free martian for beef?

chiroboy1 · #1 11/01/12, 05:54 PM

I have been wanting to get a holstien steer to raise for freezer beef, but I am having a hard time getting one. I have a neighbor who offered to sell me a sterile heifer, but I didn't know if they would grow as well as a steer. Does anyone have any experience with these cattle?

SpaceCadet12364 · #2 11/01/12, 06:17 PM

They don't grow as big or as fast as a steer but if the price is right they eat as well. That and a heifer does not yield as much as a steer (carcass weight). I say why not.

Judith · #3 11/01/12, 06:23 PM

We just put one in the freezer and I think she was about 600 pounds. Holstein HFR from Dairy farm. Somehow she slipped through the cracks, vet went to AI her and was like UH she is missing some parts

Was quite funny at the time. Anyhow mostly a hamburger cow but it smelled like prime steak when in the pan . No complains from this family. We did get a few roasts and steaks and stuff but not like from a beefer

sammyd · #4 11/01/12, 09:36 PM

wouldn't hesitate to take one

chiroboy1 · #5 11/02/12, 07:10 AM

I only have raised one steer before, and we took him up to 1300lbs before we put him in the freezer. It seems like people are positive about a free martian, but if they don't grow as big or as fast, am I setting myself up for disappointment? Or will they get up to around that size, but just take a little longer?
Thanks for your comments so far.
Troy

topside1 · #6 11/02/12, 07:28 AM

Enough worring about weight gain, the difference is not enough to worry about. If you had a desired goal weight in mind then keep the heifer on the farm an extra month or two. Plan B would be to alter her ration to improve weight gain when she's young and later when she's getting ready for market. I would not focus on weights as much as I'd focus on health and condition....Quick 3 cents...Topside

sammyd · #7 11/02/12, 07:32 AM

Cattle Feeding: Gain & feed conversion between steers & heifers of the same genetics Supplementation/Nutrition -News, Management Tips

I don't think you would be setting yourself up for disappointment.
Neighbor used to run a feedlot behind us and he would have free martins in the mix every so often. If it wouldn't have pencilled out they wouldn't have been there.

chiroboy1 · #8 11/02/12, 08:29 AM

Thanks. I just called my neighbor and told him I'd like to work out a deal with him for the heifer.

I also notice that I spelled it free martian, rather than martin. hahaha. I guess that if I had a chance to buy a "martian, from Mars" I should do that for sure. That would definately be a money maker.

SpaceCadet12364 · #9 11/03/12, 12:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chiroboy1

Thanks. I just called my neighbor and told him I'd like to work out a deal with him for the heifer.

I also notice that I spelled it free martian, rather than martin. hahaha. I guess that if I had a chance to buy a "martian, from Mars" I should do that for sure. That would definately be a money maker.

I was fixing to be a smarty-pants and ask you where your neighbor got one of those from....(martian).....

myersfarm · #10 11/03/12, 12:37 AM

I will take one as long it is FREE martian...I am sure I could find somebody to REHOME it for a small fee of course

topside1 · #11 11/03/12, 12:53 PM

If it were me I'd draw a blood sample and send it in for analysis. The test is cheap, not all free martians, are free martians....I couldn't resist, I tried too....Topside

DamnearaFarm · #12 11/05/12, 05:57 PM

Here I was thinkin' I sure wouldn't be sendin' a free martian to freezer camp, I'd find a way to breed that thing....AI, anyone?

TRAILRIDER · #13 11/08/12, 09:43 AM

What would one expect to pay for a free martin holstein heifer? There is a CL ad for two free martin calves in my area. Bottle fed, fat and dehorned, at 15 weeks old. They want $275.00 (doesn't say wether for one or both.) I know the cheaper the better, but is that any outrageous figure? Sounds high to me.
Only reason I was interested was that they are handled, trained to lead etc. I only want animals around that I can work myself.

SpaceCadet12364 · #14 11/08/12, 10:30 AM

Depends on size. They should be priced the same as a bull calf roughly for your area. Of the same breed. So if if a bull calf (holstein) goes for 275 or more at 105 days then its a good deal. the should weigh 225 to 275 lbs or more. They may have been weaned already.
But if you want to continue giving them milk it won't hurt.

TRAILRIDER · #15 11/08/12, 10:57 AM

SpaceCadet12364, I am in the Lexington KY area, so close to your area. Do you know what holstein bull calves are bringing in your area? The ad said they were between 250 and 275 lbs and weaned.

SpaceCadet12364 · #16 11/08/12, 01:29 PM

They are bringing 1.05 to 1.15 so about 265$ to 345$ each. We have 3 highlands and 1 high-angus that we are looking to sell in that weight range.

arnie · #17 11/09/12, 11:04 AM

Your fre martin should bee more tender if you keep it past the calf stage due to no hormones .it being a dairy breed there is little chance of getting prime beef .but you will enjoy it's meat as well as any housteen .

sammyd · #18 11/09/12, 03:02 PM

LOL dairy beef has every chance of being prime, if fed properly.
50% of dairy beef sold in the US is as whole muscle cuts.