Buying First Cows

[twabscs]

Hi All,

I've been lurking here for several months and am ready to get started with my first purchase. Really appreciate all of the help offered by everyone here.

I have 130 acres of good pasture in NW Missouri. Over the last few weeks I have put up some grass hay and am ready to purchase my first set of cows. I have a 15 acre field set aside for the first set of 5 or 6. My long-term goal is to add 6-9 cows each year to get the heard up to maybe 50 a few years from now. This is to "average in" and give me time to learn.

Here are my questions:

1) Angus is the primary breed here in NW Missouri and I would like to start with cross-bred cows and an Angus bull. I also like Herefords but you don't see many in this part of the country. Anyone here from NW Missouri that would like to help me get started?

2) Is there a good website to help locate farms that are currently selling cows? I see ads all the time for bulls, but not much else. I'd like to stay away form sale barns to begin with, but I'm having difficutly locating sellers. I've tried the association websites, but they really aren't much help.

3) What about the sale barn option? Should I take a chance with my first purchase?

Thanks,

Tom

 

[Texan]

I'm really not supposed to be answering questions on this Board, Tom. But I did want to bump your post back up toward the top so that maybe some other beginners could see it and help you.

Good luck!

 

[Caustic Burno]

Hi All,

I've been lurking here for several months and am ready to get started with my first purchase. Really appreciate all of the help offered by everyone here.

I have 130 acres of good pasture in NW Missouri. Over the last few weeks I have put up some grass hay and am ready to purchase my first set of cows. I have a 15 acre field set aside for the first set of 5 or 6. My long-term goal is to add 6-9 cows each year to get the heard up to maybe 50 a few years from now. This is to "average in" and give me time to learn.

Here are my questions:

1) Angus is the primary breed here in NW Missouri and I would like to start with cross-bred cows and an Angus bull. I also like Herefords but you don't see many in this part of the country. Anyone here from NW Missouri that would like to help me get started?

2) Is there a good website to help locate farms that are currently selling cows? I see ads all the time for bulls, but not much else. I'd like to stay away form sale barns to begin with, but I'm having difficutly locating sellers. I've tried the association websites, but they really aren't much help.

3) What about the sale barn option? Should I take a chance with my first purchase?

Thanks,

Tom

There are a lot of good Hereford people on this board that can help you out, off the top of my head you might try pming greenwillow ,certherf,txag or campground . Stay away from the salebarn as a beginner unless you are as smart as lillybull.

 

[twabscs]

Hi Texan,

Thanks for the bump. If you'll direct me to the Guru board, I'll post my question there.

Seems there aren't many from Missouri here, but a lot from the Great State. BTW, I've fathered two "native" Texans and am a graduate of UT - Dallas. Surely you can help.

Tom

 

[twabscs]

Thanks Caustic,

Yes, I'm staying awaying from the sale barn if I can. Heck, I'll even buy registered for my first set to ensure I start with quality. Just need some direction on finding where to look.

Tom

 

[Caustic Burno]

Thanks Casutic,

Yes, I'm staying awaying from the sale barn if I can. Heck, I'll even buy registered for my first set to ensure I start with quality. Just need some direction on finding where to look.

Tom

If I was going to turn my dog loose Greenwillow is in Ok. damn fine man give you good advice. There are also 2 Ladies that better in my book than most especially on the Herefords that is txag and Certherf. These are good girls and will not steer you wrong. Camp knows them white face pretty good to, you pm those people you will get some quality help.

 

[la4angus]

If I was going to turn my dog loose Greenwillow is in Ok. damn fine man give you good advice. There are also 2 Ladies that better in my book than most especially on the Herefords that is txag and Certherf. These are good girls and will not steer you wrong. Camp knows them white face pretty good to, you pm those people you will get some quality help.

You can't go wrong with any of these peoples advice. They are all 1st Class people.

 

[greenwillowherefords]

T0m see y0ur inb0x. (p.m.)

 

[Campground Cattle]

http://www.tpha.net/members/districts.htm

I have bought some fine seedstock from the K-K ranch up on the Texas Oklahoma border. Dang almost forgot Shafer Ranch up there as well.

 

[SimmAngus]

Not so long ago a question was posted.... something like - "If You Had It To Do Over Again What Would You Do Different". As I recall most said they would buy fewer, but better cows to start with. I think this speaks volumes, the quality of the critters you select is far more important than the quanity. I also agree to the idea of looking to some of your local breeders, don't use the sale barn at this juncture in your cattle business. When selecting your cows try to get them close in calving dates, it will pay dividens in the future! Try to find a breeder who will sell you F1 females, like Baldies or Simmental-Angus (MY FAVORITE) Use high quality bull semen to enhance or improve your cow herd and retain the heifers to build your future herd........IMHO

 

[SimmAngus]

Not so long ago a question was posted.... something like - "If You Had It To Do Over Again What Would You Do Different". As I recall most said they would buy fewer, but better cows to start with. I think this speaks volumes, the quality of the critters you select is far more important than the quanity. I also agree to the idea of looking to some of your local breeders, don't use the sale barn at this juncture in your cattle business. When selecting your cows try to get them close in calving dates, it will pay dividens in the future! Try to find a breeder who will sell you F1 females, like Baldies or Simmental-Angus (MY FAVORITE) Use high quality bull semen to enhance or improve your cow herd and retain the heifers to build your future herd........IMHO

