farming help

[drrmwall]

I have 20 acres of good bottom land trying to decide best way to make some $$$ from it Has good water supply from large year round creek and a good barn any and all help appreciated any coments and or info. sites on the internet. Thanks

 

[preston39]

I have 20 acres of good bottom land trying to decide best way to make some $$$ from it Has good water supply from large year round creek and a good barn any and all help appreciated any coments and or info. sites on the internet. Thanks

With a good pasture sod in place try running about 30-40 head of 150-200 pounders with good dry mixed feed...5lbs..per head 2 x daily(not to much...make em graze...youngns get lazy if you keep em full of easy food) with routine maintenance applications...pre condition them and ....sell em...at about 500 lbs.
The feed lots will love you. You can do this 3 x annually. Should be able to make a buck or two.

 

[bwranch]

Missouri? What part?

 

[drrmwall]

Missouri? What part?

laclede county

 

[franseen]

If you do decide to pasture your land try to divide it into paddocks (seperate pastures within one pasture). By letting the animals gaze in one paddock at a time you can more efficiently utilize you feed. Do not let them chew the grass down to roots before moving them though. By keeping them confined in a smaller space you don't allow them to pick and choose as much. Good luck with whatever you decide to do.

 

[steveaust]

I am on small acres like you and rearing calves seems to make me a few bob.My 17 acres is split into 8 paddocks and this makes the grass go further All paddocks have access to the one shed and bank of water troughs.(near the house).If i knew better at the time i would have fenced in a wagon wheel pattern with troughs,shedding and gateways at the hub. :D :D :D :D

 

[franseen]

Good post steveaust. drrmwall, if you need help on figuring out paddocks just let us know someone should be able to help you.

 

[Texan]

.....try running about 30-40 head of 150-200 pounders with good dry mixed feed...5lbs..per head 2 x daily(not to much...make em graze...youngns get lazy if you keep em full of easy food)........

Sounds to me like a recipe for losing his ass. You make money with light cattle by grazing them. Not overstocking and making up for it by feeding high-priced feed.

And you think a 150-200 pound calf needs 10 pounds of dry feed a day? And that'll make 'em want to graze? Keep 'em from getting full and lazy, huh?

 

[la4angus]

.....try running about 30-40 head of 150-200 pounders with good dry mixed feed...5lbs..per head 2 x daily(not to much...make em graze...youngns get lazy if you keep em full of easy food)........

Sounds to me like a recipe for losing his ass. You make money with light cattle by grazing them. Not overstocking and making up for it by feeding high-priced feed.

And you think a 150-200 pound calf needs 10 pounds of dry feed a day? And that'll make 'em want to graze? Keep 'em from getting full and lazy, huh?

Full feed is about 2% of body wt. 2% of 200 lb is 4 lb per day and you would have to go up from there to 500 lb to be feeding 10lb per day and have them on full feed. Then they would leave most of the grass alone the whole time from the 150 to 200lb.
IMO he would be better off buying about 8 or 10 350 lb'ers.

 

[franseen]

See how they do on grass with no extra or some very light feed. Then adjust accordingly. Don't feed extra if you can't afford it. If the area isn't fenced yet posts, wire, insulators,and a good fencer will cost you a bunch.

 

[Crowderfarms]

If they can't make it on grass, forget it.Feed = diminished, lost profits and more labor for you, on small acreage.Put only the number of head on it the forage will support.Start out small, and go to the next step, try to maximize your profit. You might find you make more $ with less head.

 

[Caustic Burno]

.....try running about 30-40 head of 150-200 pounders with good dry mixed feed...5lbs..per head 2 x daily(not to much...make em graze...youngns get lazy if you keep em full of easy food)........

Sounds to me like a recipe for losing his ass. You make money with light cattle by grazing them. Not overstocking and making up for it by feeding high-priced feed.

And you think a 150-200 pound calf needs 10 pounds of dry feed a day? And that'll make 'em want to graze? Keep 'em from getting full and lazy, huh?

