Grass Fed Beef production concerns

[TEhayandcattle]

We are moving forward in deal to supply a small chain store with grass fed beef, we run Beefmaster but they want British cattle rather than Brahman influenced,preferably Black Angus but we are in South Texas. This won't be an issue for me because I will be pasturing cattle for other people in our "producers' group" with a minimum gain amount per day paid upfront each month and this will allow me to optimize the number of cattle under each pivot, rather than running a whole field for just 150 heifers and my replacement heifers will be in top shape. Anyway I was looking for any experiences on the time it will take to "finish" calves on grass without supplement other than salt and mineral, What will they dress out at on average. We can plant oats and rye in the fall and grazer type crops in the spring but the calves are not allowed to eat the seed head. They will be running on Tifton-85 fertilized and irrigated and free choice on hay, and we will be overseeding with Hubam clover and tetraploid-rye, pivots will be halved or quartered and calves rotated. The summer here is usually triple digit with gulf humidity. Everything I learned in grade school would suggest that a black outfit in South Texas is a bad idea. but I guess that is just dumb kid stuff, right? Well I have alot of questions running through my head and no solid source to answer them, Have any of you tried this, what doesn't work? What are some realistic expectations? I don't even know half of my questions, I'm pretty sure of that. Oh yeah they are wanting to establish a contract, at first I was excited but my pessimism has been overpowering my enthusiasm(habit formed from farming and ranching for a living) and now I am seeing contract as a double edged sword.
Appreciate your inputs.

 

[dieselbeef]

if yer finishing them on grass what are they on before that? they will eat til they grow to the size you want them to be...im not gettin what you wanna know. i finsh all mine on bahia pasture right to the butcher at about 22-24mons

 

[Bluestem]

Red Angus might work for you. I'm not a fan of trying to finish on bermuda grass. But you can get good growth off it with good management. Graze it at 8-10 inches, take them off at 4-5 inches. Use management intensive grazing (MIG). Rye grass will put a good finish on them. Find a corn you can grow in your country under that center pivot. Corn plants give a good finish through the summer/fall months. Can you make that center pivot pay with grazing? As far as finish goes. I figure a steer will be finished when it weights about 100 pounds more than its momma. You'll see them start to deposit that fat. Those Brahman influenced cattle you're running now can be huge and will take more time to finish. Over all sounds like you have a plan.

 

[Texas PaPaw]

Here's a book you may wish to read. The author has studied several successful grass finishing operations. I haven't read this one but his other books are excellent.

http://www.stockmangrassfarmer.net/cgi- ... d=503.html

 

[TEhayandcattle]

Thanks for suggesting the book PaPaw I'm gonna read it. And Bluestem, I think the question of making the center pivot pay through grazing is my biggest concern right now, I guess we're fixing to find out. I guess we can't do much worse than anything else we try to run under it, What about that photosynthesis sensitive or whatever grazer, has anyone tryed it yet.

 

[Bluestem]

Here's a book you may wish to read. The author has studied several successful grass finishing operations. I haven't read this one but his other books are excellent.

http://www.stockmangrassfarmer.net/cgi- ... d=503.html

This book is about the best out there on grass finishing. But we're all on a steep learning curve. New ideas coming out every day.