Boarding cattle on other people's farm

[CrossbredJersey21]

I just graduated an agricultural high school and have the intention of working in the livestock health and nutrition field. I would like to start owning cattle to be able to get that experience for myself. Do you think it would be possible for me to buy a heifer and pay someone for her to live and breed on a cow-calf operation. I have been showing cow's through my school for the past four years and really would like the opportunity to own the cattle that I work with.

 

[Brute 23]

I like your thinking. You will need to think outside the box to survive going forward, imo. Especially when it comes to procuring land if you don't already have it.

My suggestion is to put yourself in their shoes. If you had land and cattle, what would it take for you to let some one else add their cow to your herd?

I started out in your shoes and now I'm slowly becoming the person you will need to approach with your proposition so here are my thoughts.

Cash is not really of value to me. Sounds funny right. You would have to have a business model better than mine where you could pay me a higher rent than what I could earn on my own cow. Your cash offer would have to beat my returns plus the cost of the hassel/ liability.

What I am short on is... #1 Time... #2 Reliable help. If you can provide those two things it will be of great value. Just be careful on your end not to go in the hole on that because it's really easy to spend way more than that one heifer can generate you.

Lastly, be flexible. You will be on their property riding their train. You will feed what they feed, breed to what they breed to, etc. Be ready for that. It can be great to get in the game but frustrating to not have input on the play calling.

Good luck. Leases and opportunities are made by doing things like this if you get in with the right group.

 

[Brute 23]

Consider putting your location in your profile. No need for it to be detailed but maybe just a state or some thing like that.

 

[Hereford2]

I got started in cattle, by First talking to an old cattle man who was still in the business, but he was old enough to admit he could use help with stuff like working cattle, getting in firewood, building fence ect. after I helped him for, I think it was 6 months one day we were riding through his herd and he pointed to a cow and said she's yours if you want her. I was blown away! I worked even harder after that, I sold my horse bought a bottle calf raised it, sold it used the money from that calf, and from selling walnuts to buy a registered heifer from a neighbor and the guy who I was still helping let me put it in with his herd. I still help the guy with cow stuff ECT, some years back he set up an entire corral with a squeeze shute and a shed and he gave them to me! Money doesn't change hands with us much, but the education and friendship is priceless.

 

[Warren Allison]

@CrossbredJersey21 , you need to put your location on your profile. If you lived around here, or around our south Ga place, I'd let you keep it on my place. I have done this before for kids.. several times with horses, but a few with cattle. Like Brute said, I am always needing help hauling hay, fencing...all kinds of work on a cattle or horse ranch that needs doing. That labor, to me, is worth a lot more than the little bit of grass or hay a cow or horse will eat. Some of these kids I even pay them a little too, in addition to the board. I bet there are people with cattle around you that would be more than happy to do the same. Not all, but most folks are willing to help a young un getting started out. Go talk to your neighbors, AFTER you edit your profile to add your location!

 

[Mark Reynolds]

I got started in cattle, by First talking to an old cattle man who was still in the business, but he was old enough to admit he could use help with stuff like working cattle, getting in firewood, building fence ect. after I helped him for, I think it was 6 months one day we were riding through his herd and he pointed to a cow and said she's yours if you want her. I was blown away! I worked even harder after that, I sold my horse bought a bottle calf raised it, sold it used the money from that calf, and from selling walnuts to buy a registered heifer from a neighbor and the guy who I was still helping let me put it in with his herd. I still help the guy with cow stuff ECT, some years back he set up an entire corral with a squeeze shute and a shed and he gave them to me! Money doesn't change hands with us much, but the education and friendship is priceless.

Gathering and selling walnuts........Nice to hear that I wasn't the only one 'nutty' enough to do that. I didn't buy cattle with the proceeds, but it did help.

 

[coachg]

I'd let you put her in with one of our herds. Where you at ?

 

[Mark Reynolds]

I just graduated an agricultural high school and have the intention of working in the livestock health and nutrition field. I would like to start owning cattle to be able to get that experience for myself. Do you think it would be possible for me to buy a heifer and pay someone for her to live and breed on a cow-calf operation. I have been showing cow's through my school for the past four years and really would like the opportunity to own the cattle that I work with.

I'm not telling you what to do, but have you given any thought to buying a bred cow or a cow with a calf at its side that is also bred? This could significantly accelerate your path to owning cattle. Many members on this forum do this. But don't ask me what to do, I do not own any cattle. My role here is a bit different.

 

[CrossbredJersey21]

I'd let you put her in with one of our herds. Where you at ?

