Beef CAlf and Time to Raise....

[farmmaid]

We have been raising Jersey steers, one at a time for our family, but it involves one winter over. The meat is wonderful. We are trying to find out about raising some animals only during the good weather, no over wintering. Pig, lamb and kid goats no problem but............. If I bought a beef calf in March. Raised it on good pasture in the summer with some grain how much would he weigh by Dec. 1st, on an average. I understand that there are many factors, a ball park figure would be appreciated. There are just two of us in the household.

[JKB07]

Are you planning on buying a bottle calf or a weaned calf?

Justin

[farmmaid]

Whatever I can find. A weaned calf would put me two months ahead.

[ksfarmer]

You might figure with grain and good grass he would gain an average of 2 lbs per day. A weaned calf at 400 lbs in March could weigh in the neighborhood of 900+ lbs by Dec. Some variation due to genetics, but this is what I would expect from a good beef breed. Jersey's might not do as well.

[kscowboy]

Agree with ksfarmer but don't quite see how you can avoid wintering , if you butcher at 900 lbs youre leaving a few hundred pounds of meat off the table by not growing them to 1150 or so. I like to be finishing in either march-may or sept-nov when the weather conditions are optimum , not stressed by heat or using max energy to stay warm , no science involved here just opinion.

[agmantoo]

Find a dairy that raises its own replacement heifers. Inquire what they do with a heifer that will not become pregnant? Usually these animals are sent to the sale. Such an animal will be in good body condition but not that much in demand at the sale barn. They are too big and the wrong breed to go to a feedlot, too small to bring much as a salvaged slaughter cow. Buy the animal off the farm by offering to pay cash. Take it home and finish feeding it and you have a large animal for the freezer and you have only owned it for the good weather months.

[farmmaid]

Thanks to all for your time, good options to think about..........