Good or bad Idea

billyj · #1 10/01/07, 11:04 AM

I have been retired for a few years now, and completed a few projects I set to do and it's time to do something else now. I've been delivering shrubbery from various nurseries and fuel prices has put me out of that business.

I'm thinking of buying a few new calves and raising them to sell.

Do you think it's worth while? I'm aware you have questions and maybe I should elaborate on what settings I have to accommodate the calves, but I had rather you, that know the business, give me some idea of what I'm in for.

Thanks

ksfarmer · #2 10/01/07, 01:25 PM

Hard to say without knowing what you have for knowledge of cattle, facilities, feed available, etc, etc,. Are you talking of buying small calves and selling as feeder-stockers? Buying feeders and taking to slaughter wt.? Without knowing some of these variables, I wouldn't even begin to give you advice.

billyj · #3 10/01/07, 02:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ksfarmer

Hard to say without knowing what you have for

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knowledge of cattle

,

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facilities,

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feed available

, etc, etc,.

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 Are you talking of buying small calves and selling as feeder-stockers?

Buying feeders and taking to slaughter wt.? Without knowing some of these variables, I wouldn't even begin to give you advice.

Not much, could possibly get help/advice from locals?????????

15 acres of pasture w/2500 sq ft barn. Can build what ever I need.

what ever I need within 5 miles

Yes

topside1 · #4 10/01/07, 06:08 PM

Billy, what type/breed steer are you hoping to raise. Once some of us know a bit more about your intentions the easier it will be to give you honest answers. Are the animals going to be bottle raised, cow raised, week old dairy/beef? If bottle raised what type of milk etc....We would love the help but need more info...I know what my answer will be, but please supply more info.

billyj · #5 10/01/07, 06:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by topside1

Billy,

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what type/breed steer are you hoping to raise

. Once some of us know a bit more about your intentions the easier it will be to give you honest answers.

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Are the animals going to be bottle raised,

cow raised,

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week old dairy/beef?

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If bottle raised what type of milk etc

....We would love the help but need more info...I know what my answer will be, but please supply more info.

This is one area I need advice on, beef more than likely

Yes.

Beef.

Need advice here also.

I want to raise week old or so, to a determined weight and cart them off to the sale barn hoping to make a profit.

topside1 · #6 10/01/07, 07:57 PM

Not trying to be mean, but the PHP code or whatever is really annoying. First off finding week old beef calves will be your first problem. If you do get lucky enough to find week old beef calves then you will need to feed milk replacer if you have no other source. Milk replacer, the best, and the only type you should consider feeding is running $70 per 50 pound bag. Let’s imagine that you have a beef calve source, the standard price per head in my area is $200 each. Then milk replacer if necessary, depending on age, plus calf starter grains, castration, disbudding, hay, cleaning pens, washing bottles, mixing milk, watering etc. Need I say more, yes I do it, not for the money for sure. I just enjoy it, and if I happen to make a dollar than it's all been worth it. P.S. my only saving grace is that I have dairy goats who supply the milk for my bottle calves. Sounds great huh, except the goats also need grain, milked, hay, and so on....Ask specific questions I'd love to help....It's not all bad.....TJ

Brisket · #7 10/01/07, 08:54 PM

I cant begin to share with you the expertise that you will get from going to the local actions and if you have neighbors that know about cows it is worth more than you will ever know. I have cleaned out a ditch for my neighbor and done some fence work plus just helping out when I can. she has fifty solid years of experience with cows and I have been all ears and she Just loves to share what she knows. I cut wood for her now and the trade off is deffently worth it. begin working at a neighbors farm they will be glad to have the help and you will learn more than you you can imagine. my cow betsy is calfing at ninteen to twenty months and my neighbor is going to show me how to chain born a calf if nesasary. she will come over at any time. Oh by the way if you want to raise cows their fun and full time.

brisket,

ksfarmer · #8 10/01/07, 09:03 PM

Billyj, its like topside says, weekold beef calves are hard to find, would have to be an orphan. Beef cow owners let the cow keep her calf till weaning age and sometimes if we loose a calf at birth we try to find a orphan to graft on the cow. More likely to find dairy calves as most dairys pull the calves off soon after birth. If you haven't had any experience with cattle, you will need lots of help and advice, I would hope you have a close friend with this knowledge who will spend a lot of time getting you started. You will more likely find beef calves in the 300 to 400 lb early weaner age. I would imagine 15 acres in your part of the country will have grass for 5 or 6 calves this size (I'm not familiar with grazing in Ga.) They will need supplement and grain and some hay to feed in the winter. Your barn would be best served to use for feed storage. The calves don't need to be indoors. You would need a pen to use as a feeding area and a catch area in case any doctoring is needed. I would try to buy calves which have been dehorned and castrated. Then worm and vacinate. Always be vigilant for any problems such as scours , or pneumonia. If it were me, I would take these calves up to 600-700 lbs and sell. This is just a start on the things you need to know. This forum is a good source of info, but, I think a good friend or neighbor who knows cattle will be much more reliable.

