Trying to get into cattle and have no clue

joshf · #1 08/07/13, 07:13 PM

We are attempting to lease dome ground from a neighboring farm that is vacant. We would like room to expand our pastured pig and poultry raising as well as get some cows. We are seriously considering getting a milker or two as well as two or three beeves. We figure any excesses in milk can be bartered or fed to the pigs.
We would like to do pasture or hay only. No corn. Also any infrastructure needs to be portable. I believe I can design shelters on skids and possibly even a milking stall. But I am unsure of what sizes to build.
I am also unsure how much land to lease. I expect the pasture to be poor at first as this place has only recently been mowed for the first time in about a decade.
I am also really clueless of the water needs of cattle.

I really know nothing about cattle but i really have a desire to attempt to raise some.

I am in western pennsylvania so i have snowy winters to contend with and if trends continue lots of mud as well. Does this increase the necessary amount of pasture?

I honestly do not even know what questions to ask as i know so little.
Any suggestions and discussion on the subject would be greatly appreciated.

Valmai · #2 08/08/13, 06:09 AM

Look for cattle farmers in your area. Ask which cattle cope best in your area. Hopefully you may find a farmer close by who will be generous with his/her advice . Ask a knowledgeable person what the stocking rate will be for the property they will be on, or if that property is even capable of supporting cattle. Is the soil deficient in any important minerals? You absolutely need some form of yards to treat the animals. I made a couple of portable shelters for my calves, 3mt by 6mt by 1.8mt high, by the time they were 4/5 months old they were too rough and strong for the shelter so for adult cattle it will have to be built like a tank. If the land is muddy when there are no animals on it it will be much much worse with cattle, which means you will need even more land. Adult cattle can drink upto 40 litres of water a day in hot weather, if it gets really cold where you are you may need a heating source to keep the water from freezing solid. If you do go ahead I would suggest starting with sturdy beefies at least 6 mths old and wait until you have learnt a lot more before getting a milker as they are a lot more work with a lot more potential problems. BEFORE you buy, educate yourself as to what a good healthy animal looks like, preferably find a knowledgeable cattle person to go with you when you open your wallet.

okiemom · #3 08/08/13, 06:37 AM

unless they are tame the first thing is to get a working chute. we went from goats to beef cows and a good working system is a requirement for safty.

G. Seddon · #4 08/08/13, 06:45 AM

Start with your county agricultural extension agent and go from there. He/she is familiar with your area, can answer all your questions and point you in the right direction. Another good resource is NRCS for your area, as well as regional cattle associations. AND, don't forget to get a basic book on raising cattle and read, read, read. Heather Smith Thomas comes to mind.

Gravytrain · #5 08/08/13, 07:23 AM

Josh,
I'm also in western PA, (NWPA in the heavy snow belt) and started raising beefers this year. My land situation is similar to yours as my farm was a working farm 25 years ago and hadn't seen any activity other than a brush hogging every 5 years or so. I also raise pasture hogs. I rotationally graze both.

My recommendation to you is get a soil test done. Then read the converting to rotational grazing thread on this forum...all of it. Even if you don't intend to rotationally graze, the amount of great information from agman and others is invaluable.

I'm quite happy with the way my goldenrod infested pasture is shaping up after only 3 months. My cows are quite plump and happy and I'm increasing my carrying capacity every day. I'm also amazed at the seed bank that is laying dormant in the ground just waiting for conditions to improve. What was goldenrod, thistle, multiflora, ferns, a little orchard grass and sumac is now largely red and white clover, trefoil, ryegrass, orchard grass and timothy! I still have a lot to learn, but reading that thread as well as others have certainly helped facilitate my learning curve.

I started in the spring, but the first thing I did was brush hog everything. Then I grazed heavily and quickly, moved them and mowed again, down to about 6"...rinse and repeat. I grain just a little every day in order to get my animals used to me and lately I've been adding just a bit of clover and trefoil seed in the grain, and I just noticed yesterday that in the paddocks that I've done that, I'm seeing some benefit from it.

If I can be of any assistance, don't hesitate to ask.

Bret · #6 08/08/13, 07:42 AM

Do you know why you want to be in the cattle business? Go deeper to try to see what you know about your reasons. You don't have to justify them to anyone but yourself, but it will help you.

Cattle need water, salt/minerals, forage, shade. Some shade from extreme sun/heat and some wind break for when it is extremely cold and windy. Even moderate cold is extreme when you add rain.

Fences go without saying. I agree that a chute and a way to handle the cows safely is very important and can make or break your day.

Attend local cattle and pasture walks to see what other people do.

joshf · #7 08/08/13, 04:39 PM

Thanks to all. I appreciate the advice more than you know. I have read the entire rotational grazing thread a few months ago. (Wow that took a while.) And i have been reading every thread here on cattle as time permits. I have ordered a few books as well.

A few more questions
Could someone point me to pictures or better explanation of the chute that was recommended. I was thinking some sort of stall but I may be way off base.

Am I better off buying a cow as local as possible so as to hopefully get something that can thrive in my climate or should I look at some of the people who specialize in grass fed beef in other locations?

Cab,will cows pasture in wooded areas?

Gravytrain. I appreciate the offer of advice. I will certainly take you up on that as you are the only person i have found in my climate that practices rotational grazing.