 

[bigbull338]

hey camp are you talking bout k bar k herefords in pottsboro tx.if so yes they have some well bred cattle.an great bloodlines. an they know hereford cattle. scott

 

[Jeanne - Simme Valley]

I would contact the local extension office & talk to the livestock specialist. He KNOWS all the breeders in the area, and he will only recommend farms that he trusts. Also, there is a Missiouri Cattlemen's Assn. with a directory listing all the breeders. If it's anything like our state, there will be many commercial cow/calf breeders as well as purebreds. Also, if you contact the state breed associations, you can ask for their directories as well.
I guess I didn't interpret your fist post as meaning you wanted to buy Herefords - you said you liked them - but there aren't many in the area. Check out what you can market in your area & make money. If you are looking for Herefords, their state assn will have a directory - should even be on their web site??? although you said the web sites weren't helpfull. Maybe you checked the National web sites instead of the state's?
No matter what breed you buy (or breeds) like it was posted - buy the best you can afford, keep the calving dates within a 45-60 day interval, and be sure they are up to date with their vaccinations.

 

[Campground Cattle]

hey camp are you talking bout k bar k herefords in pottsboro tx.if so yes they have some well bred cattle.an great bloodlines. an they know hereford cattle. scott

Yep that was my seedstock girls when I went from commericial to registered.

 

[bigbull338]

i like the way they breed their cows. they are breed for the pasture.if they cant make it in the pasture they no good. scott

 

[simcross]

I'm in nw missouri over the last several years hereford have faded out simmental and angus cross gave way to charlois and angus cross.

I have bought from the sale barn before and have come out ok i don't know of to many that sell bred cows privately. The best thing is to go to the sales and watch what sales, very few if any bred cows selling this time of year most don't sell till fall or winter. With the market has hot as it is their are some guys selling their cows to get in on the market. Some guys that are retirement age are enjoying the high market also.

I would stay away from the one or two head bunches.
The ones selling their herd usually have larger numbers so after they sort for age they will run a bunch in and sell gate cut sometimes 5 or more i have seen when they would only sell 10 or more. Watch your quality of cattle if a bunch is not bringing very much there is probably a reason.

If they bring in a big bunch and they are good cattle some one might take a small gate cut then when they sell again try and bid up to what the first ones brought unless some one wants them bad enough to run the price higher you ought to get them bought about the same money. If you don't get one bunch bought just wait for another bunch have patience and a sharp eye and you should do OK.

 

[eric]

Check your local newspaper. You stated most guys have bulls for sale, give them a call and ask if they have any cows for sale, or if they know someone who does. You might find someone who is getting ready to sell a load in a month or so, and maybe they can let them go a little early for you. Never hurts to ask, and if asked politely, most folks dont mind.

You really should stay away from the sale barn until you get a little more time around the cows. There are some great buys at the sale ring, but there are also some guys just dumping cull cows, and sometimes its hard to tell the difference with the limited amount of time you have to see the animal in the ring. At least thats been my experience at the salebarn. A savvy guy with yrs of cattle experience might be able to find the bargains, but for me, it's kinda just rolling the dice and hoping for the best. At least at a guys ranch, I can see how the cows act around other cows, around people, and spend alot of time looking at their disposition before I have to pull my checkbook out. Not to mention, maybe get a little background information on the cow if the guys had it for awhile.

 

[twabscs]

Thanks everyone for the help / suggestions. Please keep them coming. I've talked to some breeders and am continuing to do research. I think starting with a few registered is the best way to go.

Tom

 

[SF]

Missouri Hereford Association
http://www.moherefords.com/
they have a listing of breeders on this web site

You may have tried this already, but if not there are a few missouri breeders listed on this site.

 

[MoGal]

First of all I'd like to say "Good Luck" to you.

I hadn't been around cows for many years and got back in last December. My goal also is to have 50 cows in the next 4 1/2 years (when I turn age 50). Going slow is the best I think and be very selective, quality over guantity.

For myself, I've gotton commercial cows (mostly charx) and although I've bought several bulls and put them into a lease program, I'm most excited about a registered red poll bull I am buying (he was just born late April, so as you can see I'm thinking ahead to next year). I'm retaining my heifer calves (all 4 of them, ha ha) plus have bought 4 weaning heifers. I figure all good things come to those that wait and I don't mind waiting another 18 months before I realize any real progress.

At the present time, I've got 5 bottle calves and will be getting another one within a couple of weeks (cow has prolapsed and will be sold soon after calf's birth).

As many have said before, get something that YOU enjoy looking at in the pasture. For me its those yellow/gold colored char cross cows. They are gentle, good natured, docile girls and easy to work around, good mothers and raise a good calf.

I have to laugh when I go out and call em up.... I mean the race is on and they come running. If I'm in an adjacent pasture calling up a different set of cows, mine will come to the edge of their fence and start bawling.