Jersy bull Help

BlessedMom · #1 07/08/05, 12:26 AM

Ok, I know nothing about cows in any way, shape or form. I'm new to goats and doing fairly well. A friend contacted me knowing that we are trying hard to homestead. There is a woman that is 3 months pregnant and in a terrible way. She needs to vacate the land that she is on immediately. She has 3 jersey bulls that are about 200 lbs. each. She wants me to make an offer on them.
I've driven by and seen them, and they look healthy and well fed. But I don't know anything else. I do know that she did bottle fed them. She has no paper work or anything. I really think she got in over her head.
Any advice? Would these be for eating? How much room would one of these need? What would be a good price to offer her? We don't have much but would like a side of beef this year.
How long would it take to get big enough for slaugher?
Thanks!
Lori

evermoor · #2 07/08/05, 12:44 AM

Most our jersey steers finish at 2 years of age weighing in the 1000 to 1200 lb range. These guys sound like ther only a couple of months old and probably not worth much. I would guess int the 150 range if they are weaned and over two months and seem to be doing great. Often jerseys steers( and bulls) are heavily discounted do to small size and slow gain, around 20 cents cheaper than holsteins. Ask her what she wants and be resonable, home grain meat will cost more but it is genrally worth it. Also get them castrated / dehorned very soon by a vet.

BlessedMom · #3 07/08/05, 12:04 PM

They are weaned. So am I going to wait 2 years to take them to slaughter?
Is castration something we could do ourselves? We do the goats ourselves by banding them. I'm not sure if they are dehorned I will ask.
I don't know that I am interested in keeping one for 2 years. In fact, I'm pretty sure I'm not interested if it takes that much time.
It seems to me that I remember slaughtering when I was a kid the same year that they were born. Is my memory just completely wrong?

quailkeeper · #4 07/08/05, 01:01 PM

You can butcher at any age. As long as they are not under 5-6 months old they should taste like beef. Under that and they will be veal. I have a dexter bull calf that I will probably butcher at 7-8 months old. I would definitely castrate them. Jersey bulls are notorious for becoming very aggressive. You should be able to band them still. I wouldn't worry about dehorning them if they are going in the freezer. I'm not sure what you should offer. I took a 150 lb Jersey steer to the sale and got $250 for him. Prices vary from location to location. Call up to the sale barn and ask them how much they think you would get for a 200 lb Jersey bull calf. They are usually pretty good at pegging a price.

james dilley · #5 07/08/05, 01:24 PM

If you leave them intact that means less fat on them at slaughter and better feed conversion too, just butcher at about 10 months old though.

BlessedMom · #6 07/08/05, 03:03 PM

How much area would I need?
And what do they eat?
Vaccinations?
Could someone just give me a quick realistic run down of what I am looking at if I get one.

a1cowmilker · #7 07/09/05, 12:07 AM

Hi there, I just have to weigh in on this topic. I doubt that you know me, I rarely post, but I try to read every chance I get. Despite my name I am far from an a1 cowmilker, but I love jersey cows. I have had two, one died and I am waiting on the second to freshen for the first time. I used to be arkansas transplant.
Any way, about the jersey bulls, I am convinced that they are pretty dangerous animals. I am very inexperienced but my friend who was raised with dairy animamls got pretty roughed by her young jersey bull. That bull became hamburger the next day. She doesn't keep any dairy bulls on the farm any more and if she wouldn't I certainly would not either. So I guess I am saying, if you don't have much experience I would beg you to consider not getting them and waiting for another opportunity to come along.
Like I said, that's just my .02
thanks,
a1cowmilker formerly arkansas transplant

BlessedMom · #8 07/09/05, 01:06 AM

Well I've been calling a few friends that raise cows. They told me that what I would want to do is band them ASAP. Then butcher at about 8 months.
I have two friends that do this and that is what they told me today.
But I think we have decided to wait. We love our goats but right now cattle may not be up our alley. I would feel awful if this animal were to harm one of my children.

Thank you for helping me make my decision!

pygmywombat · #9 07/09/05, 06:46 AM

200 lb. bull calve's are dangerous in the least, because their hormones aren't at work yet. They need to be castrated before they hit 6 months old. Steers are perfectly well tempered animals- generally speaking- the only danger from them is their shear size as they grow, just like any large farm animal.