Questions on an old "rule of thumb"

[PRF]

When I was growing up, there were a few neighbors who raised their own beef... They would say as a rule of thumb, if you raised 3 steers up from calves, then sold two off when butchering time came, the third would be theirs at little cost... Anyone ever hear this and does it still apply ?? I realize there are many variables.

I'm asking because I'd like to give it a go, not to make money, but to know what my cow is eating before I eat it.. I have a few acres of land, about an acre is decent pasture. My thought was to fence it off and get a few calves next Spring. I have a barn where they can get shelter in the Winter, access to good water, and about 12-15 acres of hay fields adjacent that belongs to my Dad... He has a fella come in and take the hay and I'm sure I could work out a fair price for him to bale it and leave some on the field for my needs, and I could store it in the barn.. Eventually I'd consider haying it myself if this turned into something I enjoy doing.

A little background: I was raised here and my grandfather always kept a herd of 25 or so Herefords so I'm familiar with bucking bales and shoveling cow manure.. Our barn has deteriated over the years, but I'm slowly but surely restoring it, new roof, floor joists and floor going in this year.. I'm 56 and not looking to set the world on fire, more of a hobby to do when/if retirement becomes an option..

Anyhow, been reading and learning a lot from you folks here, and thought I'd get a discussion going if you'd all humor me? Thanks !!!

Ken

 

[MossRoad]

I don't know. We've been buying beef by the side from relatives and friends for about 25 years. For what they charge us, they say they barely break even. And the price they charge us per pound + what the butcher charges for processing is very similar to what we can pay for beef on sale at the local butcher shops and grocery stores. In fact, we can almost always get it cheaper at the stores on sale. But we buy from our friends and family because we know what they are feeding it and it helps their kids in 4-H. And all but one time, it was really great tasting beef. The only bad one wasn't really bad, just tasted OK, but not great. We ended up stewing and crock-potting most of that one.

If I had the land, I would raise my own just for the pleasure of knowing how it was raised.

 

[brin]

PRF , In our area there are some that are selling grass fed beef at premium prices..and I would imagine are making a good profit...The city folks will pay a premium for beef or any meat that is hormone or antibiotic free...that is your selling point ...grass fed... Here locally the folks selling their cattle this way make a deal with a local butcher and when someone orders it is a package deal...they tell the butcher how they want it cut based on a flyer they receive...so you take the steer to the butcher and then your customer takes over from there...Seems to work here...When I had cattle I found the best way to sell the calves and make money was to " city folks....gentlemen farmers " they would bring their family and kids to our farm, pick out a couple of calves because they were cute , pay a premium price compared to the sale price I would get at auction or by advertising as a commercial herd sale...So there are a number of ways to make some money...It is all marketing....!!!! Good Luck.

 

[PRF]

I don't know. We've been buying beef by the side from relatives and friends for about 25 years. For what they charge us, they say they barely break even. And the price they charge us per pound + what the butcher charges for processing is very similar to what we can pay for beef on sale at the local butcher shops and grocery stores. In fact, we can almost always get it cheaper at the stores on sale. But we buy from our friends and family because we know what they are feeding it and it helps their kids in 4-H. And all but one time, it was really great tasting beef. The only bad one wasn't really bad, just tasted OK, but not great. We ended up stewing and crock-potting most of that one.

If I had the land, I would raise my own just for the pleasure of knowing how it was raised.

I guess that's my main reason for the interest. At least I would know what the cows are eating and how they are treated. Thanks for your input..

 

[PRF]

PRF , In our area there are some that are selling grass fed beef at premium prices..and I would imagine are making a good profit...The city folks will pay a premium for beef or any meat that is hormone or antibiotic free...that is your selling point ...grass fed... Here locally the folks selling their cattle this way make a deal with a local butcher and when someone orders it is a package deal...they tell the butcher how they want it cut based on a flyer they receive...so you take the steer to the butcher and then your customer takes over from there...Seems to work here...When I had cattle I found the best way to sell the calves and make money was to " city folks....gentlemen farmers " they would bring their family and kids to our farm, pick out a couple of calves because they were cute , pay a premium price compared to the sale price I would get at auction or by advertising as a commercial herd sale...So there are a number of ways to make some money...It is all marketing....!!!! Good Luck.

Some good thoughts, thanks! Grass fed and finished seems to be a good niche market around here too.

 

[teejk]

PRF , In our area there are some that are selling grass fed beef at premium prices..and I would imagine are making a good profit...The city folks will pay a premium for beef or any meat that is hormone or antibiotic free...that is your selling point ...grass fed... Here locally the folks selling their cattle this way make a deal with a local butcher and when someone orders it is a package deal...they tell the butcher how they want it cut based on a flyer they receive...so you take the steer to the butcher and then your customer takes over from there...Seems to work here...When I had cattle I found the best way to sell the calves and make money was to " city folks....gentlemen farmers " they would bring their family and kids to our farm, pick out a couple of calves because they were cute , pay a premium price compared to the sale price I would get at auction or by advertising as a commercial herd sale...So there are a number of ways to make some money...It is all marketing....!!!! Good Luck.

Just for the record...I ate grass fed beef once. I could have saved some money by buying cardboard and shaping them into steaks...the flavor would have been the same. Flavor in beef comes from fat...you don't have to eat it but I think you need it to cook it (most people I know don't want to touch it but can't help eating "a little bit" when the hot steak hits the plate).

 

[PRF]

Just for the record...I ate grass fed beef once. I could have saved some money by buying cardboard and shaping them into steaks...the flavor would have been the same. Flavor in beef comes from fat...you don't have to eat it but I think you need it to cook it (most people I know don't want to touch it but can't help eating "a little bit" when the hot steak hits the plate).

I've tried it a few times, and the taste was good, but the tenderness wasn't there at all.. When you have to chew a bite of filet mignon a hundred times it leaves a little to be desired... My gramps used to put a steer in the pen inside the barn for the last 60 days or so of it's life and fatten it up on corn.. THAT was good beef !!

 

[Gunny]

I've tried it a few times, and the taste was good, but the tenderness wasn't there at all.. When you have to chew a bite of filet mignon a hundred times it leaves a little to be desired... My gramps used to put a steer in the pen inside the barn for the last 60 days or so of it's life and fatten it up on corn.. THAT was good beef !!

That's the way we always did it, but we grew our own corn. If you have to buy the corn, it would get real expensive nowadays to feed a steer on a corn only diet for 90 days!

 

[kidr]

Did you say one acre? I don't think so.

 

[PRF]

Did you say one acre? I don't think so.

Yeah, I have about an acre to fence off, but access to hay on adjacent property.