Thanks for sharing. Its interesting to see how different each of us operate. I prefer the cow/calf to finishing, and the next backrounding and the next feeder to finish. I guess its what ever works best for you! I use to raise bottle calves but I got so tired of bringing bugs home and dealing with those issue's!
I just found your channel; just reviewing some of your videos. I know that starter feed costs a little more but that is some great feed for "starting" calves; it's fabulous. Of course, that's not the only company that makes that molasses/texturized feed but it sure is great for starting calves. I can't remember how many disasters I've seen over the years when guys attempted to start calves with nothing but dry hay, and, there were even some of them who tried it with straw. Absolute disaster; all it takes is a little pneumonia/respiratory disease to damage the lungs and the cattle are ruined for life... chronics! Looks like you cut a PVC drain tile in half??? That looks good too; nothing wrong with that; that works great for those small calves. It's a tough business but you're doing fine. Keep hammering away at it. I've been doing it since the late 1960s; it's always been a battle but it's the best life of any. Keep your chin up and stay at it; keep fighting and pushing forward. Also, don't get too shook up over the fake meat; that's perfect for the freaks; let 'em have it!! Let 'em eat that and then we might be rid of them.
i enjoy your videos i will subscribe to your channel. I have some questions for you? I pretty new into farming Ii started backgrounding calves. i make some shity money taken to sales barn,,, ..What are your tips for finding buyers for the calves?
Sorry I haven't replied before been really busy. I'm in SE Ohio and I get them from a local gate guy they come out of KY. If you are close I can certainly get you a number but most retail or farm stores that carry gates can order them they are just called feeder panels usually come in 10 & 12' lengths.
Sorry for just now getting back. I use 18" for the smaller calves at 24" where I feed the bigger and cows at. Make sure to buy double walled so there is a smooth inside and its easy to saw with just a regular circular saw. there is a seem line to follow.
Cut strait across about 1/2 to 3/4" under the band that way as it dries the band will slip off. I will try get a video of the next set I do. Did 3 last night but after dark. Thanks for the question and comment.
KW Fellure thanks for answering. since I background my calves I was thinking about doing the same as you. buy some more calves and hopefully make it pay a little better. so im very interested in watching how others operate. I have picked up a lot of good ideas watching everyone. Thanks.
Main thing I can suggest is have everything ready before going to the sale. If you don't think you will have time or a small number where you are going to waste vaccine you might think about having the cattle worked at the sale barn by their vet. get a few doses or a small bottle of draxin and maybe flunixamine (pain killer, fever reducer) they usually will break around day 14 if going to get sick but you never know.
18" Double walled drainage pipe. You can get it at any hardware or industrial supply store. You can see the seam where it is molded together just take a regular circular saw and saw down the seam on both sides an a 20' piece of pipe makes a 40' feed bunk.
That’s what it looked like I was double checking because when I saw it I had a “why didn’t I think of that” moment. Thanks for the idea! Enjoy your videos. We have a cow calf operation but I’m interested in doing some stockers in the future
do you have any advice for a guy that wants to buy some bred cows from the salebarn and adding to my herd? im kinda worried about bringing disease to the other cows
storminnormanz just vaccinate anything you bring in for respiratory disease as well as leptospirosis. If only buying a few at a time easiest just to let vet do at sale barn. Keep separate from herd for 3 weeks if possible if not just watch for signs of disease to treat early. Make sure to vaccinate breeding bull for leptospirosis as well as it is an STD. Hope this helps best of luck! Oh an in buying cows pay closest attention to bag shape and size and feet as those are the largest reasons for culling.
storminnormanz cows are much more disease resistant then calves don't let me scare you off there is much money to be made in buying the right kind of cows!
Thanks for all the good info! what vaccines do you use for respiratory and leptospirosis? im gonna try buying some of the small frame cows, i like the size and i believe that might be why people cull them because they are smaller than the rest
storminnormanz depends on brand you have available and any brand will work I use Pfizer cause that's what my local vet carries. Cattle Master 4+L5. Or Cattle Master 4+VL5 for bred or hoping bred animals if open and going to breed use Bovi-shield 4+L5 or PregGaurd 9. Small framed cows are fine but unless you like a challenge I would pass on small framed heifers because of calving difficultys. I buy some cull cows out of cull pen. I have the vet palpate before I leave anything that is open gets fed for 90 days and returns, by fed I mean good grass and 6-8# grain hd/day. If bred they are kept. Depending on time of year but roughly 40% come up bred
yea i will have them vaccinate at the salebarn because it would be so much easier, and i am gonna stay away from heifers id like to find cows that have had a couple calves at least because like you say small frame heifers will have calving difficulty
Thanks for sharing. Its interesting to see how different each of us operate. I prefer the cow/calf to finishing, and the next backrounding and the next feeder to finish. I guess its what ever works best for you! I use to raise bottle calves but I got so tired of bringing bugs home and dealing with those issue's!
Thanks for sharing, cool story! Looks like you built a pretty nice operation.
I just found your channel; just reviewing some of your videos.
