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

[luvmexfood]

I would forget about the idea of taking it to pasture and bringing it back. Once it got with other cows it would be hard to get back. We have a tenant here that leases pasture. They bought a pig and built a pen for it. It got out and started living with the cows. Darn thing would stay right with the cows. People would stop on the road and take pictures of the now hog laying right with the cows.

Not meaning anything negative about people who say they keep the culls to eat. My grandfather was raised on a farm with a big family. I think he was born somewhere around 1910. He was raised on a farm that is now under Norris Lake in East TN. The TVA bought them out and they had to move. Even though they did not have much he and some of my great uncles always said that their dad would always keep the best produce and animals for them. Said if someone has to eat culls let it be somebody else. We will eat good and let someone else can have the culls.

 

[creekbend]

I'm good on freezer space I believe. The fencing will put me in the red for sure. I want to do cattle gate fencing but I'm betting its expensive per panel. Maybe I'll luck out and can find some on craigslist. I'd have to run an extension cord quite a ways in order to electrify the fence.

This is something I'd like to keep costs down on materials as much as possible in case I don't care for the whole experience and don't do it again. I'd like to try it at least once though. Spending for feed and grain is just what it is, I won't skimp in that area.

I would like to include two more points to ponder. I have a solar powered charger-battery backup. After a few rains, your lack of area will result in a QUAGMIRE of mud, urine and Cow Poop.

 

[Bird]

I must be really cold hearted or maybe it was just the way I was raised. I just don't understand how people get so attached to animals, especially the ones that are being raised to eat. I've raised and butchered meat rabbits, meat chickens, hogs that we purchased live, and held the bucket while my dad castrated piglets. I've never felt a bit guilty about eating something I've raised for meat and don't understand why people do. I intend to raise my son the same way I was in that regard and I was lucky enough to marry a lady that was raised the same way.

I'd love to raise a few calves one of these years. We've got the fence left over from horses that are gone along with shelter, water tank, and round bale feeder.

I, too, grew up on a farm. I've hunted birds, rabbits, squirrels, and even deer. But I've also killed and dressed domestic rabbits and chickens, and helped with the butchering of hogs and calves. I've never felt guilty about eating the meat, but I always hated the killing.

 

[Clint S]

We have butchered many over the years, grass fed all summer and a little grain for the last few months. Here is my only bit of advice I can give as far a butchering a cow you have raised. Do not give it a name. When it has a name it is a pet.

 

[Larro Darro]

General Lee, if you have enough woodland, you can get quite a bit of grazing off of it. The electric fencing will cost upfront, but it will last for years. And I would check into buying a cow/calf pair. If you could get a cow that had already bred back, you would have a calf for next year as well. Cows do better when they have some company.

And the concern about the flies was for the cow's comfort. We always had rubs soaked with used motor oil for them. I'm sure there is a more environmentally sound way of doing it today. Good luck with your project.

Larro

 

[Axe Man]

If your main goal is the satisfaction of raising your own beef then there's really no economic advise to give.......I've been a butcher for a long time and have lived on acreage my whole adult life and have never seen a situation where it's cheaper to raise your own beef than to buy it at a grocery store.
I charge 50 cents a pound to cut, wrap and freeze a beef cow. Dressed weight will vary but the ideal weight is around 600 lbs. ( 150 lbs per quqrter ) and I've done some that were in the 200-225 lb range per quarter.So on a 600 lb animal it cost the producer $300 for me to cut, wrap and freeze.
For that money you can buy 150 lbs of boneless outside round roasts ( no waste ) at the grocery store when it's on special or 100 lbs of top sirloin roasts or steaks.
What ever you decide.....Good Luck

 

[Cub 7274]

Both the cows I care for have names.................. and I feel sorry for them on days and nights like this
Could I kill them ? never

 

[bulldogshotgun]

kids always wanna name the animals, growing up my parents rule was we had to name it after a food, to remind us that's what it was,had a lot of steers named burger, t-bone, etc. never had a problem butchering or eating our animals, we raised a lot of bucket calves 30-50 at a time plus had a small beef herd of our own 20-30 head. they are a lot of work, when my parents had all of kids at home to feed and help with chores it was fine we grew up and moved away they quit, just buy it from there neighbor who has 5-10 head, on the hoof. i think you would be much better off looking for a local mini farm or CSA who raises animals the way you would and buying on the hoof. if your bound and determined to do it, there are lotsa' ways,
we raised some jersey bulls (bought as day old $5 calves) on milk replacer and hay until about 5-600 pounds (didn't dehorn or castrate kept cost as low as possible and butchered just past the age of veal, meat nice and tender almost no fat, production costs are low, but butchering costs are high per lb.
or buy good Beef steer feeder (roughly 400-600lbs) and stuff them with grain, about 10 months you will have a 1400lb steer nicely marbled tender beef.production costs are higher, but butchering costs lower per lb.

either way i can just about guarantee that your costs will be higher, than buying local from a small farmer or CSA where you can still see how the animal is raised.

 

[MotorSeven]

If your main goal is the satisfaction of raising your own beef then there's really no economic advise to give.......I've been a butcher for a long time and have lived on acreage my whole adult life and have never seen a situation where it's cheaper to raise your own beef than to buy it at a grocery store.
I charge 50 cents a pound to cut, wrap and freeze a beef cow. Dressed weight will vary but the ideal weight is around 600 lbs. ( 150 lbs per quqrter ) and I've done some that were in the 200-225 lb range per quarter.So on a 600 lb animal it cost the producer $300 for me to cut, wrap and freeze.
For that money you can buy 150 lbs of boneless outside round roasts ( no waste ) at the grocery store when it's on special or 100 lbs of top sirloin roasts or steaks.
What ever you decide.....Good Luck

You have me confused......how on earth is it cheaper to buy beef at the grocery store. Here are the current average beef prices:
Average retail food and energy prices, U.S. city average and Midwest region

Round roast is $4.70 a lb...150 lbs = $705

Even if you go with the minimum price for ground beef at $3 a pound, then 450 lbs would cost you $1,350. My cow(450 lbs) processed and in my freezer right now cost me $530 in processing fee, add 2 years of worming($30), and 2 years of mineral blocks($30) brings it to $590. And it's not just all ground beef, it's top, strip, ribs, stew meat, round, roast, etc.

My cows are all grass fed and I barter with a neighbor who cuts my hay & I get what I need for the year for free. Even if I had to buy hay, add 20 4x4 rolls for the winter at $15 a roll and I am still way under retail prices. My point is that if you have the acreage, then raising your own is the only way to go.

 

[General Lee]

I would forget about the idea of taking it to pasture and bringing it back. Once it got with other cows it would be hard to get back.

No other animals on the farm I would have access to but I agree with you if there were others.