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Equipment depreciation guidelines.
- Thread starter TerryinMD
- Start date
- Views: 5801
unaka
Bronze Member
- Joined
- Jul 5, 2001
- Messages
- 90
- Location
- Murphy, NC
- Tractor
- Massey-Ferguson 243, 2002 Model, 4wd, FEL
Cowboy doc,
Did you get the email I sent you yesterday?
Also, I'm curious if you know anyone (or anything about) direct marketing with cattle, as opposed to simply being on the bottom of the stocker market chain. Last night, as my wife and I were brainstorming a business plan, it occured to us that we'll never really make any real profit selling our calves at the auction, or to the local "big guys", as we are really at their mercy. But if we could direct market a grass finished product (leaner beef, different taste), as opposed to a grain-finished product (what we're all used to) directly to the consumer, then the idea of profit inches closer to reality. I'm sure this would involve some red-tape, inspections, etc., but I'm curious if anyone has tried this successfully on a small scale.
unaka
Did you get the email I sent you yesterday?
Also, I'm curious if you know anyone (or anything about) direct marketing with cattle, as opposed to simply being on the bottom of the stocker market chain. Last night, as my wife and I were brainstorming a business plan, it occured to us that we'll never really make any real profit selling our calves at the auction, or to the local "big guys", as we are really at their mercy. But if we could direct market a grass finished product (leaner beef, different taste), as opposed to a grain-finished product (what we're all used to) directly to the consumer, then the idea of profit inches closer to reality. I'm sure this would involve some red-tape, inspections, etc., but I'm curious if anyone has tried this successfully on a small scale.
unaka
Unaka,
My neighbor raises brood cows and here is an article about his ranch. He is a very colorful character. <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.farmerfirst.com/articles/0200softcell.shtml>M&M Ranch</A>
This may or may not answer your questions but may give you some insight with his approach. I believe that Bill sells his cattle both through auction and direct sales.
Terry
My neighbor raises brood cows and here is an article about his ranch. He is a very colorful character. <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.farmerfirst.com/articles/0200softcell.shtml>M&M Ranch</A>
This may or may not answer your questions but may give you some insight with his approach. I believe that Bill sells his cattle both through auction and direct sales.
Terry
unaka
Bronze Member
- Joined
- Jul 5, 2001
- Messages
- 90
- Location
- Murphy, NC
- Tractor
- Massey-Ferguson 243, 2002 Model, 4wd, FEL
Terry,
Thanks for the article, I printed it off and will show it to the wife this evening. I'm in the process of dividing my pastures to try some intensive grazing techniques, myself. I feed very little as it is, just supplement every evening as our climate here in the south allows the grass to grow almost year round. If I can get a handle on how large to make each pasture, and when to rotate, I think I can further reduce my feed costs.
Unaka
Thanks for the article, I printed it off and will show it to the wife this evening. I'm in the process of dividing my pastures to try some intensive grazing techniques, myself. I feed very little as it is, just supplement every evening as our climate here in the south allows the grass to grow almost year round. If I can get a handle on how large to make each pasture, and when to rotate, I think I can further reduce my feed costs.
Unaka
DFB
Elite Member
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- Dec 7, 2000
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- 2,897
- Location
- Southern VT, Southern ME
- Tractor
- John Deere 4100 HST /410 FEL, R4s
unaka
Bronze Member
- Joined
- Jul 5, 2001
- Messages
- 90
- Location
- Murphy, NC
- Tractor
- Massey-Ferguson 243, 2002 Model, 4wd, FEL
DFB,
Thanks. That's good info. It's good to know that some people are having success with the direct marketing angle.
Unaka
Thanks. That's good info. It's good to know that some people are having success with the direct marketing angle.
Unaka
DFB
Elite Member
- Joined
- Dec 7, 2000
- Messages
- 2,897
- Location
- Southern VT, Southern ME
- Tractor
- John Deere 4100 HST /410 FEL, R4s
I buy my beef direct. Since '96. I buy from a local farmer that raises a small herd of beef cattle. All he really does is rounds up a list of buyers first, usually by word of mouth. When he delivers the finished cuts he collects his money.
DFB
DFB
unaka
Bronze Member
- Joined
- Jul 5, 2001
- Messages
- 90
- Location
- Murphy, NC
- Tractor
- Massey-Ferguson 243, 2002 Model, 4wd, FEL
DFB,
Is the price for his meat a little higher or lower than grocery prices? and do you have to buy a minimum amount, such as a whole side of beef?
Also, one more question. Do you know if his cattle are finished out on grain or grass?
Thanks again for your informative responses
Unaka
Is the price for his meat a little higher or lower than grocery prices? and do you have to buy a minimum amount, such as a whole side of beef?
Also, one more question. Do you know if his cattle are finished out on grain or grass?
Thanks again for your informative responses
Unaka
DFB
Elite Member
- Joined
- Dec 7, 2000
- Messages
- 2,897
- Location
- Southern VT, Southern ME
- Tractor
- John Deere 4100 HST /410 FEL, R4s
Unaka,
By the side is the way he sells it. First time around I took a whole half, but it was a bit too much for us.
What I've been doing lately is going in halfs with with my wife's folks and we split one. Averages out less than market retail.
They're finished off on grain. Don't really know how much though. Him along with two others also cut down and take the sweetcorn my wife's stepdad grows for feed earlier on in the fall too. Last winter TBN members' cowboydoc and ERNIEB (where's he been?) provided me with good info on cattle raising in the old thread titled
<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.tractorbynet.com/cgi-bin/compact/showthreaded.pl?Cat=&Board=off&Number=26658&page=&view=&sb=&o=&vc=1#Post26658> This ICE is driving me crazy</A> of all places. Its a long and twisty thread the info is towards the end.
You have a Charolais bull? Big animal. Seen some in the oxen pulls at the fair. Have you heard of Piedmontese. Read an article in Small Farm Today that rates them as one of the top producer for cutability and dress yield. The local guy's are Herefords. Around here you also see some belteds and Scottish Highlands too.
DFB
By the side is the way he sells it. First time around I took a whole half, but it was a bit too much for us.
What I've been doing lately is going in halfs with with my wife's folks and we split one. Averages out less than market retail.
They're finished off on grain. Don't really know how much though. Him along with two others also cut down and take the sweetcorn my wife's stepdad grows for feed earlier on in the fall too. Last winter TBN members' cowboydoc and ERNIEB (where's he been?) provided me with good info on cattle raising in the old thread titled
<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.tractorbynet.com/cgi-bin/compact/showthreaded.pl?Cat=&Board=off&Number=26658&page=&view=&sb=&o=&vc=1#Post26658> This ICE is driving me crazy</A> of all places. Its a long and twisty thread the info is towards the end.
You have a Charolais bull? Big animal. Seen some in the oxen pulls at the fair. Have you heard of Piedmontese. Read an article in Small Farm Today that rates them as one of the top producer for cutability and dress yield. The local guy's are Herefords. Around here you also see some belteds and Scottish Highlands too.
DFB
