Want meat, trying to figure out the best way...

[Old Mission]

I only have about 4 acres and have some sheep on it. I want my own beef SO bad, but dont know if its a good idea with my limited space and the cost of hay and feed since we buy it all? Would it be a better idea to just go ahead and buy a side of beef or should I attempt to raise a feeder calf? And I have NO idea how much freezer space this would even take up. I have a large upright freezer.
I just want something I know was raised and grown well and with quality feed/pasture, no hormones or vaccines, not feedlot raised, ect. And I like my kids to be involve with raising their food so they have those skills if they ever need it, but I just wonder if a cow would be more trouble/$$$ then its worth?

[topside1]

I raise my own freezer beef and frankly I don't worry about the cost, having lots of healthy beef footsteps away is more important....You have plenty of land for a feeder calf and a couple of sheep....Topside

[suzyhomemaker09]

We have 3 acres...
We also have a few dairy goats, we have a few dairy sheep and we have our 2nd surviving bottle calf ( lost one we got last year ) I get dairy bull calves from another HT member ( Emily Ozark Jewels ) and raise them up for the freezer.
I prefer to know what's in my meat as well....knowing it was well raised and cared for.

[oregon woodsmok]

How good is your pasture? If you've got good pasture, you've got enough land to raise a feeder. If you don't have really good pasture, it is a lot cheaper to buy from a local farmer.

[Old Mission]

In the spring and summer the pasture is plenty for the sheep and nice and thick and rich, this time of year its nibbled down pretty good tho. Its all one open pasture but we are fencing sections off next spring to rotate.

How long do you raise a feeder before butcher? And about how much on average does a feeder calf cost? And butcher cost?

[topside1]

I slaughter @ 18 months plus...your second question is hard to answer, a feeder calf in my opinion is any calf under one year old so prices would vary tremendously...Topside

[kycrawler]

black feeders here in the 300-500 lb range go for 1.10-1.50 per lb red and off color beef breeds .95-120 holstiens about.80 cents a lb if you have milk goats and sheep you could raise a bucket calf pretty cheap but bucket calves arent for every one

[Ed Norman]

Originally Posted by kycrawler

if you have milk goats and sheep you could raise a bucket calf pretty cheap but bucket calves arent for every one

How many goats does it take for a calf? We are thinking of trying a calf next year.

[topside1]

One goat, one calf, providing the dairy goat is a average producer(gallon per day).

[Ed Norman]

Originally Posted by topside1

One goat, one calf, providing the dairy goat is a average producer(gallon per day).

That's what she does. Very good news.

[steff bugielski]

Every year we get a dairy bull calf for $50. We get him around the first of the year, when the goats freshen. He gets goat milk then calf manna. Once there is pasture he is done with grain.
We do butcher early, Thanksgiving weekend. I do not want to over winter him. It is not worth it to me.
We usually get about 400-500lbs of meat. That is plenty, this year too much since the kids have moved out. I will most likely sell 1/2.

[haypoint]

Pasture needs and how much hay you'd need depends on the quality of pasture, but also climate. Advice from somewhere that has 6 inches of snow for a month will be different for you with snow forecast for this weekend and lasting into March.

You have livestock auctions in Cass City and Marlette. Most cattle are out on pasture and are generally not injected. Hang around where they unload. Most beef farmers just sell a few at a time. You could get the straight story from the seller. Maybe you could buy a steer and keep him full of corn for 6 or 8 weeks. That's enough for your kids to fall in love, then fall out of love when they get tired of twice daily feeding and watering. Good experience for them.
A whole steer is way more than your freezer will hold. There are several Beef Processing places in your area. Go there and see if they can show you how many boxes a steer will fill.

[lakeportfarms]

One thing to keep in mind is that it gets pretty tough to get an appointment this time of year due to deer hunting season. So whatever you get I'd suggest finishing it off in September or October at the latest if you're going to feed grain the last couple months. You could also go to the sale barn in Croswell on Monday at 6 pm if you're looking for something. Believe it or not you can find some good deals on Craigslist too for steers from time to time.

[VaFarmer]

on 4 acre you got rm for a feeder cow, rotateing pasture does help a lot. but might be easier to raise meat rabbits . I have 15 feeders & 2 heifers, keep a simple operation but cows are still a pain in the a-s. This past wk end had a 2 mth old died for no apparent reason? Will be taking a yrling to process in January, should fill the freezer OK. Around here it's getting harder to find a trust worthy processer, a couple have sold off to greedy owners, a couple have retired, the guy I go to is 70, not sure how long he'll be going.

[G. Seddon]

VaFarmer, where abouts in VA are you located? I've been to a couple of processors I wouldn't recommend, but also have been to a couple that I would. Will be glad to share the good ones with you!