Dang that big black cow looked succulent. We don’t have commercial beef herds to draw from, so to get away from buying steers I bought Hereford/Holstein calves and raised them up on a milk bar. I’ve yet to do the final math since they’re not quite weaned, but it’s gonna wind up being pretty economical. I think it may be impossible to make money for cow/calf production here. All the good beef herds I know of finish everything.
@@FarmBuilder true words. It’s taken self control and realism not to buy cows. My father and grandfather did 100 cow calf pairs and 300ish stockers a year in CA. Stories from the ranch definitely inspired my farming but the sheep, feeder pigs, finisher cattle, and laying hens can pay bills, and balance out good from a land utilization perspective on our farms. My old man stole the good 3/4 ton truck and two fifty gallon drums of fuel when he came east after the ranch was inherited to my grandpas second crop of kids even though he’d managed it solo for a decade.
So u shoot for a year in your program, right now im trying to create cash flow but since im just starting i was wondering if buying drys in Feb and then processing them in Aug might work i live in Montana i also have a small sheep flock which is going to be my main focus but im wanting to offer more than just sheep.? Ive also started a youtube channel to help market the animals and tell the story of the homestead.
For us its about time. We want a finishing graze of a year in our protocol. Each cow will finish differently, some not well at all, but our average gain is 300lbs in a year.
What characteristics do you look for when purchasing at sale barn? height? Theres only so much you can see at the salebarn limiting what their behavior in the field would be.
Good thinking, Jordon that's a great idea.
Practical. Brains.
Dang that big black cow looked succulent. We don’t have commercial beef herds to draw from, so to get away from buying steers I bought Hereford/Holstein calves and raised them up on a milk bar. I’ve yet to do the final math since they’re not quite weaned, but it’s gonna wind up being pretty economical.
I think it may be impossible to make money for cow/calf production here. All the good beef herds I know of finish everything.
Cow calf is tough sledding.
@@FarmBuilder true words. It’s taken self control and realism not to buy cows. My father and grandfather did 100 cow calf pairs and 300ish stockers a year in CA. Stories from the ranch definitely inspired my farming but the sheep, feeder pigs, finisher cattle, and laying hens can pay bills, and balance out good from a land utilization perspective on our farms.
My old man stole the good 3/4 ton truck and two fifty gallon drums of fuel when he came east after the ranch was inherited to my grandpas second crop of kids even though he’d managed it solo for a decade.
So You would never attempt to get a calf out of these cows? Even if one filled out to an appropriate look?
About 40% of these cows show up already bred. We don't attempt to rebred any as we produce beef not calves.
Our old gals and bulls go this route
So u shoot for a year in your program, right now im trying to create cash flow but since im just starting i was wondering if buying drys in Feb and then processing them in Aug might work i live in Montana i also have a small sheep flock which is going to be my main focus but im wanting to offer more than just sheep.? Ive also started a youtube channel to help market the animals and tell the story of the homestead.
It can work if your customers are ok with the shorter time.
🤣 You're like a horror movie villain.
But srsly, I'm hungry now, need a steak.
Those are some tasty looking old beasts for sure
I love double purpose cows but isnt this bit beyond the purpose?
Nope, our beef customers love this beef.
About what live weight do you try to achieve before processing the beef?
For us its about time. We want a finishing graze of a year in our protocol. Each cow will finish differently, some not well at all, but our average gain is 300lbs in a year.
What characteristics do you look for when purchasing at sale barn? height? Theres only so much you can see at the salebarn limiting what their behavior in the field would be.
phenotype, condition, attitude.
But no bone in cuts right.
Correct.