Is this a good deal?

[Joshie]

I found an ad on Craigslist advertising an 11 month old steer. They want 600 lbs for him or 200-250 square bales of hay. They say he was a bottle baby and think he's probably a Holstein/Jersey mix. He's black and white and has horns.

[copperhead46]

That seems a little high to me, I'd check at the local sale barn and find out what a calf his size is bringing. Do they say how much he weights?? What is the price of hay up there, we can't get any for less than $4.oo a sq. bale, so that be pretty high around here.
P.J.

[springvalley]

Same with me, hay is kinda expensive here also. 5-6.00 for good hay here. thats alot.

[Joshie]

Square bales are about $3.00 each. They don't even know his breed with certainty, let alone his weight. How would you expect him to taste?

[springvalley]

Yummy on the BBQ, ha ha , he would be fine I think. Thanks Marc

[topside1]

This steer probably weighs 700-800 pounds so $600 is an decent deal if he was raised in a healthy setting...Simply meaning, worming, minerals, grains as needed, quality hay and adequate pasture....Topside

[Madsaw]

Originally Posted by topside1

This steer probably weighs 700-800 pounds so $600 is an decent deal if he was raised in a healthy setting...Simply meaning, worming, minerals, grains as needed, quality hay and adequate pasture....Topside

But, that would be in ideal setting right. Toss in the fact it might be a jersey cross and been a little light on the feeding and care. The same calf could only be 400lbs. I seen jersey cross sometime hardly gain till they reach a yr or so old. It all depends. If you can go take a look at him and measure just behind the front legsaround the chest. Then report back here what he measures. Some folks here can tell you what he roughly weighs then.
On a local add here I saw a mini Brahma bull for sale. Called the guy. The bull weighs roughly 1200 by the guys eye. Wants 350 for him. Just might have to go look at him just for S&G.
Bob

[RosewoodfarmVA]

Been raising holstein and jersey X bull calves for years.... They usually don't put much meat bulk on until the end of the second year. Up til that point it's primarily frame growth. An 11mo would likely be large framed but little bulk. Unless feedlotted of course, but on pasture they don't start putting on much meat until their frame is almost grown. That price sounds mighty high for that age. Around here holstein x bulls sell for $.40lb tops. If it were already 2yo and had lots of meat bulk $600 would be reasonable, for that price I'd skip this one and go to the market and get a cull cow or young bull to raise and butcher for less $$ than that..

[topside1]

Madsaw has the best idea of all, measure him for approx. weight. I have a weight tape handy and would be glad to tell you how much he weighs. Pull a standard cloth measuring tape or string/rope tight measure and pass on the information. Laura I just took in a 365 day old Holstein to slaughter and he weighed 890 pounds, but that's me. Also I'm currently raising my next freezer boy, pure Jersey, this little boy will take two years to get into the freezer. Frame size and care play big roles in growth rates....Topside