Looking for Calf

[Wonderland]

My family and I want to raise a steer this year for beef. I was hoping to get one from Emily from Ozark Jewels, but her reservation list is already full!

Do any of you have dairy cows, or know of someone who does, and will be selling excess bull calves at a young age? I live in west TN but can travel within a day's drive to neighboring states for a healthy calf. That's why I was hoping to get one of Emily's -- I know her's would have been in excellent health!

We are a small family with a limited budget, so we're pretty much only looking for a young excess dairy calf. We don't need the extra meat or to spend the extra $$ on an older calf or meat-breed calf.

Thanks.

[Wonderland]

Originally Posted by Wonderland

We are a small family with a limited budget, so we're pretty much only looking for a young excess dairy calf. We don't need the extra meat or to spend the extra $$ on an older calf or meat-breed calf.

To clarify this statement, which I worded poorly, we're not going to raise it for veal. We don't need the extra meat of a meat-breed steer or the extra cost that buying an older calf or a meat calf would entail. Which is not to say I wouldn't consider a meat or meat cross calf, but I imagine they're more expensive than excess dairy calves.

[Lazy J]

Budget and feeder calf are two words that are not used in the same sentence this year.

[Allen W]

Originally Posted by Wonderland

or the extra cost that buying an older calf or a meat calf would entail. Which is not to say I wouldn't consider a meat or meat cross calf, but I imagine they're more expensive than excess dairy calves.

Price of an older calf vs. a bottle baby. Baby calf + 1 bag of milk can often buy you a 200 to 300lb calf around here if you can spend some time watching at the sale barn. You gain a couple months time and no bottles, which I don't like messing with. All bets are off in this market though.

[Wonderland]

Are prices higher this year? I don't remember them being very expensive when I was looking around last year. We may have to switch gears...

[Lazy J]

Holstein feeder calves at the Topeka Indiana Auction sold for $1.40 to $2.00 per pound last week. Beef type feeders at Shipshewana traded from $1.50 to $2.50 per pound at the same time.

[WildRoots]

Beef is still up, milk is starting to drop, so cull dairy cows should start flooding the market. Prices might come down a little in the next months, but I wouldn't bank on it

[Wonderland]

Thank you all for the information! I didn't realize prices could fluctuate so much with cattle.

[Tango]

Raising for veal you want to stay out of a sale barn. If he gets sick you will need antibiotics and most have no withdrawal for pre-ruminating calves. You also don't know if he had any meds before you purchased. Careful of buying from the wagonload of traders that have emerged in this market. They buy at a sale and then turn around and sell them. They will misrepresent the animals and tell you they were purchased off a farm or dairy. I am buying Jersey bull calves in March and half Holstein bull calves in May off of dairies and might be able to pick one up for you if you haven't found one by then. I am near Savannah, TN. Jersey bull calves at 1 week $175 and 1/2 Holstein at 1 week $225. Check out my guarantee on my blog in the sig line.

[kycrawler]

Holstein bull calves in west central no are bringing $300-350 a head jerseys are bringing $90-120 there is a dairy here in Nevada Missouri that you can get all the Holstein bull calves you want at $325 per head he sells off the farm at the same price they bring at the springfield auction

I will have some jersey /Hereford crosses for sale in may

[Wonderland]

I am going to discuss this more with my family and see what we decide for this year. I appreciate all if your input and suggestions!

[CrabbyChicken]

I called my local raw milk dairy and found some for $50 last year.So keep trying, and sometimes it is just calling dairies you drive by.