Steer vs Heiffer vs breed need advice

mberryrfd · #1 10/12/08, 05:54 PM

We are looking at getting our first cow that will be strickly for meat.
10 miles away there is a breeder of Black Maine show cattle. The steers are shown at local and stae fairs and they do quite well.If we get a steer from them it is $550 but he said he will sell us a heiffer for $100 less
on the other hand a 100 miles away we can get holstein steer or bull for under $200 some as low as $85 but they need bottlefed
Now this is for meat and I read where Holsteins are on the bottom of meat production.
A heiffer wont grow as fast or as large as a steer? but is the $100 worth it?
any advise would be greatly appreciated

SHELBY · #2 10/12/08, 06:19 PM

How old/big are the steers and heifer?

mberryrfd · #3 10/12/08, 06:41 PM

The Maines were weaned from their mother last month
the Holstiens range from needing bottlefed to just weaned

topside1 · #4 10/12/08, 07:07 PM

Guess it depends on what you can afford....This Holstein will be in my freezer in 12 months. Holsteins grow out extremely fast at a reasonable purchase price. Nearly all beef sold in supermarkets is Holstein, that meat is garbage when compared to raising your own. Personally I perfer Jersey meat, just don't be in a hurry...butcher age 18months old....TJ

Steer vs Heiffer vs breed need advice - Cattle

Steer vs Heiffer vs breed need advice - Cattle

topside1 · #5 10/12/08, 07:09 PM

I'd buy the $200 weaned Holstein, he's ready for hay, grain and growth. Less worries, also $200 is great price for a weaned calf.

menollyrj · #6 10/12/08, 08:19 PM

It would seem that with the Black Maine, you're paying for pedigree. If you aren't showing the steer, there is no need to pay top dollar for it. I second the weaned Holstein suggestion. You wouldn't have to fool with bottles and delicate immune systems, and would have great beef in 18-24 months. We butcher a Holstein steer every fall, and the meat is tasty.

-Joy

travlnusa · #7 10/12/08, 08:34 PM

I raise black angus, but for my freezer, it is 100% holstein steer for me.

Put on full grain and butcher at 14 mos. Best ever.

How can I afford full grain at todays prices? I sell those black hides to private parties who are more than willing to pay for the color.

bigmudder77 · #8 10/13/08, 10:38 AM

bottle feeding is alot of work and usually $50-100 in the milk replacer or more.

with having them off the bottle is a good thing cause you dont have to spend all that money and time on milk my 2 took forever to feed them the bottle and learning to drink out of the bucket forget it these 2 were stupid. we use to have a farm and i use to do all the calf feeding and getting them on buckets asap i had a brown swiss on a bucket at 2 days old and they are usually slow at getting bucket trained.

but i had a holisten and jersey bulls that were id say about a week old maybe little less

but really it depends on what you can afford and how much time you got

randiliana · #9 10/13/08, 03:13 PM

I would go with the maine heifer. $450 seems like it would be pretty close to fair market value for a feeder calf that is at weaning age. Holstien makes good beef too, but there is a lot of risk involved with a bottle calf, and it takes a lot of feed to get one finished. A weaned calf is already past the high stress parts of life. A heifer will grow a bit slower than a steer, but not noticably so.