billyj · #9 10/02/07, 08:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by topside1

Not trying to be mean, but the PHP code or whatever is really annoying. First off finding week old beef calves will be your first problem. If you do get lucky enough to find week old beef calves then you will need to feed milk replacer if you have no other source. Milk replacer, the best, and the only type you should consider feeding is running $70 per 50 pound bag. Let’s imagine that you have a beef calve source, the standard price per head in my area is $200 each. Then milk replacer if necessary, depending on age, plus calf starter grains, castration, disbudding, hay, cleaning pens, washing bottles, mixing milk, watering etc. Need I say more, yes I do it, not for the money for sure. I just enjoy it, and if I happen to make a dollar than it's all been worth it. P.S. my only saving grace is that I have dairy goats who supply the milk for my bottle calves. Sounds great huh, except the goats also need grain, milked, hay, and so on....Ask specific questions I'd love to help....It's not all bad.....TJ

Thanks for the Info topside, this is the type information I'm looking for.(numbers) I want be going into this business just for the fun of it. I look at this the same way I look at my transportation service. If I can't make a profit, I want mess with it. I also have an opportunity to buy a fertilizer distribution service, problem is, the guy that wants to sell it doesn't know how to keep books very well, so it's hard to tell if that type of business would be profitable. I also want to get into a business that my wife would enjoy as well and can be helpful. Gotta keep as much harmony around the house as possible you know.
Sorry about the PHP thing. All I did was pull out the questions from the other responders and answer their questions in order they were asked.
Thanks again.
Billyj

billyj · #10 10/02/07, 08:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brisket

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I cant begin to share with you the expertise that you will get from going to the local actions and if you have neighbors that know about cows it is worth more than you will ever know.

I have cleaned out a ditch for my neighbor and done some fence work plus just helping out when I can. she has fifty solid years of experience with cows and I have been all ears and she Just loves to share what she knows. I cut wood for her now and the trade off is deffently worth it. begin working at a neighbors farm they will be glad to have the help and you will learn more than you you can imagine. my cow betsy is calfing at ninteen to twenty months and my neighbor is going to show me how to chain born a calf if nesasary. she will come over at any time.

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 Oh by the way if you want to raise cows their fun and full time.

brisket,

I have this expertise available to me.

I'm flexible. I have no problem with starting with a few cows and continuing. from there.

mary,tx · #11 10/02/07, 10:02 AM

I don't know if you'll make any money buying something this time of year to feed out. Do your grasses go dormant during the winter months? Do you have access to cheap hay? My concern is the amount of feed and hay you are going to be buying to take them through the winter. I'm not an expert on this, but it would seem that if you were going to buy something to raise just for awhile, you'd want to do it early spring and sell before winter, even considering that is probably on the buying high and selling cheap side.

billyj · #12 10/02/07, 12:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mary,tx

I don't know if you'll make any money buying something this time of year to feed out. Do your grasses go dormant during the winter months? Do you have access to cheap hay? My concern is the amount of feed and hay you are going to be buying to take them through the winter. I'm not an expert on this, but it would seem that if you were going to buy something to raise just for awhile, you'd want to do it early spring and sell before winter, even considering that is probably on the buying high and selling cheap side.

This is good info. you mention when to buy. That's a good question that could possibly be answered here on the forum.

I guessing this cattle raising is sorta like a card game...knowing when to hold'em and when to fold. It's just something I'm trying to figure out... fiesable or not. I want to stay at home I'm tired of running the roads and dealing with the public

gracie88 · #13 10/06/07, 10:10 AM

Another Q. is how much do you want to make? Most folks I know that raise calves for a business rely on large volume because the per-calf profit is very low. If you are looking for a hobby that pays for itself, that's one thing, but if you are trying to make a living, I don't know that it is possible raising beef on 15 acres.

billyj · #14 10/07/07, 07:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gracie88

Another Q. is how much do you want to make? Most folks I know that raise calves for a business rely on large volume because the per-calf profit is very low. If you are looking for a hobby that pays for itself, that's one thing, but if you are trying to make a living, I don't know that it is possible raising beef on 15 acres.

More like a hobby that pays for itself with a few bucks for my time.
How much do I want to make. Tough question. I suppose that would depend on what type cattle you start off with. A type in more demand than another would be of interest to me.
Thanks for your reply gracie/