Help needed deciding on what type of cow to chose...

pappasmurf · #1 01/17/12, 09:10 PM

Hey folks.

I have about 2.5 acres of pature in Georgia and really want a beef cow or two. I currently have one of those vinyl horse fences and a horse barn. Is this suitable for cow rearing or do I need a beefier set up as far a fencing goes? I guess I wouls like a smaller beef breed that is good around children. What do you guys recomend??? Any suggestions for begginers would be appreciated.

Thanks
Steven

haypoint · #2 01/17/12, 09:28 PM

I have no idea how much grass grows on your 2 1/2 acres. Plan on buying hay? I've seen several kinds of vinyl horse fence, but no idea what you have. I don't think any breed of cattle is " good around children".

Electric fence is good for cattle.

springvalley · #3 01/17/12, 09:53 PM

As haypoint had said, electric fence on the inside of the vinyl fence will make your fence last longer. If you want something safe for kids ( if thats possible) I would go with mini`s, but just remember, if you get or have a bull, they still can kill a child. And you probly don`t have enough area for more than a couple animals, so yes your going to need hay. > Thanks Marc

DJ in WA · #4 01/17/12, 11:16 PM

Let me toss out some ideas for you to reject.

I would look for some smaller framed herefords, or miniature herefords. They will tolerate heat better than black cattle, and have a reputation for being gentle, though there are always exceptions. Don't trust the seller - look at the cattle yourself.

Miniatures can be pricey, so you could always buy a couple standard hereford heifers, have them bred AI to a miniature bull, and then sell the heifers when they've weaned their calves. You can breed them a little younger when using a miniature bull, as the calves will be smaller.

Hopefully you will have gotten a heifer calf out of the two you bred, and you can keep breeding down in size, or keep what you have.

This all depends on having someone able to do the breeding, so you should ask at the vet or a dairy nearby.

Unless you just want to buy a steer or two and forget the calving thing.

pappasmurf · #5 01/18/12, 05:56 AM

I havo no intentions of a bull. Just a couple of heifers. What about the dexter breed???

haypoint · #6 01/18/12, 06:37 AM

Perhaps at one time Dexters were bred for disposition. Today, they are gaining popularity and that encourages people to breed everything, without much selection for anything. As a result buying a Dexter is no assurance that you'll get a dual purpose, small cow with a gentle disposition.

G. Seddon · #7 01/18/12, 06:42 AM

Not trying to throw up a roadblock on Dexter heifers, but you might consider a couple of steers instead. No worries about genetic testing, breeding or bulls, or getting heifers bred. And if you decide this won't work on your place, you can eat them or sell for beef.

Gabriel · #8 01/18/12, 08:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pappasmurf

I guess I would like a smaller beef breed that is good around children. What do you guys recomend?

Steven, I have Angus, Hereford and several different types of cross bred cows. There's no big difference in how tame they are, or how safe they might be around children. I use M.I.G. (check out the sticky at the top of this forum) and the daily moves have calmed even the flightiest of them. That does not mean, however, that it's safe for kids to be in their pasture.

As to the type of cattle you should look at, imho, look for a small framed animal that has been raised the same way you intend to raise it. Cattle are high and are expected to only go higher as we get closer to spring... but you will have to pay for what you get and if you're lucky, you'll get all you pay for. Seeing as you're in GA, you might find some South Polls.

lakeportfarms · #9 01/18/12, 10:07 AM

If you are more interested in the beef than having something for the kids to work with, then the steer idea is probably your best bet. If you want to get attached or have the kids involved, I'd suggest a small chondro carrier Dexter heifer out of good parents. Dun would be a good color if you don't have any shade. Get her young so you can work with her, or make sure you have one that has been handled extensively. I know there will be some that dispute this, but in my experience with both types, the chondro carriers are less flighty than the non-carriers. Even at birth the shorties seem more curious and accepting of us, before we even begin to work with them.

Also, manage your pasture, using small amount of the pasture moved frequently it will hold up much better, nearly twice many cows on the same acreage or with the same numbers of cows it will last you nearly twice as long before you have to start feeding hay. It is important to move the back fence up at least every two days.
We move our Dexters twice a day during the summer, and the back fence up daily. Set up the water and mineral so it can be easily relocated, or if necessary, make a small lane back to the waterer. With only a couple of acres it's not that far for her to walk back to get water.

SteveO · #10 01/18/12, 10:13 AM

Morning,
Although I am new to I went with Lowline for just the reasons you stated. But you need to think about Gabriel's last paragraph seriously. My Lowline were raised with very little human contact. which is fine on a larger operaton. As mine is small things are all smaller and closer. Cattle are not stupid they are like 2 year olds and will push you as far as you allow them to. I would look at percentage lowline calves or as stated above steers to start and raise them as you like. Ours are more docile than they were around us now than a month ago. But you need to keep in mind they are still 800 lbs and can run you over if they need to. The idea is not to give them a reason to.
On your 2.5 acre lot you will need to read the rotational grazing thread and still will end up feeding most likely in the summer as you are even South of me.
There are Lowlines in your area but you need to comfortable around them before you jump in. Don't ask me how I know this. But I have a few less gray hair as proof.
enloy
Steve

tonyb · #11 01/18/12, 11:26 AM

We have one Dexter cow right now. I like the small size because she is easy to manage; not too hard on the fences; not much pugging the pasture, even with the wet season we had in 2011; less feed; and eventually, a smaller carcass for our small family. She is a bit persnickety though, so even the "gentle" Dexter breed can throw a high strung specimen sometimes.

Regarding kids, I agree with the other posts; I keep our kids away from the cow. They are not allowed in the pasture, or in the stalls with, or in close proximity to a tethered cow. Even the most tame cow will swing its head to get a fly, get startled by some mundane thing, or just wake up in a bad mood one day. Sometimes animals act differently with kids than they do with adults, too.

BarbadosSheep · #12 01/18/12, 11:47 AM

I am getting a couple of Dexters too. I like the smaller size on the milk cow and also the smaller carcass on the bull (he will be used to breed my heifer before butchering). The advantage to a Dexter for a smaller carcass over just butchering a beef breed young is that Dexters have smaller bones so there is more meat than on a similar sized but younger beef steer.