Anybody raise cattle for profit?

[corl]

The NH 273 would work fine. If you buy one get a manual from New Holland. It will be worth it when something breaks and you know what to do. Something always breaks when there is hay to bale. Not really but often seems like it. If set up correctly they give good long service.

 

[ohio farmer04]

do hayrides $5 person
pumpkins will do good

 

[Circle W]

You know, that's something I never even thought about. Are they difficult & expensive to keep? What type of "area per deer" do you like to stick with?

Our 15 acres is divided into 10 pens I think. most of our pens are 100' X 200' and we don't like to put in more than about 6 to a pen. they eat on average about 4 lbs of feed a day; with our bulk feeder we get a good deal on feed and it runs about .19/pound. they eat more in the summer/fall and slow down their food intake during the winter months, sort of like a mild hibernation. We bottle feed the doe fawns to make them easier to run the the chute, but we let the buck fawns stay on their momma so that they will still be somewhat afraid of you and not try anything stupid during the rut. We use the same type of wormer that cattle ranchers use, and for the most part the same antibiotics. Fence is nearly $400 for a 330' roll, t-posts are anywhere between $8-$9.

 

[dave1949]

Deer (Venison) Ranching Profile - Agricultural Marketing Resource Center


The North American Deer Farming Association (NADeFA®) is the primary industry group that represents deer farmers and ranchers. NADeFA®'s demographics are a reflection of the industry and its agricultural value. The organization states that they represent the owners of over 75,000 cervid livestock, and NADeFA® members represent more than $111 million in livestock value. The organization’s ownership data shows the following species mix: axis, 9.2 percent; fallow, 23.7 percent; red stag (red deer), 30.4 percent; sika, 21.1 percent; whitetail, 26.9 percent; wapiti (elk), 4.6 percent and other species, 3 percent.

Some interesting info maybe.

Here is some more, you can select your state.
Maine - Deer Friendly

 

[Circle W]

Deer (Venison) Ranching Profile - Agricultural Marketing Resource Center The North American Deer Farming Association (NADeFA®) is the primary industry group that represents deer farmers and ranchers. NADeFA®'s demographics are a reflection of the industry and its agricultural value. The organization states that they represent the owners of over 75,000 cervid livestock, and NADeFA® members represent more than $111 million in livestock value. The organization’s ownership data shows the following species mix: axis, 9.2 percent; fallow, 23.7 percent; red stag (red deer), 30.4 percent; sika, 21.1 percent; whitetail, 26.9 percent; wapiti (elk), 4.6 percent and other species, 3 percent. Some interesting info maybe. Here is some more, you can select your state. Maine - Deer Friendly

Thanks for that link Dave! NADeFA is the main voice of the deer farmers and does the industry a lot of good.

 

[jerrybob]

Some cow facts.......

20 Strange Things You Didn't Know About Cows | Pets - Yahoo Shine

 

[MoKelly]

Okay so the general consensus I'm getting is that I shouldn't waste time or effort putting cows on my spare 8 acres...

What would you guys do with it? (in terms of trying to make it pay for itself in one way or another)

With the liklihood of so few cattle on your land, the other "issue" to consider, even if you raise them just for your own freezer, is if you have a wife and small children. They very easily could get attached to the cattle and begin to think of them as pets. They will even give the cattle names. Then, when time comes to sell their pets or use them for, well, stuff, it can be an issue. Tears. Sad faces. Just sayin. And you can ask how I know.

MoKelly

 

[mikehaugen]

With the liklihood of so few cattle on your land, the other "issue" to consider, even if you raise them just for your own freezer, is if you have a wife and small children. They very easily could get attached to the cattle and begin to think of them as pets. They will even give the cattle names. Then, when time comes to sell their pets or use them for, well, stuff, it can be an issue. Tears. Sad faces. Just sayin. And you can ask how I know.

MoKelly

This is the exact reason my wife told me I couldn't raise anything! Not that I have the space anyway... I have a spare acre that I had thought about putting a cow on for our use, but it ain't gonna happen.

 

[TSO]

With the liklihood of so few cattle on your land, the other "issue" to consider, even if you raise them just for your own freezer, is if you have a wife and small children. They very easily could get attached to the cattle and begin to think of them as pets. They will even give the cattle names. Then, when time comes to sell their pets or use them for, well, stuff, it can be an issue. Tears. Sad faces. Just sayin. And you can ask how I know.

MoKelly

That's true. .. Luckily they've (the wife & kids) already been thru it with chickens & pigs so that wouldn't be too much of an issue.

 

[Fan of the 1911]

I have been watching since the first page, some good ideas in here. I like the rye grass into the winter idea.

I saw a plan may have been from the Tennessee extension office, I really can't remember. Fenced and cross sectioned into 6, 1/4 acre lots. 10 cows are run on the 1/4 acre lot for 1 week then moved to the next 1/4 acre lot. After the cows are removed the 1/4 acre is rehabbed and fertilized and allowed to grow for 6 weeks until it is grazed again.

10 cows sounds like a lot for 1/4 acre, even eating the grass to the dirt. This also looks like it would make it harder for the grass to recover.

Anyone know anything more about this way of doing things???

While 10 cows seems like a lot 3-5 might not be out of the question. While 3-5 cows may not make you rich it would eliminate store bought beef thru the butchering of one. The sale of the others would generate some cash. It would allow the op to bale a few 3-4 acres and do a large vegetable garden also.

Other benefits would be the manure could be used on the fields, hay, and garden. Garden cover crops could be used for cows, and or turned under.

This is what I have been thinking about, in addition I would like to have a few goats, and some chickens. Chickens also eat some of the bugs that I seem to have more than my share of plus keep me in eggs. Goats could help keep some of my steeper areas clean.

Maybe never make much money, but get to try lots of different ideas, and get to keep the around 25% of my money the grocery store seems to get.:2cents: