questions regarding the cost of raising vs breeding for beef

[dbarjacres]

Ok, here's the situation. We have raised a beef (so far had a Ang/Hol X, Jersey (goodness they are DUMB), and Highalnd) for the last few yrs. We keep half and sell the other half. We always got in spring and butchered the following fall.

So, 2012 we weren't going to have any as I want to grass feed them as we have plenty of pasture, but my goat herd expanded a bit and I'm worried about the cows carrying in Johnes. So, I told DH NO MORE COWS. He likes raising them, even tho he makes a pet out of the darn thing. So, in September, we bought two longhorns, a steer and a heifer, late spring calves. We have about 4 acres of LUSH pasture and creek bottom for them to roam about. So, I am pretty sure we could sustain 2-3 head with just a tiny bit of grain to keep them friendly and locked up at night and when we are gone (lots of "free ranging" Amish cows, so want ours in the most secure area during those times). But being in WI,this still means 6-7 mos of hay. And we have to figure out how the heck to get the heifer bred.

I've been hearing that hay prices are going to stay this high, till possibly fall and then maybe go down if there is a surplus.

Does it make sense for us to keep the heifer and breed her? My figures show it'd be cheaper to buy a bull calf and then butcher at the end of growing season, so roughly at 18-20 mos like we have been doing. Is it best to buy a Highland/Longhorn calf for $300ish at 3-4 mos old or buy dairy for cheap and feed it?

What is the Johnes risk of dairy calves that young? I know of a couple places I'm comfortable to go pick up a beef type from.