zendog
Member
I am a hobby farmer in Indiana. I raise a couple of steers a year. I like the idea of miniature cattle but the cost of stock is so high that I can not begin to break even selling beef and I do not want to get into being a being a breeding operation.
I know that dairy calves sell for very little. I was wondering... if I paid for artificial inseminating dairy cows with semen from a miniature Lowline Angus donor: A) Would I have trouble finding a dairy farmer who would agree to this? and B) Would the resultant calf( Lowline Angus X Holstein or whatever) have reasonable beef producing properties? and finally, C) How much would it cost me to get one of these calves?
I can get good sperm for $35 to $50 per straw. I have no idea if I have to pay a vet to do the AI work or if a good dairy farmer can do it. If I have to pay a vet, how much would that add to the cost. Finally, how much would the dairy farmer charge me for the calves? Right now, I sell custom beef (by the side) directly to consumers cut wrapped and frozen, so I know the other costs pretty well.
As I say, I am a hobby farmer, so I do not necessarily have to make money on this, but I do not want to raise beef and lose money on it either.
I know that dairy calves sell for very little. I was wondering... if I paid for artificial inseminating dairy cows with semen from a miniature Lowline Angus donor: A) Would I have trouble finding a dairy farmer who would agree to this? and B) Would the resultant calf( Lowline Angus X Holstein or whatever) have reasonable beef producing properties? and finally, C) How much would it cost me to get one of these calves?
I can get good sperm for $35 to $50 per straw. I have no idea if I have to pay a vet to do the AI work or if a good dairy farmer can do it. If I have to pay a vet, how much would that add to the cost. Finally, how much would the dairy farmer charge me for the calves? Right now, I sell custom beef (by the side) directly to consumers cut wrapped and frozen, so I know the other costs pretty well.
As I say, I am a hobby farmer, so I do not necessarily have to make money on this, but I do not want to raise beef and lose money on it either.