[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Ask a beef cattle farmer..... (Page 1 of 4)
Posted: 1/7/2010 3:02:07 PM EDT
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I'm bored, having a few beers watching the snow fly....
Ever had a question for a cattle farmer? Ask away! |
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What is the general way to feed the animals from birth to slaughter? Have you considered any sort of organic/grassfed operation, and why or why not?
Also, about how many acres per head do you need? I am assuming in Ohio you have ample grass on the ground. My dad used to ranch in west TX, so I spent quite a few summers on horseback and climbing windmills, but that was when I was a kid so I don't really know the ins and outs of the actual business. |
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Quoted:
Quoted:
Do you just eat steak for every meal? Haha, no, but maybe 3 times a week... when we go out I eat chicken or seafood, not filet minon, Ive got that at home :) As far as when they are slaughtered, when they reach about 800 - 1100 pounds.... I would eat nothing but steak. Steak and eggs for breakfast, steak sandwich for breakfast and a monster ribeye for dinner with a baked potato. Nothing but steak every day. |
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How did you get into the business? Did you buy your land? Lease land? Or inherit? I am 4th generation.... we run about 550 acres with 90 cows. As far as feedlot or free range, we use feedlots to finish out steers and heifers on grain but they are born in the pasture and stay there until they are 350 - 400 pounds.... With no pasture improvements its 6 acres per cow but with proper practices you can get it much lower than that, especially if you feed supplementary hay and grain as we do. You also have to measure your "cow-days" as a measurement of pasture. |
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Is the industry concerned about the blame session being held by PETA\Global warming crowd, I know the industry here does a shit job of countering these dirt bags
Here in the Netherlands they are always being intervieuwed and are campaigning for a extra meat tax etc (this is not a joke they really want the .gov to regulate what we eat) |
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Does "moo" really mean no? And the stump-broke one's, do you let them slide an extra year or so?  HAH, I am from Ohio not west virginia. Right now its full time but I have also had other employment, its just tough right now to find other work. My wife is an ag professor. iggy- we are worried about global warming legislation regarding animals and constant government intervention. I don't take government handouts but I still have to file their damn paperwork. |
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do you feed your cows corn??? if so why? We grind feed of 75% corn, 25% wheat, then vitamins and mineral packets, sometimes soybean meal. It looks like a coarse cornmeal. We use it as a supplement to pasture for breeding stock and to add weight faster to beef cattle in feedlots. For 3 - 4 acres you would only be able to have 1 or 2 cows without a significant amount of additional feed. By the book its 5 - 6 acres per cow on straight grazing. |
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If I knocked on your door and wanted to buy one of your 800lb cows would you sell it to me? What would it cost? I would also need someplace to gut it and help getting it in the back if the truck is that too much to ask? It wouldn't be an 800lbs cow, it would be a steer or heifer..... And we don't do any sort of processing on-farm due to laws, and we only do individual sales to family friends :) We raise black baldies, which are hereford cows bred with purebred Angus bulls, most come out black with white faces/heads.... Hereford cows can throw bigger calves than Angus bulls typically produce so we have few birthing problems Kobe seems like a waste of time but whatever people want to buy :) Yes we have lots of city idiots who trespass doing deer drives. They get ran off. |
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How much does it cost to raise one Cow assuming you got land and water? Thats so variable as to be almost unanswerable.... What are you feeding them? If you have sufficient pasture then very little, or if you home grow your own hay/grain.... if you buy from the store, a lot more. give me more details. Beef are a lot less work and we arent set up for dairy. Calves can be as little as $20 each or up to a couple hundred depending on the circumstances. I need another beer guys bear with me a few min |
| How hard would it be for someone with no prior experience with cows to raise one? Would they make good pets? I've always thought cows are cool creatures, and would love to retire one day on my own ranch and just have them grazing hapilly in the distance, enjoying life. |
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How hard would it be for someone with no prior experience with cows to raise one? Would they make good pets? I've always thought cows are cool creatures, and would love to retire one day on my own ranch and just have them grazing hapilly in the distance, enjoying life. They aren't pets, they are more like investments that eat :) You can have a couple but dont expect to make any money on it, just keep them out of the weather and fed and watered..... |
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What part of Ohio? How much steroids are used in the process? SE Ohio, we use no steroids or antibiotics unless one gets sick. And no you cant cow tip reliably. Cows are animals and they (especially herd boss or bull) will fuck you up if you mess with them. Ive been hurt dozens of times and I work with them daily. Hoof bruises hurt. |
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Where do your cows get sent to? I'm about 30mi south of Columbus, and know a few of the local butchers get meat only from this region. I don't see too many people raising cattle around here, it's mostly grain. We sell at auctions, usually in Caldwell at Producer's Livestock Sale |
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How much are you getting per pound at the auction currently? Quoted: Quoted: Where do your cows get sent to? I'm about 30mi south of Columbus, and know a few of the local butchers get meat only from this region. I don't see too many people raising cattle around here, it's mostly grain. We sell at auctions, usually in Caldwell at Producer's Livestock Sale |
[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Ask a beef cattle farmer..... (Page 1 of 4)
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