Hobby farmers/ranchers and the beef industry

[Alan]

This topic has been thrown around a bit, and maybe I misread the intent of S.R.R. post. But I would like someone to seriuosly tell me the negitive impact a hobby cattle person has on the beef industry. I have some thoughts on postitive impacts and market trends, but will hold them to focus any discussion on the negitives.

Thanks,
Alan

 

[john250]

The more livestock people, (of all kinds), there are in my neighborhood the better I like it. I'm the commercial guy, but if my neighbor with 15 cows and my neighbor with 12 horses weren't there I'd be sharing that property line with ???. I'm sure the alternative wouldn't be better. People who have no stock are a lot more picky about odors and cows out and about everything. They mow 5 acres of grass like a baseball field. I like my "hobby" neighbors.
The amount of beef they produce doesn't make much difference in the price we get. May even help, as the stongest markets are the ones with the most receipts.

 

[MikeC]

This topic has been thrown around a bit, and maybe I misread the intent of S.R.R. post. But I would like someone to seriuosly tell me the negitive impact a hobby cattle person has on the beef industry. I have some thoughts on postitive impacts and market trends, but will hold them to focus any discussion on the negitives.

Thanks,
Alan

For conversations sake, I was at a meeting one time and the speaker was talking management pratices in cattle ranching.

He made the statement that there is two main problems in the cattle industry today.
1-The small time operators. Under 25 head.
2-The large operators. Over 500 head.

He torked almost everyone at the meeting off.

Come to find out later in the meeting he had spent over 10 years studying management practices in cattle ranches all over the USA disguised as a cowboy/ranchhand.

His insight was interesting.

 

[Susie David]

We cater to a niche market that the large producers have largely ignored. We do see a big increase in the "natural beef" market country wide and our customer base likes to know where their meat is being raised and are welcome to visit the farm anytime.
We are going to expand our business and don't think that we'll hurt the large rancher by doing so.
I believe that by gorwing a high quality lean carcass with great taste we are attracting a customer that is more selective about the meat they purchase. If we make a dent in the cattle market then...good for us!
I believe that the family farm is making a comeback and we intend on being a part of the movement....folks are paying more attention to the quality of the food they eat and we are, at least in our area, making a difference and making a profit at it to boot!
And that's my two bits worth...Dave Mc

 

[C HOLLAND]

WOWWWWWWW I am almost in the BIG TIME, 2 more babies to go and I will be over 25 head. I may have to call my banker and tell him I am BIG TIME now :lol: :lol:

I won't tell him I AI and may be a threat to the BIG TIME cattle people, and the elimination of that right to own a BULL of your own. BECAUSE it's TRADITION

I have news for all the big time people out there, if the little guy goes away, then the prices they get on those weekend special replacement sales will go down.

 

[Scotty]

I think I heard this a a Farm Bureau meeting that the average size family cattle operation was 25 to 30 head. Thats was the main reason they think it will never be fully verticly integrated.

 

[Gale Seddon]

Come to find out later in the meeting he had spent over 10 years studying management practices in cattle ranches all over the USA disguised as a cowboy/ranchhand.

Kind of like those 'restaurant review people' who dine out and then write up a review of the food and service, etc.? Wonder what kind of confidentiality contract he had to sign, if any.

 

[iowahawkeyes]

I agree with c holland, how many times at a sale do you see a newbie spend way too much on average cattle. They are just excited to be in business. Once at the NWSS, I was sitting next to a guy at the angus sale and he just kept his hand up the whole time! Needless to say, he went home with some cattle.

On our farm, we have 50 cows (usually we have a few less) and focus on a niche market because we don't have the space to have more head. It depends on your region what a big and little producer is too. We are small to average for size.

More of an issue around here are the dairy and hog operations. We are putting up a 2000 head hog building, primarily for the manure as fertilizer costs are so high. With the elections tomorrow, a few candidates in the area are making local control (meaning no hogs or dairy) an issue. I think it's good for our rural economy to have these new bldgs coming but many disagree.

 

[MikeC]

Come to find out later in the meeting he had spent over 10 years studying management practices in cattle ranches all over the USA disguised as a cowboy/ranchhand.

