First of all, I'm so happy to see the wealth of info on this site. I wanted to get y'all's thoughts on the operation I've started. First let me say my goal is to be running 100-200 head when I retire in about 15 years. It'll keep me active and its always been a dream of mine. I'm hoping to custom graze for now. I'm not planning to buy a ranch or a bunch of equipment anytime soon. Wanted to start small to make/learn from my mistakes and build the heard on leased land close to me. Then move the whole heard to my old family farm when I retire and can be more active in it.
1. I wanted help to start off. A buddy recommended a cowboy that works for a large cattle company in East Texas, he's trying to start his own custom grazing business and he's leased 65 acres of land across the road from him. It's 50 acres grazable and the rest is coastal Bahia paddocks that are off limits to the cows. I pay him $22 per head per month to feed, work, doctor, etc the cattle. He's done a great job so far. I pop up about every week or two to check everything. So far so good with him (fingers crossed).
2. The place had 7 heavy bred F1 baldies 4-6 years old and a 6 year old full angus bull on it. I bought all of them for for $1500 a piece. See photos. Well, 4 calved in Dec, 3 more to calve soon.
The cowboy thinks I should sell them all at 450 pounds and use the money to buy open cows or bred cows. He says he doesn't like to spend time/money raising heifers that may not produce and their first calves can sometimes bring less. Plus I think he may be getting a little cut every time he sets up a private treaty deal (I don't mind since he's doing the legwork). The question is do I just keep my heifers to grow the heard or sell and buy the "proven" cows? Also, he says he can pick out 5 good heavy bred cows from a lot that just came in and get them all for $5500. They calve in 30 days. I keep them 30 days then sell 3 cow/calf pairs for $4500. I basically get the other two pair for $500. What are y'all's opinions and questions that I should be asking? I know I left out a lot of detail to spare you the reading.Thanks in advance!
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1. I wanted help to start off. A buddy recommended a cowboy that works for a large cattle company in East Texas, he's trying to start his own custom grazing business and he's leased 65 acres of land across the road from him. It's 50 acres grazable and the rest is coastal Bahia paddocks that are off limits to the cows. I pay him $22 per head per month to feed, work, doctor, etc the cattle. He's done a great job so far. I pop up about every week or two to check everything. So far so good with him (fingers crossed).
2. The place had 7 heavy bred F1 baldies 4-6 years old and a 6 year old full angus bull on it. I bought all of them for for $1500 a piece. See photos. Well, 4 calved in Dec, 3 more to calve soon.
The cowboy thinks I should sell them all at 450 pounds and use the money to buy open cows or bred cows. He says he doesn't like to spend time/money raising heifers that may not produce and their first calves can sometimes bring less. Plus I think he may be getting a little cut every time he sets up a private treaty deal (I don't mind since he's doing the legwork). The question is do I just keep my heifers to grow the heard or sell and buy the "proven" cows? Also, he says he can pick out 5 good heavy bred cows from a lot that just came in and get them all for $5500. They calve in 30 days. I keep them 30 days then sell 3 cow/calf pairs for $4500. I basically get the other two pair for $500. What are y'all's opinions and questions that I should be asking? I know I left out a lot of detail to spare you the reading.Thanks in advance!
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