Raising beef for others

furholler · #1 03/18/12, 01:59 PM

I was apprached today with the idea of raising a beef for some folks at church.. They don't have the time or enough land to fool with a steer, but really want the beef. So, I am thinking of doing this for them but I don't know where to start on price or fees. Have any of you done this for someone? What did you charge?

luvrulz · #2 03/18/12, 02:03 PM

Not quite like that, but we have sold shares. Our calf, when it got almost 2 yrs old, we butchered it and sold a quarter or half for $2 a pound plus their share of the butchering fee. It's also been a couple yrs and the rpice might be more like $2.50 these days.....

furholler · #3 03/18/12, 03:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by luvrulz

Not quite like that, but we have sold shares. Our calf, when it got almost 2 yrs old, we butchered it and sold a quarter or half for $2 a pound plus their share of the butchering fee. It's also been a couple yrs and the rpice might be more like $2.50 these days.....

I've done that in the past too. This couple wants to buy the calf and pay us to raise it for them, I just have no idea where to start-price wise.

Joshie · #4 03/18/12, 03:41 PM

Our neighbor buys feeder calves in late January. He asks friends/family if they want them. He sells them based upon what beef sells for at the time of slaughter. He takes them to the meat locker for you. I think that this is the fairest way. The cost of feed is going up like crazy. Our neighbor tried to discourage us from buying half a beef because he says the price is going to go up a lot this year. I would not set up a price in advance. If you do, and feed costs go up a lot, you'll lose money.

If they want to buy the cattle and the feed you can just charge them for your time. If they want half a beef they could buy the beef and grain and you get half the beef. You would both pay for your own processing fees, which would be the bulk of the cost. If both of you would like your own steers your friends could buy one for each of you.

furholler · #5 03/18/12, 08:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joshie

Our neighbor buys feeder calves in late January. He asks friends/family if they want them. He sells them based upon what beef sells for at the time of slaughter. He takes them to the meat locker for you. I think that this is the fairest way. The cost of feed is going up like crazy. Our neighbor tried to discourage us from buying half a beef because he says the price is going to go up a lot this year. I would not set up a price in advance. If you do, and feed costs go up a lot, you'll lose money.

If they want to buy the cattle and the feed you can just charge them for your time. If they want half a beef they could buy the beef and grain and you get half the beef. You would both pay for your own processing fees, which would be the bulk of the cost. If both of you would like your own steers your friends could buy one for each of you.

The only problem with that is that we don't have the money to buy the calf. I suppose I could let them buy the calf and deduct that initial investment from the final value fee (hanging weight)? What do you think of that?

InvalidID · #6 03/18/12, 09:00 PM

Not for nothing but if you can't afford to buy a calf you can't afford to wean and feed one.

furholler · #7 03/19/12, 03:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by InvalidID

Not for nothing but if you can't afford to buy a calf you can't afford to wean and feed one.

I've got the land and the fence, my friend. Our friends would buy the calf, you can raise one on grass you know.

InvalidID · #8 03/19/12, 04:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by furholler

I've got the land and the fence, my friend. Our friends would buy the calf, you can raise one on grass you know.

Of course I know, I raise em. There is more to raising cattle than putting them on grass and watching them grow. If you have them buy a steer that's ready to go on grass they'll be paying a premium for it, knocking down your profits. You need minerals for it even on grass, you may need medicine if it gets sick, you will likely need grain to finish it as well.

Not everyone finishes on grain, but most of them have good quality grass. If you are on just native grass... You don't have to take my word for it though, come on over to the cattle forum and ask the same question there.

Better to just charge them pasture rent and be hands off.

ETA: Most of the folks that raise one or two cattle for just family use pay a premium for their beef. They do so knowing full well it's going to cost more than store bought beef, but also knowing they are getting a better product not raised on a feed lot of given tons of chemicals and medicines.

Joshie · #9 03/19/12, 04:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by furholler

The only problem with that is that we don't have the money to buy the calf. I suppose I could let them buy the calf and deduct that initial investment from the final value fee (hanging weight)? What do you think of that?

Their payment to you could be that they buy a calf (and grain) for you in addition to the one they buy for themselves. Honestly, it might just be better to purchase from somebody who already raises cattle. I wouldn't want my first attempt at raising beef to be for somebody else. What happens if it gets ill? Who pays for the vet? Meds? We thought about raising a steer but decided to purchase from our neighbor instead. We figure it'll cost at least $4 for each pound that goes in our freezer.

arabian knight · #10 03/19/12, 04:10 PM

I have done this for years now. I raise the calf, but split the cost of feed etc. right down the middle with a friend of mine.
He then gets half, I get half.
And the added time to clean, and feeding that I do, he then also pays for my half of the butchering cost. Works great for me, and he gets a good grade of home raised beef. And I get my freezer full at the same time. LOL
And I am looking for a calf as I am posting this to do it again. As we both are getting nightly low on meat from the last one I did.,

Yvonne's hubby · #11 03/19/12, 04:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by furholler

I was apprached today with the idea of raising a beef for some folks at church.. They don't have the time or enough land to fool with a steer, but really want the beef. So, I am thinking of doing this for them but I don't know where to start on price or fees. Have any of you done this for someone? What did you charge?

I would ave them buy two, and when they are grown they can come get one, you keep the other.

Wanda · #12 03/19/12, 07:11 PM

With a good calf ready to go on grass costing between $800 and $1000 I think I would pass on the deal and keep the friend! One case of blackleg or hardware and someone could be out the cost of the calf and a vet bill in no time. If you raise them sooner or later you will lose some to things beyond your control.

**clovis** · #13 03/19/12, 11:10 PM

Do your potential friends understand all the butchering fees and the like?

I'm all for creating opportunity, as well as putting beef on your own table, but sometimes people don't understand the costs and time you will have to put into the steer.