, ninth generation KY cattleman. I can only give you insight from my area. You will need to adjust it for where you live. The average costs to keep a cow for a year is $350-450. Depending on management. This makes the break even for the calves at $.60-.70. Current market prices are $1.20-$1.30, a bit more for preconditioned calves, a good bit less for dairy stock, horned or bull calves. Hay and dry feed are my largest single expense. Winter or hay feeding season is from Dec 1 thru April 1. Average 6, 1000lb bales per head, per winter. Very much weather dependent. Of course you can buy hay and I have at times. Current price is $40-50 for 1000lb bales. Some less for "stuff in a bale". Pick whatever breed you like but consider this, Angus has done a tremendous job of marketing which leads to increased demand and in turn high prices. This includes Angus crosses. Current open heifers that will be large enough to breed in the spring, May here, average $1000. Bred heifers that will calve in the spring, March, $1250-1500. Ten points to consider, (1) A cow must look like cow(feminine), Must be representative of the breed or cross. (2) Must have sound conformation, eyes, feet, legs, top line, udder, etc. (3) Must be fertile. Must bred or rebreed within 60 day window of exposure to proven bull. (4)Mature weight of 1200-1400 at 5 years. (5) Must wean a calf with a 205 day weight of 50% of cows weight. (6) Must be docile, but natural in behavior. (7) No white around eyes or udder. (8) Display no dairy characteristics (9) Must have a reproductive lifespan of 10-12 years. (10) Prefer crossbreds but like individuals. Hope this helps.

 

[robbyr]

CattleToday.com - Index page

 

[BrokeFarmerJohn]

When I've bought 1/4 beef locally it's been about 220lbs give or take 10lb. That's from 3 different local beef farms.
The first I bought on the hoof, and maybe 55% is 'waste' - bone, guts, skin, etc. The second I got as hanging weight, the third was wrapped and ready - same price per lb, since hanging weight is what ends up wrapped.

220 is a quarter, times 4, is 880lb, double it to allow for live weight - 1720lb, or a tad more, say 1800lb.

While I've not grilled (no pun intended) the folks that raise them, I can ask about time. the one gent said he buys calves at 400-600 lbs and keeps them about a year to 18 months. Many variables - breed, price of feed, time of year, size of animal, buyer demand, etc.

Google is a great resource...

How to calculate target slaughter weights for your beef cattle finishing program

How much meat?
https://www.oda.state.ok.us/food/fs-cowweight.pdf

Those cattle were given hormones (10% weight) and a heavy corn feed with little to no movement to get that big in that amount of time.

I raise my cattle mainly on grass and they don’t gain nearly that fast. I buy the steer calves weaned off milk (3-5 months old) around 250-400lbs lbs. I keep them till 800-1000lb depending on the season and that takes me about 12-16 months. I’m also buying a jersey or jersey cross which don’t grow as fast as an angus or beef cattle.

So when I hear someone took 18-20 month old animal to 1600lbs plus, I know that animal didn’t move for most of its life, was given hormones and fed a high energy feed.