I've done some research and havent really found all the answers Im looking for, and was wondering if someone could point me in the right direction. We run a small herd of about 30 cows, spring calf try to wean a 450 to 600 lb animal.
For the past 8 years or so we've been selling our calves to a farm that puts about 200 lbs of gain on them and away to the sell barn they go. Im toying with the idea of keeping 10 to 15 steers through the winter and selling in the spring when prices have a spike. Our cows over winter on stockpiled orchard grass and we usually plant a few rye pastures and feed grass hay.
We have feeding barns avaliabe that arent being used and always have plenty of hay left over.
Would retaining some steers and adding weight with hay and grain over the winter increase our profits?
If so what type of feed program would work well for this?
If we decide to feed grain this winter it would have to be bagged feed which we can get at a slight discount if buying a skid at a time. If this proves to be a profitable venture we would add a grain bin next year to buy bulk feed. Or get a mixer/grinder to mix and store our own.
Any advice or links to publications dealing with how to get started would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Nathan
For the past 8 years or so we've been selling our calves to a farm that puts about 200 lbs of gain on them and away to the sell barn they go. Im toying with the idea of keeping 10 to 15 steers through the winter and selling in the spring when prices have a spike. Our cows over winter on stockpiled orchard grass and we usually plant a few rye pastures and feed grass hay.
We have feeding barns avaliabe that arent being used and always have plenty of hay left over.
Would retaining some steers and adding weight with hay and grain over the winter increase our profits?
If so what type of feed program would work well for this?
If we decide to feed grain this winter it would have to be bagged feed which we can get at a slight discount if buying a skid at a time. If this proves to be a profitable venture we would add a grain bin next year to buy bulk feed. Or get a mixer/grinder to mix and store our own.
Any advice or links to publications dealing with how to get started would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Nathan