First purchase was a newborn calf from an auction that didn't make it. Second purchase was a 200 lb steer from an auction did I put on a quarter acre of land where I live in town. I only put two strands of barbed wire cuz that's what I had. He immediately got out and ran it was dusk and I couldn't find him. I had a neighbor helped me and eventually we got him. Some other neighbors called the cops and code enforcement. Nothing became of it thank you Jesus for de-escalating that one. The dream is still alive. Thank you so much for all the great information it's solid straightforward good factual helpful information
To buy cows your best bet are the old short and solid cows. Those cows don't generally have problems other than age. They will be long bred but still only bring as much as open. Wean calf then sell her that year or next to processer at a higher rate than sale barn price. The price on beef is still just about controlled as it is with pork. All the prices are based on the end price that JBS or one of the 2 other companies are paying for a finished calf. Yes hard fence the outside but a good cset of pens to bring cattle into is the most important. Not 1/4 acres but small 20x30 at the biggest and tall enough they can't jump strong enough they can't go threw. You can go awhile and never loss anything out of a small pasture but eventually you will get bit. Last week a guy unloaded into a pen of cattle panels 110 head. We cought the last one 15 miles south. He had been doing the same every year for over 20 years never had a problem tell he got bit. I have 1ks of them stories from the last 30 years
Good information and makes a lot of sense i just started with a cow calf pair she has been a good mum and her heifer calf is growing well. I have recently bred her via AI excited on the future 😊
I have 4 purebred red angus bred to a purebred SouthPole I will sell for $2500 in May. The purebred southpoles are around 3k, but stockyard heifers are around 1500 here.
Really helpful. I’m hoping to get my first cattle this spring after getting fence in place. Since I am brand new and only raising for meat for friends and family, I have assumed getting a couple young steers to butcher would be the best way to get started. Would you still recommend the heifer or bred heifer in my case? I’m not looking to make $, just break even by selling to friends and family and fill my own freezer. Thanks!
If you’re buying calves and not breeding just butchering, I would buy heifers. They are cheaper at 500lbs, and on grass get better marbling. They will finish around 100lbs lighter than their brothers typically but not a noticeable difference in the meat. The market is higher on steer because they grow faster in the feedlots than heifers, but if you look at the data it’s on 7-14 days faster. For a small farmer that’s nothing. For big feedlots with 10,000 head it makes a difference, and causes the mindset of the market to change that steers are better, when in all reality it’s minimal to us, and I think the advantage and options on heifers makes them better. If you have a bull on farm this logic would change with the risk they could be bred early or add extra work maintaining two herds.
❤❤VIDEO ❤❤ great information ❤❤first time watching ❤if you have a lot of cow content ❤I will watch earlier episodes to find what breed you have❤looks like red angus ❤ south polls❤Hereford influence on black ones❤since you mentioned Greg Judy if you have a bull I’m your biggest fan ❤❤
Thanks for the advice. What are your thoughts on a healthy retired person going into the cattle business on 70 acres of pasture with two spring-fed ponds?
I think it really depends on your retirement goals. But the advice I always give is start small and have all your fence and water sources in place prior to getting the first animal. I don’t recommend drinking from the pond, but pumping out of it or gravity feeding out is a fine idea.
So starting out there wont be a profit at all regardless of what we do. Just buying a trailer and getting the fence in shape will eat all that profit from selling the calf. Question… why do you sell your nice heifers rather than using A.I. to bring in new genetics and allow you to keep your nice heifers?
I’m small and I try to do things to minimize my daily workload. One of which is only maintaining one herd. Keeping them separate in two herds causes me so much more work and planning with my size it’s painful. I agree with your idea it’s just the choice I’ve made at this stage and the amount of rehab I still have to do in this farm. Thanks for watching.
I believe you’re raising south poll genetics. I mean you have a south poll bull ❤that calf has red tint to it ❤I will wait and watch your next episode see if I’m right❤ I know someone else has a south poll bull on his TH-cam channel ❤all his black angus turning more and more south poll❤I believe you can line breed if you like that bull genetics ❤ too a certain point (3yrs) then I would invest in 2 bulls (2yr old) split the herd up evenly ❤ 12 cows each ❤ if you don’t have 24cows minimum ❤ only buy one bull ❤ new bull I would put with the daughters and granddaughters ❤the 4yr old bull 🐂 I would put with the original 10 cows you started with ❤ daughters 8 cows, granddaughters 8 cows I would put the new bull 🐂 with them❤by the time next breeding comes around you got 3 to 4 steers and then you can pick the best genetics with weaning weight and weight gains and disposition and calmness ❤❤what you 🤔 think..
First purchase was a newborn calf from an auction that didn't make it.
Second purchase was a 200 lb steer from an auction did I put on a quarter acre of land where I live in town. I only put two strands of barbed wire cuz that's what I had. He immediately got out and ran it was dusk and I couldn't find him. I had a neighbor helped me and eventually we got him.
