Raising a beef cow/steer - looking for advice and tips

[lockhaven]

another point to ponder, are you and your family of the frame of mind to raise an animal then kill and eat it? I did home butchering for 20 years and many people are unable to handle it when the day comes. We had some pretty sad looking kids hugging the beast at times and Mom and Pop looked sick.

 

[smstonypoint]

If you consider cost effectiveness keep on visiting the butcher shop.:thumbsup:

You think like an economist, and I mean that as a compliment.

Steve

 

[aczlan]

another point to ponder, are you and your family of the frame of mind to raise an animal then kill and eat it? I did home butchering for 20 years and many people are unable to handle it when the day comes. We had some pretty sad looking kids hugging the beast at times and Mom and Pop looked sick.

I know what you mean. We raised a culled heifer (twin to a bull and had a lung issue so they didn't think she would make it to the sale barn, so we got her for free at ~7 days old) for three years and had her slaughtered this fall. It was hard for my wife to take her into the butchers, but it hasn't been a big deal to eat her. Surprisingly it hasnt been as big of a deal as eating the roosters that were here for a couple of months is.
She says that the chicken was harder to eat (for the first one at least) because she served it whole and it "looked like a chicken" where beef looks like beef, not like a cow.

Aaron Z

 

[farmer2009]

If you consider cost effectiveness keep on visiting the butcher shop.:thumbsup:

I have to disagree. I can have any cut of meat that I like for about what the butcher is charging you for 80/20 ground beef. And our ground ain't 80/20 beef. Where else can you get filet steaks for $3-3.50 per pound.

 

[smstonypoint]

I have to disagree. I can have any cut of meat that I like for about what the butcher is charging you for 80/20 ground beef. And our ground ain't 80/20 beef. Where else can you get filet steaks for $3-3.50 per pound.

Are you in the same situation as the OP -- no pasture, buying all of your hay and feed, etc.?

Steve

 

[Egon]

I have to disagree. I can have any cut of meat that I like for about what the butcher is charging you for 80/20 ground beef. And our ground ain't 80/20 beef. Where else can you get filet steaks for $3-3.50 per pound.

Yes that is so. You will also eat many other cuts as well.

If you are just raising one butcher animal it takes a lot of time and feed. If you have pasture and can grass feed all year long it takes time plus the incidentals like fencing etc.

 

[farmer2009]

Are you in the same situation as the OP -- no pasture, buying all of your hay and feed, etc.?

Steve

No I am not. But this is where finding a local guy that has the resources to feed out the calf and buying live from him as it walks into the slaughter house shines.

 

[foreman Etexas]

another point to ponder, are you and your family of the frame of mind to raise an animal then kill and eat it? I did home butchering for 20 years and many people are unable to handle it when the day comes. We had some pretty sad looking kids hugging the beast at times and Mom and Pop looked sick.

I run 60head and after raising the calves up from birth,maybe even have to pull a few,seeing them growing up running and playing in pasture,working them, and going throu the weaning and feeding creep everyday, I couldn't eat one of my own. I could buy one and get it done thou. At about 10mnths my steers could be around 800lbs and that would be plenty big to butcher,i think. Calving in Jan/Feb. should be weaning by June/July,leaves you plenty time in same year to get to your target weight. My black steers at 5&1/2-6mnths weighing 475lbs brought 914.38

 

[2LaneCruzer]

I raise my own from birth. Takes about 18-20 months. I wean at 6-8 months then dry lot two animals together for the next year. But I keep my 2 culls so my weight gain is off. Then I sell a heavy feeder and kill one. If using better calves might knock a couple months off. Feeders in my area are high right now 500-600 pound feeder steers(males that have been castrated) are running 1.60-1.80 per pound.

No fence. I used cattle panels and t post to build my dry lot. But had it attached to my barn for shade and shelter. In total my pin is 68x32. 20x32 is under roof with 3 sides a partial front wall to help with wind. Build on a hill with good drainage. Pick panels up off ground 6" or so manure and water can drain away at bottom of slope. Will need straw for bedding and to help cut mud. I also added a 2x6 on top of my panels and a hot strand of barbed wire on top of that to stop jumping.

Will need 1-1 1/2 4x5 bales of hay per month per calf. $40 a bale for good stuff. I feed 5lbs of a 2/3 soyhull and 1/3 corn gluten mix split into two feedings per day. Feed cost me $250 / ton picked up. A $30 bag of a high quality mineral goes a long way with one calf. Measure and mix with feed per bag directions.

My slaughter house charges around $200 per calf.

Ok now let me make a suggestion. Find a local farmer and buy a calf delivered to slaughter house. I have sold like this in past. I always figured out my cost and profit and priced a weight range and per pound for that range. You might have to give him some notice. Some times my slaughter house has ads hanging around that people have calves ready. And some are taking orders

.

Good luck.

Good advice...unless of course you just want the experience of nurturing a calf all the way to slaughter...and it avoids the potential of losing a calf worth a $1000 half way through the scenario and the inevitable attachment that you and the kids will have for the animal...especially if you aren't a cattleman. Seeing a slice of sweet, lovable little Bevo on you plate can be somewhat disconcerting.

 

[General Lee]

Wow, all this information is what I was looking for....thanks guys!

Cost effectiveness crossed my mind and I figured it would be a loss. I'm trying to look at it as a hobby, self satisfaction of where my beef came from and enjoying the use of my land. I want to get into more hobby farming, but my land makes it hard because of hills and a lot of woods. I would like to raise animals that can give back to me. My chickens will give me eggs for example.

I can let the cow feed on pasture part time to cut costs a little. My property adjoins some farm fields and the owners are like family, and they already offered. Getting the cow to the field(s) and back may be aggravating though.

I was told a cow to be strictly fattened up for butcher just needs a pen but I would like to give it a little more room.

This forum is the best source of information on the topic I have, so I appreciate all information, GOOD or BAD. I have thought of a shelter and planned on a small 3 sided lean to shed of some sort. I also thought of flies and would try and put the pen farthest from the house as possible. I do not like the idea of all the flies, but thats farming I guess.

As far as butchering the animal I care for.....I 'Think" I can do it. I am a hunter but I don't take care of the animals I hunt, I know there is a difference. I'm thinking if I bought the cow @6 months old and just kept it for the sole purpose of butchering 6 months later I would be ok. I won't know until it happens.