Question about cows?

[masawyer]

We are wanting to get a beef cow. There is a farmer that sells his Holstein cross bottle calves for $80. We were wondering what the going rate is for a Angus bottle calf and how much more meat you can get from a Angus then a Holstein?

Thanks,

Marsha in OK

[RoyalValley]

I'm not sure on the amount of meat, but an Angus is going to be ready to butcher sooner than a Holstein.

In my area, a new (under a week old) Angus baby is going for $400 minimum. A Holstein crossed with a beef breed work pretty well in my opinion. $80 for him wouldn't be bad.

Good luck!!

[tinknal]

Unless a beef farmer loses a cow he really isn't ever going to be motivated to sell a calf. Beef bottle babies can be really hard to find at any price.

[tinknal]

The best dairy beef IMO is Brown Swiss or Milking Shorthorn.

[Callieslamb]

Beef cows' purpose is to raise their calves so they usually don't have bottle babies. The farmer's best interest is to let the cow raise the calves (for free) and sell it later.

The holstein will produce a lot of beef for you. The amount of meat you get compared to how much you feed it is less than a beef cow. I think it's probably cheaper to buy a weaned calf than it is to bottle it. However, we always buy the bottle calves anyway. I have a holstein steer right now - but our last one was a jersey - 1100 lbs in 16 months.

[shagerman]

here is the best way to explain this. a black angus usually will go to slaughter at 1200 to 1300 pounds. a holestein will go in at around 1500 pounds. i took a 1530 pound holestein in i got 804 pounds back. on a angus youll get around 500 back. if you are feeding a family. a holestein would be better, poundage wise. i dont eat anything but holestein. unless i go out to eat,and i raise both.

[masawyer]

Thanks so much for your replies!

Shagerman I was wondering how long it took your holstein to get that big?

Thanks,

Marsha

[Allen W]

$80 Holstein cross are they black how far from NW Oklahoma?

You can find beef calves pulled from their mommas at the auction, my guess would be 200 plus dollars for one right now, heavy on the plus. Depending on the volume of the auction how many and how often you will find them. Cattle are high I would do some serious dollar adding before I decided what I wanted to do. A four weight calf is more up front dollars but can go onto grass now.

[shagerman]

it took almost 30 months. to get him that big ..he was also on pasture/hay and grain/all he could eat. when ever he wanted to eat.i had beautiful texture and there was some fat. and the marbling was perfect... p.m. me if you want to know my feed,