I'm gonna be in the Amherst Massachusetts area in the fall.

 

[coachg]

I'm gonna be in the Amherst Massachusetts area in the fall.

Little too far to N Alabama

 

[Mark Reynolds]

I'm gonna be in the Amherst Massachusetts area in the fall.

It's not quite your back yard, but contact @Jeanne - Simme Valley near Auburn, NY. She is completely pasture based and is a good instructor/teacher. I have no idea on a cow/heifer arrangement that she would offer you other than it would absolutely have to be a cow you get from her, if she would make that kind of offer

 

[farmerjan]

I'm gonna be in the Amherst Massachusetts area in the fall.

@Jeanne - Simme Valley may know of someone that has show cattle that might be closer to you, that you could get "hooked up with" to maybe help with showing or something like that... I am in Va so no help to you either...

 

[CrossbredJersey21]

I like your thinking. You will need to think outside the box to survive going forward, imo. Especially when it comes to procuring land if you don't already have it.

My suggestion is to put yourself in their shoes. If you had land and cattle, what would it take for you to let some one else add their cow to your herd?

I started out in your shoes and now I'm slowly becoming the person you will need to approach with your proposition so here are my thoughts.

Cash is not really of value to me. Sounds funny right. You would have to have a business model better than mine where you could pay me a higher rent than what I could earn on my own cow. Your cash offer would have to beat my returns plus the cost of the hassel/ liability.

What I am short on is... #1 Time... #2 Reliable help. If you can provide those two things it will be of great value. Just be careful on your end not to go in the hole on that because it's really easy to spend way more than that one heifer can generate you.

Lastly, be flexible. You will be on their property riding their train. You will feed what they feed, breed to what they breed to, etc. Be ready for that. It can be great to get in the game but frustrating to not have input on the play calling.

Good luck. Leases and opportunities are made by doing things like this if you get in with the right group.

Thank you for the advice, I'll be sure to keep this in mind.

 

[CrossbredJersey21]

I got started in cattle, by First talking to an old cattle man who was still in the business, but he was old enough to admit he could use help with stuff like working cattle, getting in firewood, building fence ect. after I helped him for, I think it was 6 months one day we were riding through his herd and he pointed to a cow and said she's yours if you want her. I was blown away! I worked even harder after that, I sold my horse bought a bottle calf raised it, sold it used the money from that calf, and from selling walnuts to buy a registered heifer from a neighbor and the guy who I was still helping let me put it in with his herd. I still help the guy with cow stuff ECT, some years back he set up an entire corral with a squeeze shute and a shed and he gave them to me! Money doesn't change hands with us much, but the education and friendship is priceless.

That's a great story, I would be thrilled if I could find a situation like that.

 

[CrossbredJersey21]

@CrossbredJersey21 , you need to put your location on your profile. If you lived around here, or around our south Ga place, I'd let you keep it on my place. I have done this before for kids.. several times with horses, but a few with cattle. Like Brute said, I am always needing help hauling hay, fencing...all kinds of work on a cattle or horse ranch that needs doing. That labor, to me, is worth a lot more than the little bit of grass or hay a cow or horse will eat. Some of these kids I even pay them a little too, in addition to the board. I bet there are people with cattle around you that would be more than happy to do the same. Not all, but most folks are willing to help a young un getting started out. Go talk to your neighbors, AFTER you edit your profile to add your location!

Just added my profile location, thank you for the advice.

 

[CrossbredJersey21]

@Jeanne - Simme Valley may know of someone that has show cattle that might be closer to you, that you could get "hooked up with" to maybe help with showing or something like that... I am in Va so no help to you either...

I just reached out to her, thank you

 

[farmerjan]

Contact the local extension office... the extension agents might be of help for you to find a place to work, someone wanting/needing help for a possible exchange of some sort... I know that Conn had a very good extension service when I was a kid living up there. UCONN had a good ag program at the college... Contact them too... might find something that way.

 

[WFfarm]

I would recommend trying to get a hold of Trowbridge Farm in Ghent, NY. It's near Albany, NY. Phil Trowbridge is one of the largest Angus breeders in NY and has a large network of customers and may know of someone in your area. Phil is a great guy too, he has been president of the NY Beef Producers Association and has been a sponsor for many Ag and cattle events in our state. He has an annual spring bull sale near us and a feeder calf sale in the fall for his customers. An hour or two conversation with him would give you a lot of useful information.

 

[Jeanne - Simme Valley]

Phil T also takes in interns.