Raising a beef cow/steer - looking for advice and tips

General Lee · Jan 26, 2014

I would like to raise ONE cow for my family. I'm looking for recent pricing and such.

I can keep it on my land but there will be no pasture. I could fence approximately 1/2 to 3/4 acre and It would penned and would like to know if this size area, could the cow maintain sanity? Lol.

I could walk it to a nearby field/pasture and let it graze for a change of pace every so often.

So, I'm wondering what the average cost is for a weaned calf?

How long will I have to raise it until butcher?

Cost of hay, grains, etc? (I understand this could vary by region)

Average cost of processing form a butcher?

Oh, and whats the most cost effective fencing I could use for the pen?

If all goes well IF I decide to do this, I would probably be raising one every year or so.

Any advice you guys can offer would be appreciated. Little things that most don't think about that could make or break the decision.

aczlan · Jan 26, 2014

Do you have any other animals? We recently had a cow butchered and we always had her in with other animals because cows are social animals and do better in a "herd".
I would recommend a meat breed and it will take about 2 years to get them big enough to be worth processing.

Aaron Z

joshuabardwell · Jan 26, 2014

General Lee said:
Oh, and whats the most cost effective fencing I could use for the pen?

Most cost-effective fencing, I think, is going to be electric wire with T-posts as line posts and wood posts making up the corner braces. For temporary paddocks, cows can be contained with a single strand of wire, but I wouldn't rely on that for a permanent fence. Also bear in mind that the purpose of the fence is to keep out other animals that might bother the cow(s), like dogs, which a single strand won't do. You can get a little cheaper using barbed wire, but it can mess up a cow or a child who gets into it, so some people don't like it.

General Lee · Jan 27, 2014

2 years?? Dang, I was told about a season. I took that as acquire cow early spring, fatten up and butcher by winter.

I have 3 dogs and some chickens Lol. They won't mix well with the cow. So yes the fencing will have to keep the dogs out.

aczlan · Jan 27, 2014

General Lee said:
2 years?? Dang, I was told about a season. I took that as acquire cow early spring, fatten up and butcher by winter.

Depends on the breed. We had a Holstein and it took her 3 years to get to ~1100# live weight. A meat breed would have been quicker to get to weight.

Aaron Z

joshuabardwell · Jan 27, 2014

General Lee said:
2 years?? Dang, I was told about a season. I took that as acquire cow early spring, fatten up and butcher by winter.

4-H handbook says 15-18 months total to raise a beef cow from birth to about 1000 lbs. I don't know what age they're typically weaned and sold off at, but I think most likely you are looking at a minimum of a year. My neighbor raises a cow every once in a while, and that seems consistent with what he told me. You can always buy a calf older (if you can find someone selling one) or slaughter them earlier if you don't want to wait, but in general you're losing money (and meat) if you do that.

creekbend · Jan 27, 2014

It isn't my intention to post negative concerns, but here goes. No pasture - cost prohibitive regarding feed and hay. Mineral and salt bocks, fly reduction methods - a lot of flies in that small area, dsease care, structure to get the animal out of the elements, transporting to Slaughter House,killing and packaging costs. Lack of pasture;etc, will most certainly require a longer time to attain the weight. Just some thoughts.

lockhaven · Jan 27, 2014

buy a feeder around 5 or 6 hundred pounds in the spring and butcher in the fall no need for pasture just a small pen with lots of grain and water

farmer2009 · Jan 27, 2014

I raise my own from birth. Takes about 18-20 months. I wean at 6-8 months then dry lot two animals together for the next year. But I keep my 2 culls so my weight gain is off. Then I sell a heavy feeder and kill one. If using better calves might knock a couple months off. Feeders in my area are high right now 500-600 pound feeder steers(males that have been castrated) are running 1.60-1.80 per pound.

No fence. I used cattle panels and t post to build my dry lot. But had it attached to my barn for shade and shelter. In total my pin is 68x32. 20x32 is under roof with 3 sides a partial front wall to help with wind. Build on a hill with good drainage. Pick panels up off ground 6" or so manure and water can drain away at bottom of slope. Will need straw for bedding and to help cut mud. I also added a 2x6 on top of my panels and a hot strand of barbed wire on top of that to stop jumping.

Will need 1-1 1/2 4x5 bales of hay per month per calf. $40 a bale for good stuff. I feed 5lbs of a 2/3 soyhull and 1/3 corn gluten mix split into two feedings per day. Feed cost me $250 / ton picked up. A $30 bag of a high quality mineral goes a long way with one calf. Measure and mix with feed per bag directions.

My slaughter house charges around $200 per calf.

Ok now let me make a suggestion. Find a local farmer and buy a calf delivered to slaughter house. I have sold like this in past. I always figured out my cost and profit and priced a weight range and per pound for that range. You might have to give him some notice. Some times my slaughter house has ads hanging around that people have calves ready. And some are taking orders.

Good luck.