Some other neighbors called the cops and code enforcement. Nothing became of it thank you Jesus for de-escalating that one.
The dream is still alive. Thank you so much for all the great information it's solid straightforward good factual helpful information
Great video .i started with 650 pound heifers and a 2 year old bull. Little cheaper but but 3 years before any income.
Good practical information, thank you for sharing this valuable information! God bless!
FIRST TIME viewer…very good content. Tim in northern TN
Thanks for joining let me know if I can help.
To buy cows your best bet are the old short and solid cows. Those cows don't generally have problems other than age. They will be long bred but still only bring as much as open. Wean calf then sell her that year or next to processer at a higher rate than sale barn price. The price on beef is still just about controlled as it is with pork. All the prices are based on the end price that JBS or one of the 2 other companies are paying for a finished calf. Yes hard fence the outside but a good cset of pens to bring cattle into is the most important. Not 1/4 acres but small 20x30 at the biggest and tall enough they can't jump strong enough they can't go threw. You can go awhile and never loss anything out of a small pasture but eventually you will get bit. Last week a guy unloaded into a pen of cattle panels 110 head. We cought the last one 15 miles south. He had been doing the same every year for over 20 years never had a problem tell he got bit. I have 1ks of them stories from the last 30 years
Good information and makes a lot of sense i just started with a cow calf pair she has been a good mum and her heifer calf is growing well. I have recently bred her via AI excited on the future 😊
Watching and learning. Thank you
Thank you Jer
Wow. We just heard the bred heifers were $3000. So im happy if i can get one for $1500.
I have 4 purebred red angus bred to a purebred SouthPole I will sell for $2500 in May. The purebred southpoles are around 3k, but stockyard heifers are around 1500 here.
Really helpful. I’m hoping to get my first cattle this spring after getting fence in place. Since I am brand new and only raising for meat for friends and family, I have assumed getting a couple young steers to butcher would be the best way to get started. Would you still recommend the heifer or bred heifer in my case? I’m not looking to make $, just break even by selling to friends and family and fill my own freezer.
Thanks!
If you’re buying calves and not breeding just butchering, I would buy heifers. They are cheaper at 500lbs, and on grass get better marbling. They will finish around 100lbs lighter than their brothers typically but not a noticeable difference in the meat. The market is higher on steer because they grow faster in the feedlots than heifers, but if you look at the data it’s on 7-14 days faster. For a small farmer that’s nothing. For big feedlots with 10,000 head it makes a difference, and causes the mindset of the market to change that steers are better, when in all reality it’s minimal to us, and I think the advantage and options on heifers makes them better. If you have a bull on farm this logic would change with the risk they could be bred early or add extra work maintaining two herds.
Before the cows, I need the land. Any tips on getting the land in extension enough to support a starting cow/calf operation?
❤❤VIDEO ❤❤ great information ❤❤first time watching ❤if you have a lot of cow content ❤I will watch earlier episodes to find what breed you have❤looks like red angus ❤ south polls❤Hereford influence on black ones❤since you mentioned Greg Judy if you have a bull I’m your biggest fan ❤❤
I have a bent tree bull and I have bought 6 cows from Greg Judy.
Thanks for the advice. What are your thoughts on a healthy retired person going into the cattle business on 70 acres of pasture with two spring-fed ponds?
I think it really depends on your retirement goals. But the advice I always give is start small and have all your fence and water sources in place prior to getting the first animal. I don’t recommend drinking from the pond, but pumping out of it or gravity feeding out is a fine idea.
So starting out there wont be a profit at all regardless of what we do. Just buying a trailer and getting the fence in shape will eat all that profit from selling the calf.
Question… why do you sell your nice heifers rather than using A.I. to bring in new genetics and allow you to keep your nice heifers?
I’m small and I try to do things to minimize my daily workload. One of which is only maintaining one herd. Keeping them separate in two herds causes me so much more work and planning with my size it’s painful. I agree with your idea it’s just the choice I’ve made at this stage and the amount of rehab I still have to do in this farm. Thanks for watching.
I believe you’re raising south poll genetics. I mean you have a south poll bull ❤that calf has red tint to it ❤I will wait and watch your next episode see if I’m right❤ I know someone else has a south poll bull on his TH-cam channel ❤all his black angus turning more and more south poll❤I believe you can line breed if you like that bull genetics ❤ too a certain point (3yrs) then I would invest in 2 bulls (2yr old) split the herd up evenly ❤ 12 cows each ❤ if you don’t have 24cows minimum ❤ only buy one bull ❤ new bull I would put with the daughters and granddaughters ❤the 4yr old bull 🐂 I would put with the original 10 cows you started with ❤ daughters 8 cows, granddaughters 8 cows I would put the new bull 🐂 with them❤by the time next breeding comes around you got 3 to 4 steers and then you can pick the best genetics with weaning weight and weight gains and disposition and calmness ❤❤what you 🤔 think..
I have a pure breed SouthPole bull and 6 pureblood cows, 4 x 100% heifers, a couple 50% cows and young heifers