Do you want a calf??

mwhit · #1 02/26/08, 07:01 AM

So, my mothers cousin stopped a few minutes ago and he asked me if I want a calf. He'll give it to me if I raise it and give him some of the beef. I guess the farm he works on is being over-run with bulls and they aren't getting much at auction for them so they are going to give him one, but he doesn't have a place to keep it.

My question is: how much grazing room should I plan on for him? I'll need to fence off a pasture to keep him separate from the goats and sheep.

Michelle

Scrounger · #2 02/26/08, 08:30 AM

You won't need to keep him separate. He WILL eat more then the rest though. Find some good hay now to help out.

mwhit · #3 02/26/08, 08:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scrounger

You won't need to keep him separate. He WILL eat more then the rest though. Find some good hay now to help out.

Thanks! I have lots of good hay and I can get all I need for $1 per bale or $17 for big round bales so that's not a concern.

Michelle

netexan · #4 02/26/08, 08:46 AM

I agree with scrounger, keep him with your other animals as he'll enjoy the company and end up doing better than one that's isolated.

AnnieinBC · #5 02/26/08, 09:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mwhit

Thanks! I have lots of good hay and I can get all I need for $1 per bale or $17 for big round bales so that's not a concern.

Michelle

That sounds like a great deal on hay you can get...good luck with your calf!

js2743 · #6 02/26/08, 09:41 AM

dont sound like a good deal to me how much beef does he want back? it cost a lot to raise a calf you are going to have some$$$$$ tied up when you get it big enough to slaughter. unless he helps with the feed bill i wouldnt give no more than 5 or 10 pounds of it to him.

Aaron · #7 02/26/08, 09:43 AM

Agreed - you need to determine some sort of guidelines with the current owner so that it doesn't end up being a losing situation for you.

Dirtslinger · #8 02/26/08, 11:42 AM

I think you're getting ripped off.

mwhit · #9 02/26/08, 11:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dirtslinger

I think you're getting ripped off.

Why? I've mentioned wanting a beef cow and I was going to buy one. He's not wanting half the meat-- just a little of it. How is getting a calf for free, raising it and giving a bit of the meat to the person that gave it to you a rip off??

Michelle

Cheribelle · #10 02/26/08, 12:29 PM

Around here a good calf brings a lot of money. Can be over $300 for a bottle baby! I would go for that deal in a heartbeat. Sounds like hay isn't bad there. I don't use a lot of grain, prefer the grass fed, so a calf doesn't cost me a fortune to raise, once I get past the milk replacer. I'd go for that deal. Give him 1/4, and if he can get you 2, go for it. 2 are easier to raise. They keep each other company and compete for feed, so grow better.

Ken Scharabok · #11 02/26/08, 12:40 PM

If the calf didn't suckle its mother after birthing avoid it with a 10' pole. It will, in all likelihood, die on you or be a poor doer.

If you haven't done one in the past get the book: Raising a Calf for Beef. Should be available on eBay or Amazon.com.

Be fully prepared for its arrival.

I too would reach an agreement with him on just how much beef he would receive. Say ten pounds of the best steak cuts, one roast and twenty pounds of burger. Also offer him the heart and liver. If he turns those down, have them ground up in the burger.

I would band him shortly after arrival.

Jolly · #12 02/26/08, 12:46 PM

I've raised a few bull calves culled from dairy herds, over the years. They have to be bottle-fed at first, and then later transitioned to feed and grazing (we always started them out on sweet feed, rubbing a bit around their mouths and letting them lick it off when they were several weeks old). You tend to lose a few to scours, or other problems.

But if it were me...I'd take the gentleman up on his offer...

Beef11 · #13 02/26/08, 12:51 PM

DO IT! keep track of the costs then split them in half in the end split the meat the same way. Dairy calves (Bulls) are close to free right now so its not that great of a deal. It can still be a good way to raise some good beef. I'll give you all the calves you want if i get a bunch of meat back.

mwhit · #14 02/26/08, 12:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ken Scharabok

If the calf didn't suckle its mother after birthing avoid it with a 10' pole. It will, in all likelihood, die on you or be a poor doer.

If you haven't done one in the past get the book: Raising a Calf for Beef. Should be available on eBay or Amazon.com.

Be fully prepared for its arrival.

I too would reach an agreement with him on just how much beef he would receive. Say ten pounds of the best steak cuts, one roast and twenty pounds of burger. Also offer him the heart and liver. If he turns those down, have them ground up in the burger.

I would band him shortly after arrival.

I imagine they've all been on their mother and he said he'd be cut before they bring him.

Michelle

ozark_jewels · #15 02/26/08, 01:06 PM

If you have kids on the ground or does due to kid soon, I would not house the calf with them or on the same ground. Dairy calves can *easily* bring e-coli with them and while it won't bother your adult goats, its deadly to goat kids without oral vaccination at birth. Been there, done that.

mwhit · #16 02/26/08, 01:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ozark_jewels

If you have kids on the ground or does due to kid soon, I would not house the calf with them or on the same ground. Dairy calves can *easily* bring e-coli with them and while it won't bother your adult goats, its deadly to goat kids without oral vaccination at birth. Been there, done that.

Thanks. I'm expecting a few lambs and I was planning on a bottle baby wether. If I vaccinate at birth or shortly after would they be ok? I can make him a separate pasture and I could keep my older wether with him for company...

Michelle

Scrounger · #17 02/26/08, 02:40 PM

Chances are, your nanny goats won't let him near the kids for a few days anyway. Keep the moms and babies in a pen for a few days if you are worried. Never had a problem with it.

ozark_jewels · #18 02/26/08, 04:49 PM

Most likely it would not be a problem. I raised calves for several years near goats with no problems. Then one year brought in e-coli with some calves. It wiped out every kid born that year until we figured out what it was. To prevent it once its in the ground, you *must* give an oral vaccine to *every* kid before they even get their colostrum. Doing that saved all the rest.
Its not a likely scenario, but once you have had it, you will *never* forget it.

glenn amolenaar · #19 02/26/08, 05:55 PM

mwhit,
Go for it at that price you will have about $100.00 dollars at weaning if you use milk replacer. Grow it out on grass and a little feed and your time, even on halves you can't buy the same quantity/quality of meat. Forget the negatives, every time I've seen a post for a bargain or a real deal the poster has never responded back. My wife has been raising bottle calves close to 30 years. Her mortality rate is very low I think it is because the main ingredient to raise a live calf is LOVE. There are no free/cheap calves here in S/W Missouri. Glenn

hotzcatz · #20 02/26/08, 06:38 PM

We can get newborn bull calves from the dairy for $20 but then you have to bottle feed them and milk replacer is really expensive.