Anybody raise cattle for profit?

[jinman]

I think we all think raising or fattening your own beef for your use and maybe one other family could be a good idea. You could buy, fatten, and slaughter all in an acceptable window. I think it's the broad based beef operations we all would suggest are not feasible. On the other hand, Small vegetable crops, specialty crops like gensing, and even shrubs and tree farms all fall within your acreage limits.

 

[TomSeller]

Any market for a smaller red meat in your area? ie goats, lamb?

 

[Larro Darro]

If you just wanted to raise your own beef, buying a cow/calf pair would get you started. If the cow was already bred you would get three for the price of two. I would put the cows on the wooded land and the pasture. The other four acres could be used for truck farming. I always made more from selling peas and melons than from the cows. And the peas never broke out on Sunday morning as you are getting ready for church.

Larro

 

[econometrics]

I'll chime in here as one who has been mulling this over a lot as a new landowner as well.

My conclusions have been to raise beef for my own family, and then sell a few to friends as well. Grass-fed, organic beef commands a pretty hefty price in the grocery aisle. The economics of raising my own beef are much more favorable than buying from the grocery store.

The other option, of course, is to buy a 1/4, 1/2, or whole cow from a farmer who is already raising and selling grass-fed beef. We have been doing that for a few years.

That, however, leaves you without a property tax advantage. That's where I have decided that we'll raise our own small herd of beef cattle, put a good chunk in the freezer for our family each year, and sell the rest to friends / family.

I believe we just paid $635 for a grass-fed, 1/4 angus cow from a local farmer.

Do the math for yourself, and I think you will find that if you DO want to raise beef, you most certainly can do so and still make a little money on it - or at least cover your costs while enjoying some tax savings as well. You might just have to approach the "for profit" idea from a different angle since you won't be able to raise as many on smaller acreage.

Good luck! :thumbsup:

 

[Larro Darro]

Here in Florida, you can get Ag exemptions on your land for timber as well as crops or livestock, if it is 10 acres or more. I have heard it is harder in other places.

One thing to think about raising your own beef, is how much soup bone can you eat. We always had steaks, roasts and such, but had as much of the rest of it as we could ground into hamburger. Even then there is lots of beef stew and the like left when all the steaks have been ate.

Another thing is do you have a setup to cut your own meat, or will you have to pay to have it done. We have done it both ways, and in the end we decided it was too much work for the amount we saved. But if you have a meat grinder, a bandsaw and a big fridge, you can do it.

Larro

 

[econometrics]

One thing to think about raising your own beef, is how much soup bone can you eat. We always had steaks, roasts and such, but had as much of the rest of it as we could ground into hamburger. Even then there is lots of beef stew and the like left when all the steaks have been ate.

Great point, Larro. You can really get a lot of good use out of a cow when you make use of everything you can to feed your family.

 

[bdeboer]

Have someone row crop the land with soybeans or corn. Cash rent or shares, probably with 8 acres someone with a smaller operation and older equipment might be interested.

 

[TomSeller]

Great point, Larro. You can really get a lot of good use out of a cow when you make use of everything you can to feed your family.

Everything but the moo and the poo.

 

[econometrics]

Everything but the moo and the poo.

Haha! My wife likes the poo for her compost piles, that's for sure.

 

[Lou66]

Didn't read all the comments.. but the law of the land is 200 pounds pre acre,, so the understanding is you need a 800 pound cow.. with a calf that doesn't eat grass.. Okay.. now think Goats.. three goats and Billy.. times two or six kids pre year times sixty.. or 360 dollars pre year.. plus tax deduction,, plus equipment.. plus seed.. plus labor.. which is deductible or bale the four acres and sell the hay if it of high quality,, 20% protein or better.. Jiggs or T-86.. 6.00 dollars pre square bale,, used equipment can be costly.. someone to come in and bale for you at half the cost. A good field could get 6 to 8 hundred bales per year.. with your half 18 to 24 hundreds dollars a year.. less deducts.. Lou