first time raiesin steers

[buck 01]

I am getting ready to do some fencing so we can raise our own beef. I have about 3 acers I'm going to fence. I have done some farm work off and on for a long while but never raied steers. What would be your best advice for a first timer.

[Karin L]

For your acreage, I'd get only one unless you're willing to spend extra on feed if you want more than one.

I assume the steer is for your own freezer? If so, then get one that is docile, one that may not quite be a pet but won't be so eager to tear down your fences trying to escape. Keep that steer in a small area for a week or two to let him settle down, otherwise he'll pace the fences trying to find a way out and towards home.

Now, as far as that I'm not sure how far along to help you. Are you wanting to get a beef steer or raise a dairy bull calf and steer him? Typically beef steers are best bought when they're around 5 to 6 months old. Dairy bulls are typically sold a bit younger, but you may happen across an older dairy steer (around 3 to 4 m.o), if your lucky.

Hay, grass and grain is your best bet for growing then finishing a steer, if you're not interested in eating grass-fed beef. Assume that the steer you bought has not been introduced to grain, so start him slow, with only a pound or two for the first few days before increasing little by little. Hay should be fed free-choice. Hay should be grass-legume mix, which is good for a growing animal. Hay, of course, is not needed if pasture is plentiful.

It'd be best to rotational-graze the steer so that parts of the pasture get rest while other parts are grazed.

The fattening up process usually begins the last month before slaughter, which really depends on how big you want the steer to grow to or how you're finishing him.