Holy Cow I agree with Texan what a recipe for diaster, feed store will love you. You can satisfy a cows nutritional needs on 2 lbs a day now you need something to fill em up.
Feeding out of sack is a loser.

 

[preston39]

.....try running about 30-40 head of 150-200 pounders with good dry mixed feed...5lbs..per head 2 x daily(not to much...make em graze...youngns get lazy if you keep em full of easy food)........

Sounds to me like a recipe for losing his ass. You make money with light cattle by grazing them. Not overstocking and making up for it by feeding high-priced feed.

And you think a 150-200 pound calf needs 10 pounds of dry feed a day? And that'll make 'em want to graze? Keep 'em from getting full and lazy, huh?

Holy Cow I agree with Texan what a recipe for diaster, feed store will love you. You can satisfy a cows nutritional needs on 2 lbs a day now you need something to fill em up.
Feeding out of sack is a loser.

=============

Hey folks....I feel like the person who mis spelled hay "tarps"-traps...LOL..
I meant 2 1/2 lbs 2 x daily... sorry about that. Thanks for looking over my shoulder.

All depending on pasture conditions...right now...just enough to keep them coming up for review.

 

[dun]

In Laclede county, if you have good grass, you can lease it on a per head bases and not have the winter worrys. If you check with the extension office they will be able to tell you what the going rate is for the part of the county you're in. Splitting the pasture into a couple of paddocks with hot polywire will help to ustilize the grass more efficiently. If you have the money up front to get some stockers, you can rotate them and sell them when the grass starts to pter out. Or you could hay it on shares and sell your share. There are a lot of alternatives besides owning cattle yourself for smallish areas. 20 acres won;t support as many head as you'ld expect. If it's the usual pasture it's high endophye fescue. Depending on the legume component the palatability and nutrition of the grass will drop of drastically in late June through early-mid September.
Talk to Pam Cornelious at NRCS, she's the grass person for this area. She can help you with determining just how good your pastures are.
Unless you attend a grazing school I don;t think you can get any costshare for fencing, etc.

dun

 

[preston39]

.....try running about 30-40 head of 150-200 pounders with good dry mixed feed...5lbs..per head 2 x daily(not to much...make em graze...youngns get lazy if you keep em full of easy food)........

Sounds to me like a recipe for losing his ass. You make money with light cattle by grazing them. Not overstocking and making up for it by feeding high-priced feed.

And you think a 150-200 pound calf needs 10 pounds of dry feed a day? And that'll make 'em want to graze? Keep 'em from getting full and lazy, huh?

Holy Cow I agree with Texan what a recipe for diaster, feed store will love you. You can satisfy a cows nutritional needs on 2 lbs a day now you need something to fill em up.
Feeding out of sack is a loser.

Texan, Caustic,

Note my correction.

Also..note 4 x's yearly. We find it worth a little extra dry grain for faster growth and weight. All must be considered based on pasture, etc.

It wasn't my intent to cover a degree in animal science...just some starters knowing there would be add ons by others.

Paddocks out of 20 acres? Cost..starting out...huh?

Our paddocks are a ....little larger...I haven't put a pencil too it but, off hand I doubt it would pay on 20 acres...maybe so.

 

[bwranch]

In Laclede county, if you have good grass, you can lease it on a per head bases and not have the winter worrys.
dun

Dun hit the nail on the head. With 20 ac you'll do great through July, then plan on feeding hay. Lease it out. You could maybe get by with two or three stockers with the intent of selling two, eating one.....but you would probably be better off leasing the ground and buying a side of beef. JMO.

Lee

 

[la4angus]

Hey folks....I feel like the person who mis spelled hay "tarps"-traps...LOL..
I meant 2 1/2 lbs 2 x daily... sorry about that. Thanks for looking over my shoulder.

At 2 1/2 lb 2 X daily these little 150 to 200 lb calves are still getting more than a full feed. They need to eat as much forage that he is growing. If he needs a protein supplement 1 lb per day would be ample.
2% of body is considered to be full feed.

 

[docgraybull]

Have you reviewed the "alternative crops" thread? ;-)