Florida Cattle Info Needed

[RMEADOWS]

I've got 20 acres and want to raise some cattle and do not want to loose money i the process. Anyone have any suggestions or know where I can get info on raising/selling cattle?

Thanks

 

[JoeR]

The University of Florida has a great deal of data on Florida Cattle Research.

You can start here:

http://www.ifas.ufl.edu/~ona/or11-88.html

Look for the Florida Cattlemen and Livestock Journal.

Joe

 

[cowboydoc]

There's also a book by Storey called Cattle Raising. You can get it at amazon.com.

 

[Argee]

You may want to consider miniature cattle for a small acreage. Dexter is one that comes to mind. I'm looking into them myself. I understand they require less pasture to sustain themselves compared to standard breeds (Angus, Hereford, etc.) You can keep two well fed per acre of minimal pasture, they forage and thrive on weeds and grasses other cattle avoid. Dexters are originally from Ireland where farmers put them out on pasture that was unpalatable to other bovine. You can raise them at half the cost in feed and get comparable yields of meat. They say a Dexter steer with a finishing weight of 800-900 LBS. will yield 60% or 480-540 LBS. of beef. I've raised both Angus and Herefords which finished at 1200+ LBS. that yielded at best 590 LBS of beef.

Here's a link that may help: <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.minicattle.com>http://www.minicattle.com</A>

 

[CSAW]

You may want to try the "Florida Cattlemen's Association"


<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.floridacattlemen.org/Appexln.htm>http://www.floridacattlemen.org/Appexln.htm</A>

 

[unaka]

Ditto on the book Cowboy Doc mentioned. It's by Heather Smith Thomas and it is an excellent reference. My copy is dirty and muddied from taking it to the barn and out in the field with me. Very common sense approach and written in layman's terms. Even old cow hands can learn a thing or two from this book.

Good luck.