I know that starter feed costs a little more but that is some great feed for "starting" calves; it's fabulous.
Of course, that's not the only company that makes that molasses/texturized feed but it sure is great for starting calves.
I can't remember how many disasters I've seen over the years when guys attempted to start calves with nothing but dry hay, and, there were even some of them who tried it with straw. Absolute disaster; all it takes is a little pneumonia/respiratory disease to damage the lungs and the cattle are ruined for life... chronics!
Looks like you cut a PVC drain tile in half???
That looks good too; nothing wrong with that; that works great for those small calves.
It's a tough business but you're doing fine.
Keep hammering away at it.
I've been doing it since the late 1960s; it's always been a battle but it's the best life of any.
Keep your chin up and stay at it; keep fighting and pushing forward.
Also, don't get too shook up over the fake meat; that's perfect for the freaks; let 'em have it!! Let 'em eat that and then we might be rid of them.
You make so much sense
I miss your post are you coming back
I am very interested in your backgrounding operation will u be posting more videos loved all of them
i enjoy your videos i will subscribe to your channel. I have some questions for you? I pretty new into farming Ii started backgrounding calves. i make some shity money taken to sales barn,,, ..What are your tips for finding buyers for the calves?
I would like more information on the banding the Bulls and cutting.
i like your barn setup
Good video!
Where did you get those panels ?
Sorry I haven't replied before been really busy. I'm in SE Ohio and I get them from a local gate guy they come out of KY. If you are close I can certainly get you a number but most retail or farm stores that carry gates can order them they are just called feeder panels usually come in 10 & 12' lengths.
What size pipe is that for the feeder bunks? Thanks!
Sorry for just now getting back. I use 18" for the smaller calves at 24" where I feed the bigger and cows at. Make sure to buy double walled so there is a smooth inside and its easy to saw with just a regular circular saw. there is a seem line to follow.
what is size of your barn?
when you cut the bull calves after you band them do you cut above or below the band?
Cut strait across about 1/2 to 3/4" under the band that way as it dries the band will slip off. I will try get a video of the next set I do. Did 3 last night but after dark. Thanks for the question and comment.
KW Fellure thanks for answering. since I background my calves I was thinking about doing the same as you. buy some more calves and hopefully make it pay a little better. so im very interested in watching how others operate. I have picked up a lot of good ideas watching everyone. Thanks.
Main thing I can suggest is have everything ready before going to the sale. If you don't think you will have time or a small number where you are going to waste vaccine you might think about having the cattle worked at the sale barn by their vet. get a few doses or a small bottle of draxin and maybe flunixamine (pain killer, fever reducer) they usually will break around day 14 if going to get sick but you never know.
read post below. forgot to put in reply to you.
What is that feed trough made out of?
18" Double walled drainage pipe. You can get it at any hardware or industrial supply store. You can see the seam where it is molded together just take a regular circular saw and saw down the seam on both sides an a 20' piece of pipe makes a 40' feed bunk.
That’s what it looked like I was double checking because when I saw it I had a “why didn’t I think of that” moment. Thanks for the idea! Enjoy your videos. We have a cow calf operation but I’m interested in doing some stockers in the future
How much does it cost to band a bull
do you have any advice for a guy that wants to buy some bred cows from the salebarn and adding to my herd? im kinda worried about bringing disease to the other cows
storminnormanz just vaccinate anything you bring in for respiratory disease as well as leptospirosis. If only buying a few at a time easiest just to let vet do at sale barn. Keep separate from herd for 3 weeks if possible if not just watch for signs of disease to treat early. Make sure to vaccinate breeding bull for leptospirosis as well as it is an STD. Hope this helps best of luck! Oh an in buying cows pay closest attention to bag shape and size and feet as those are the largest reasons for culling.
storminnormanz cows are much more disease resistant then calves don't let me scare you off there is much money to be made in buying the right kind of cows!
Thanks for all the good info! what vaccines do you use for respiratory and leptospirosis? im gonna try buying some of the small frame cows, i like the size and i believe that might be why people cull them because they are smaller than the rest
storminnormanz depends on brand you have available and any brand will work I use Pfizer cause that's what my local vet carries. Cattle Master 4+L5. Or Cattle Master 4+VL5 for bred or hoping bred animals if open and going to breed use Bovi-shield 4+L5 or PregGaurd 9. Small framed cows are fine but unless you like a challenge I would pass on small framed heifers because of calving difficultys. I buy some cull cows out of cull pen. I have the vet palpate before I leave anything that is open gets fed for 90 days and returns, by fed I mean good grass and 6-8# grain hd/day. If bred they are kept. Depending on time of year but roughly 40% come up bred
yea i will have them vaccinate at the salebarn because it would be so much easier, and i am gonna stay away from heifers id like to find cows that have had a couple calves at least because like you say small frame heifers will have calving difficulty
Do you a way to contact you i have a few questions
Jason Cureton if you have INsta gram I’m Kw_fellure on there you can dm me an I can give you contact info
That food is very expensive though
?
The fact that you arent talking about margins, net profit tells me you arent on the ball. You seem distracted by a lot of bs.