first time raiesin steers

buck 01 · #1 04/25/12, 04:11 PM

I have about 3 acers I'm fencing in with a nice small stream running through it. What is the first thing I should do.

G. Seddon · #2 04/25/12, 04:46 PM

Contact your county extension agent to get advice on your pasture and fencing, whether water is sufficient (most probably advise fencing to keep cattle OUT of water), obtain name of reliable hay source, get name of competent large animal vet just in case, arrange for smaller enclosure (corral panels) so that you can confine them before turning them out on 3 acres. Is there adequate shade? Do you plan to feed grain? Hope you can get your facilities in order before you get the cattle. You don't mention where you are located, but that will certainly be a consideration for your plans.

topside1 · #3 04/25/12, 05:05 PM

Consider no more than two steers on that size pasture. Actually consider one...Topside

francismilker · #4 04/25/12, 05:26 PM

Good fence, plenty of grass, and what the others have said. Two do eat better together than one but if grass is a problem it's gonna get costly supplementing with grain and hay during grass growing season.

I wouldn't do what some of us have done in the past and base your cattle/pasture loading based upon Spring grass growth. It's a miserable reality when the dog days of Summer soak in and the grass starts slowing down. (And on a pasture that size a pasture will start to see hoof traffic very detrementally.)

buck 01 · #5 04/25/12, 05:49 PM

I live in Virginia and yes their's lots of shade. I cleared this land about 4 or 5 years ago and planted a pasture mixes. I was planning on getting 2 steer but if you think 3 acers is only enough for 1 then I'll get 1. I was planning on selling 1 and butchering 1. to help pay for feed. Yes I'm going to finish them on grain. I will be using field fence and some barbed wire.
Should I just make a watering station to keep the stream clean? I have lived here about 10 years and its never wet dry even when other where. It comes right out of the mountains of the sky line drive or to some the blue ridge parkway.

G. Seddon · #6 04/25/12, 08:42 PM

I'm in VA too. VA's extension service is usually very good. Here's a website where you can look up contact info for your agricultural extension agent.

Local Offices - Home - Virginia Cooperative Extension

They can recommend programs to help you get started and their advice is free!!!

Three acres isn't a lot, but I'd vote for 2 steers because they are herd animals and will do better with a buddy.

Karin L · #7 04/25/12, 10:07 PM

Are you wanting to raise beef or dairy cattle for slaughter?

What age or weight are you targeting for what you consider best for your freezer?

You finishing via grain or wanting to go grass-fed?

I didn't notice you posted twice so I answered your other post you submitted.

SCRancher · #8 04/26/12, 06:08 AM

With 3 acres you could consider irrigating your pasture it's small enough to consider that they you MAY be able to support 2 but you will have to take them off the pasture - a small sacrificial area and let them out only to feed - still do rotational grazing - water each section once a week at least in inch of water per week - once a week deep is better then every day a little.

If your watering start early before the grass goes dormant.

Callieslamb · #9 04/26/12, 06:58 AM

I'd build a small corral even with just cattle panels. Feed their grain in there, then they will be easier to catch if needed. I'd not let them in the stream - they will make mess of it. In some places, you can't let them water in a stream. I think it has to do with the people down stream from you. Other than that, they ought to be pretty easy.

I had 2 steers on 2 acres last year and we were fine. It depends on your grass and rainfall.

G. Seddon · #10 04/26/12, 07:51 AM

buck 01, I'm not sure exactly where you're located, but another organization to contact regarding water would be your soil and water conservation folks. Here's a website for VA, and if you scroll to the bottom, you can locate the group that oversees your area.

Virginia's Soil and Water Conservation Districts

It's well worth the effort to keep streams clean.

Depending on where you are, I might be able to recommend a vet as well. Let me know if I can help.

buck 01 · #11 04/26/12, 03:31 PM

Thanks to all great site with lots of help sorry for the other post my computer was acting funny. I live in front royal va. Im going to grain feed to Finnish them out would like to finish them about 900 pounds or so. I will check out the info you gave and keep you posted but still need to finish fence and shelter and small coral. Want everything done before I buy anything. And yes I want beef steers Proby Angus.

InvalidID · #12 04/26/12, 04:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by buck 01

Thanks to all great site with lots of help sorry for the other post my computer was acting funny. I live in front royal va. Im going to grain feed to Finnish them out would like to finish them about 900 pounds or so. I will check out the info you gave and keep you posted but still need to finish fence and shelter and small coral. Want everything done before I buy anything. And yes I want beef steers Proby Angus.

I have a buddy that lives out in Lacey Springs and he's getting 1 per acre on average. He feeds corn silage in the winter though.