What kind of cow do I need

[lmwise]

my husbnd and I have decided to buy a cow this spring, we want it for the beef. But I don't know what kind of cow to be looking for. Have any ideas. new at this but we have lots of field for one to graze and thought it would be good for the kids to learn about the great out doors...

[CraterCove]

I really like the Dexter breed. They are smaller than your average cattle and they are very docile, easily used as a family cow. They also are good for milk, so if you got yourself a heifer you could have milk from her and meat from the babies.

You have to ask a breeder if they have tested for Chondrodysplasia and Dexters should not look like they have dwarfism, they should (as with miniature horses) look like well formed cattle, just 1/2 the size.

Also, if you are just looking for a beef steer, I'd see if any local dairy is selling off steer calves.

[myersfarm]

lots of field for one to graze


how many acres can they graze on

[linn]

If you are just wanting it for beef, get a steer. We like Angus for beef, but I do love my Dexter cows, they are a dual purpose breed.

[Allen W]

Any beef breed will make good beef. Herefords make excellent beef and sell cheaper then angus. Nothing wrong with a heifer for beef if you don't have any cow herds with bulls near by.

[sammyd]

almost any cow will do for beef. Here in dairy country we eat dairy steers a lot. Usually cheaper to buy and will make nice freezer fodder about as easy as any beef breed.

[bruce2288]

My suggestion. Buy beef breed steer or heifer around 600lbs, they should weigh around 1000lbs next fall. If you want well marbled beef you will need to feed grain for 60-90 days unless your pasture is VERY good quality with high brix(sugar)

[Callieslamb]

I'd buy two if possible. Cows like company. You can sell one to fund raising yours. I like jersey beef. They aren't as meaty...but they are really tasty!

[BlackWillowFarm]

You can buy a beef steer but expect it to be weaned and weigh several hundred pounds before it's offered for sale at approx. $1lb. Or, if you're up for the challenge, try a three week old dairy bull calf that will need to be bottle fed. You'll pay less up front, but will make up for it with extra involvement. In the end, they all taste great. My personal favorite is Jersey.

[tinknal]

We need more information. Do you just want to graze it over the summer? Are you willing to feed it over the winter and graze for two summers? Are you going to feed any grain? What kind of beef do you like, and how much do you want? Do you want to breed and raise your own calves?

[lmwise]

we have 20 acres and not a thing on it. i was thinking we could feed it some feed along with the grazing. Like I said new at this. We had a jersey cow when I was a kid and remember so little cause I was pretty young. There are some dairy farms close to me so maybe look into that. thanks for all the info. Heres another question please don't laugh how old if you get a milk cow does it have to be before you can milk it. and if you milk them can you slaughter them in the fall.

[linn]

Dairy heifers are usually bred to calve around two years of age. If you plan to keep a milk cow, you can make hay off twenty acres beside graze her on it. Many people will put up hay on the shares. DH does it every summer.

[lmwise]

how many bales of hay will i need for the winter, and what kind of feed do i need to get, and do i feed her grain in the summer to. thanks for all the help..

[tinknal]

Originally Posted by lmwise

we have 20 acres and not a thing on it. i was thinking we could feed it some feed along with the grazing. Like I said new at this. We had a jersey cow when I was a kid and remember so little cause I was pretty young. There are some dairy farms close to me so maybe look into that. thanks for all the info. Heres another question please don't laugh how old if you get a milk cow does it have to be before you can milk it. and if you milk them can you slaughter them in the fall.

Unless you get an old cull at the end of her productive life you would lose a ton of money by milking her out and then killing her. And then the meat would be low quality. Get a milk cow, breed her, and eat the steer calves.

[tinknal]

I would buy a 500 lb steer now, pasture it over the summer, and 2 months from when you want to kill it work it up to full feed grain and hay or pasture.

[linn]

Originally Posted by lmwise

how many bales of hay will i need for the winter, and what kind of feed do i need to get, and do i feed her grain in the summer to. thanks for all the help..

It depends on whether you have small square bales or big round bales. A Jersey will probably eat about 1/2 of a square bale of good hay a day. A Dexter does not need quite that much. A lot depends on when your grass comes on in the spring and when grazing is done in the late fall. This has been a bad winter for us, so we are using a lot more hay. It is better to have a surplus then have to hunt hay in the winter when it is expensive. We do feed our cows grain when they are milking. A beef cow can keep in condition without grain better than a dairy cow. A dairy cow will sacrifice condition in producing milk. You can feed your cow sweet feed, regular dairy ration or a corn, oats and barley mixture.