Startup Cattle

[Thowle]

Hey guys,

I'm contemplating buying 90 acres or so, some haying equipment, fencing in about 30 acres and getting 20 head of beef cattle. I'd like to just buy calves, feed them and sell after a few years, then get more. Don't want to bother with breeding.

What would I need to do this correctly and efficiently; I know nothing about cattle or haying, or the procedures.

Someone said to just split the acres into 3 fields, dig a pond, build a shelter and rotate the cows once a field is consumed. Then just an annual vet bill for shots, and haying some land to feed in the winter.

Am I totally over simplifying it?

 

[bsrfarms97]

The cattle business can be as simple or as complicated as you want to make it. Rotational grazing is definitely the way to go to maximize your head per acre. I would advise to get intouch with your local county agent. They can come out and advise you a good plan for the land your going to farm.
However since you do not want to get involved in a cow/calf type operation, I would look at raising all steers. They would bring you more money per pound.

 

[MattLynch]

I would say you are over simplifying it, but you have the jist of it. If you wanted to make a profit you would be better off using it all as pasture and buying hay. It is easiest to set up a perimeter fence and then cross fence paddocks with nylon. I wouldn't recommend a pond as a water source unless it was your only option. You should also learn how to give needles and some basic handling skills before you start. Ask another farmer, most will be more then willing to show you a few things and give advice.

 

[farmall 55a case]

Some great advice here!

 

[rtimgray]

I've got about 20 cows (and a bull, so we have calves), and a small cattle operation can be pretty simple, once you get started. As mentioned, if you're interested in it, I would start with fencing in some acreage, buying a few steer calves and raising them for sale. I don't know if you ever been around cows to much of a degree, but in my experience, steer calves are dumber than a bag of hair, and if they get out of their fences, it can be a trick to get them back in without the calming influence of older cows to follow.

My cattle are pretty low maintenance, other than occasionally having to help a heifer with calving, putting up hay in the summer, and feeding in the winter.

BTW, I'm not too far from Paducah.

Good luck with your decision. Take care.

 

[Grumpy Old Man]

I have been buying a few steers yearly from a neighbor and he lets me keep them in his pastures until they are butchered and I help him with tractor work the calving and any help i can give him all year long for the favor .I have been talking with him over the last month to take over 1 pasture and part of his herd as he is now 92 and just about done with the daily work . This man worked his 500 acres his whole life built his own barns ,home ,and out buildings using his home built sawmill .He used to do everything pretty much by himself and has lived a long life and his greatest fear is that his farm will become a new subdivision when he's gone .The land I'm wanting has a large hay barn with chutes 3 corrals city water and feeding stations it also has a running clear stream and the fences are intact but need work , I have been picking this mans brain for a few years and at one time he was completely self sufficient ,I'll watch this thread closely I'm trying to do the same thing !

 

[Beltman60]

the pond would work if you fence it off and only use it to pump water out into the troughs

My grandfather was self efficient with cattle
He grew his own corn and oats and made his own hay
He would only feed the corn and oats the last 60 days to get the marbling we liked in the meat
last 30 days they would be confined in the barn

 

[Grumpy Old Man]

Cattle will trash a pond fast ,nothing you would want to swim in or fish out of .

 

[Bison]

Do the math,...there's no money in cattle!

 

[Grumpy Old Man]

Do the math,...there's no money in cattle!

There's no money in cattle ? really ? I have a few dozen small herd (less than 50) cattle owners within 5 miles of my house and a cattle auction ! 3 miles away who would laugh at that statement ! keep buying those cheap steaks from Mexico at $9.99 a pound ! They eat horse meat in Canada don't they ? $150.00 calf purchased from auction dropped in grass pasture for 18 months turns into about $1,000.00 ? Yep your right no money there . ROFLMAO !