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.

 

[BrokeFarmerJohn]

Top Documentary Films: The Science Behind Cattle Ranches - YouTube

Dust from Cattle Feedyards: A Case Study from Texas - YouTube

Some good info on Feed Lots and the science behind the beef farming.

 

[BrokeFarmerJohn]

The Cost of Ranching - YouTube

 

[Soggy Bottom Outdoors]

Broke Farmer John, respectfully, how many of your Jersey steer carcasses will USDA grade Prime or Choice or Yield grade 1 or 2?

 

[goeduck]

So when I hear someone took 18-20 month old animal to 1600lbs plus, I know that animal didn稚 move for most of its life, was given hormones and fed a high energy feed.

Right, and who wants to eat THAT? Give me grass fed.

 

[two_bit_score]

Right, and who wants to eat THAT? Give me grass fed.

A few years ago there was a restaurant in The Woodlands, Tx where you could order a plate with two strips on it. One grass fed and one grain fed. Eating them side by side like that I definitely preferred the grain fed for flavor and tenderness. Although both were very good as they should have been for the price.

 

[BrokeFarmerJohn]

Broke Farmer John, respectfully, how many of your Jersey steer carcasses will USDA grade Prime or Choice or Yield grade 1 or 2?

I have never graded my cattle, prob never will being how small my Hobby farm is. I know nothing of the grading process. I just drop my cattle off to the butcher alive and pick up the meat about 3 weeks later. Then store the quarter, half of whole till whom ever bought it can pick it up.

 

[Soggy Bottom Outdoors]

The USDA Grades are a composite of factors that affect palatability(tenderness, juiciness, flavor) all things the consumer wants. These factors include maturity, firmness, texture, color of lean, amount and location of marbling within lean. It is a way to side by side objectively compare carcasses. I to sell "freezer" beef or "on the hoof". I also sell "package" beef. To do so it must be "USDA inspected" and likewise graded. I charge more for higher grades because it is better.

 

[prof fate]

the first steer I bought was a 4H project, from a customer's son at the county fair (he took two, the other won grand champion that year). VERY specific rules regarding hormones, what they're fed and how fast they can gain weight.
I belive the qtr was 224 lbs wrapped/frozen to me.
The next 2 qtrs I bought were from another customer of mine, cheaper, it's their business, I believe they were just about 200lb..one may have been about 190.

Got a qtr 2 months ago, from a coworker's husband, he's been raising beef for 44 years, 214lb qtr.

now unless they are ALL stuffing more meat in a 'quarter' to hit 200lb I'm assuming they are all about the same size critters at harvest. None are feed lot.

the first one was better than store bought beef, the next was better and the latest is the best beef I've ever had.

from what I gather, most here feed mostly grass and hay. I assume they get some grain...but not like in a feed lot.

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稚 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知 also buying a jersey or jersey cross which don稚 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稚 move for most of its life, was given hormones and fed a high energy feed.

 

[prof fate]

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.

Organic can include chemicals...

I prefer 'sustainable' over organic.

To have 'organic meat' one needs to feed 'orgainic feed'...which is twice the price (for chickens/turkeys anyway). We do some eggs can't say 'organic' unless it's ALL organic - their feed too. "Free Range" was what we did, now due to excessive losses it's "cage free"...

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.

There are a lot of good documentrairs - Food Inc is one of the best. Makes yo uwant to grow your own and buy local for sure.

We did turkey's last year - cost to buy the chicks, feed, harvest - $2.80 a lb for the frozen results. Ouch. We did keep them too long (110lb meat from 4 birds..the one tom was 46 lbs hanging weight..the hens were 24 ish each). Would likely have had better feed return had we culled earlier - live and learn!

Gonna try meat chickens this coming spring.

Can't say the turkey tasted any different than a 69c butterball from walmart...

 

[two_bit_score]

Got the February edition of the Gulf Coast Cattleman yesterday.

Lots of good information.