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[Tim Oppenheim <timopp AT gmail.com>]

Thanks Rob,

Now do you have a nearby butcher or are you having to transport some distance 
and what is their cut?

How do the pigs and goats work out?

Tim
On Jan 3, 2013, at 5:21 PM, Robert Walton <waltonrp AT gmail.com> wrote:

> Tell me a bit about your cows.
>> 
>> 
> 
> Glad you asked, I was thinking to post about my cattle raising venture.
> It's been one of the more successful ones here.
> 
> I've been raising Holstein steers for beef for the last 4 years. It started
> just for the freezer, but I raise one or two for sale by the side.
> 
> Holstein steer calves are relatively cheap at local dairies and what is
> available. A beef breed calf sells by the pound and are expensive and
> rarely for sale around here until they are 500 pounds. I buy day old bottle
> calves twice a year.
> 
> I usually buy two at at time, two in summer and two in late winter. That
> way I end up with beef to go to the processor in November and June (that's
> the natural end of the grass flush in this area).
> 
> I've also got a Guernsey heifer that I picked up last year as a bottle calf
> and am raising for milk and to be a nurse calf. She could potentially raise
> calves for me if it works out.
> 
> 
> 
>> How many? What are the inputs ( hay, vets, money ) and what are the
>> outputs ( other than fertilizer ; ) ).
>> 
>>>> 
> Calf = $50
> 50 # bag replacer = $65
> Meds = $20 or less (I worm at least once, sometimes get the scours in a
> calf).
> Of course, fencing (mostly electric), seed, lime and fertilizer.
> 
> I get manure, animals keeping down the pasture and I sell beef by the side
> for $3.00 a pound. It's a deal for pretty close to organic, grass fed beef.
> This year I sold for $3.25 a pound.
> 
> My 15 month old steers weighed almost 1000 live weight and that was about
> 500 hanging weight. Do the math at $3.25 a pound and one steer paid for my
> inputs and property taxes.
> 
> Are you growing to market on grass and then selling? Stop me if I get too
>> personal. How much space are you using?
>> 
>>>> 
> 
> I've grained them a little to finish until this last fall. I've got the
> pastures a lot better, more clover and felt it was better to finish on
> grass. I was pretty pleased with the results and most customers like grass
> fed better.
> 
> I've got about 8 acres in pasture. I had 4 yearling cattle and 8 goats on
> that pasture and still had to bush hog a little when they could not keep
> up. I've had 6 cattle at once tops. It's a regular cycle and they go to
> slaughter at 18 months, tops.
> 
> This year I had 2 customers cancel on me at the last minute and kept one
> steer back from the processor and will hay him over winter and then butcher
> when he is just shy of 24 months in June.
> 
> That's an experiment to see what difference there is in the quality and
> quantity of the beef vs the cost of haying him over this winter. Last year
> I just had 4 calves to over winter, and it was a lot cheaper in hay.
> 
> I like having the cattle. They respect electric fence and are pleasant to
> keep. I've not had much trouble finding a few regular customers. There is
> no other animal enterprise where I can turn $120 or so for a calf into
> $1500 in a year and a half. I don't count my labor, but I also have a
> freezer with beef all the time.
> 
> I'm raising pigs, chickens and goats. Other than my laying hens, the steers
> have been the best venture yet.
> 
> Rob - Va
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