Greenhorn
Member
First off, hello to everyone. I have been reading the posts for a couple days and dedcided to register and ask a few questions. I am looking to make the move into the cattle business and am in the process of learning and planning at the moment. My experience is somewhat limited. As a youngster my Grandfather in Oklahoma ran cattle and I would help out in the summer. I am currently raising exotics with my brother in law who has a place in the Texas Hill Country. We keep a herd of goats to provide some cash flow throughout the year. His place is not very conducive to raising cattle. So all in all not to much experience but enough to have made up my mind that this is the lifestyle I want to pursue. This decision is based on many things including quality of life, better environment to raise my kids, and a love of the outdoors, animals, and hard work (hehe, yes I like to work!).
I am in the planning stages right now and I am saving like a madman to get the necessary capital to start with. Looking at the price of land and the sale price of cattle I am having a hard time making the numbers work. I am not looking to get rich, just pay the bills. I am thinking of 200 acres and a cow/calf operation. I know answers may vary alot, and some questions may be vague and apply in one situation but not another and so on. What I am looking for is how you do it on your ranch to make a living. So here goes...
1. Is it generally better or more cost efficient to keep bulls for breeding or to AI?
2. Any trick or tips on financing the land and/or herd to make it profitable?
3. What to look for in a piece of land?
4. Is there a "best" age/weight to sell calves at?
5. What is the timeline on weight gain (generally speaking)? In other words what do they usually weigh at 3 months, 6 months, 9 months 12 months?
6. Should I set aside land for raising hay for the winter or how is hay production set into the grazing rotation?
Thanks in advance for any answers and all of the future help that this board will undoubtably provide.
-Greenhorn
I am in the planning stages right now and I am saving like a madman to get the necessary capital to start with. Looking at the price of land and the sale price of cattle I am having a hard time making the numbers work. I am not looking to get rich, just pay the bills. I am thinking of 200 acres and a cow/calf operation. I know answers may vary alot, and some questions may be vague and apply in one situation but not another and so on. What I am looking for is how you do it on your ranch to make a living. So here goes...
1. Is it generally better or more cost efficient to keep bulls for breeding or to AI?
2. Any trick or tips on financing the land and/or herd to make it profitable?
3. What to look for in a piece of land?
4. Is there a "best" age/weight to sell calves at?
5. What is the timeline on weight gain (generally speaking)? In other words what do they usually weigh at 3 months, 6 months, 9 months 12 months?
6. Should I set aside land for raising hay for the winter or how is hay production set into the grazing rotation?
Thanks in advance for any answers and all of the future help that this board will undoubtably provide.
-Greenhorn