Kind of like those 'restaurant review people' who dine out and then write up a review of the food and service, etc.? Wonder what kind of confidentiality contract he had to sign, if any.

I assume he never used any ones names. Just an overall view of management practices and had a lot of funny stories too.

 

[Caustic Burno]

This topic has been thrown around a bit, and maybe I misread the intent of S.R.R. post. But I would like someone to seriuosly tell me the negitive impact a hobby cattle person has on the beef industry. I have some thoughts on postitive impacts and market trends, but will hold them to focus any discussion on the negitives.

Thanks,
Alan

It's not the size as much as the attitude I think that does more harm. They don't really count cost and try to run a profitable operation. They want a new tractor so they buy it they don't care what a bale of hay cost they know they need twenty rolls and pay whatever. It is more of a status symbol to drive the 40,000 dollar truck with the 10,000 dollar trailer with a ten gallon hat. This so they can tell everyone they are cattlemen or "cowboys" and get there ag excemtions on the Ponderosa.

It's kinda like I am in oil and gas I have oil on my hair and gas on my belly.

Both are a BS job.

 

[redfornow]

This topic has been thrown around a bit, and maybe I misread the intent of S.R.R. post. But I would like someone to seriuosly tell me the negitive impact a hobby cattle person has on the beef industry. I have some thoughts on postitive impacts and market trends, but will hold them to focus any discussion on the negitives.

Thanks,
Alan

It's not the size as much as the attitude I think that does more harm. They don't really count cost and try to run a profitable operation. They want a new tractor so they buy it they don't care what a bale of hay cost they know they need twenty rolls and pay whatever. It is more of a status symbol to drive the 40,000 dollar truck with the 10,000 dollar trailer with a ten gallon hat. This so they can tell everyone they are cattlemen or "cowboys" and get there ag excemtions on the Ponderosa.

It's kinda like I am in oil and gas I have oil on my hair and gas on my belly.

Both are a BS job.

How does a hobby guy not counting the cost effect anything but their bottom line?
As you have said before when the cycle goes down they will be culled just like an old cow in a drought.
Looks to me like when that time comes its a wonderful time to buy replacements and equipment at a "fair" price...


MD

 

[somn]

The biggest negative impact I see to the cattle industry from hobby ranchers is the cow calf operations. I'm talking about the operations that breed highland yak cows to angus bulls just so they have black calves then they the introduce these crappy cattle into the feeder market and others pay the price.

 

[Caustic Burno]

This topic has been thrown around a bit, and maybe I misread the intent of S.R.R. post. But I would like someone to seriuosly tell me the negitive impact a hobby cattle person has on the beef industry. I have some thoughts on postitive impacts and market trends, but will hold them to focus any discussion on the negitives.

Thanks,
Alan

It's not the size as much as the attitude I think that does more harm. They don't really count cost and try to run a profitable operation. They want a new tractor so they buy it they don't care what a bale of hay cost they know they need twenty rolls and pay whatever. It is more of a status symbol to drive the 40,000 dollar truck with the 10,000 dollar trailer with a ten gallon hat. This so they can tell everyone they are cattlemen or "cowboys" and get there ag excemtions on the Ponderosa.

It's kinda like I am in oil and gas I have oil on my hair and gas on my belly.

Both are a BS job.

How does a hobby guy not counting the cost effect anything but their bottom line?
As you have said before when the cycle goes down they will be culled just like an old cow in a drought.
Looks to me like when that time comes its a wonderful time to buy replacements and equipment at a "fair" price...


MD

Start look at the price of tractors and what your local dealer carries now 35 and 40 Hp tractors cover the lot.

 

[redfornow]

They have on thier lot what sells, I still dont see how the makes a difference to the "real farmer"
I have never known a real farmer to buy new anyhow??? :shock:

MD

 

[kjones]

I'm sure a lot of other readers would like to know as well as me , what is a "real farmer"?

 

[redfornow]

I'm sure a lot of other readers would like to know as well as me , what is a "real farmer"?

There are those here that have a PHD in "real farmers" and thier ways. You will have to ask them.
While you are at it as about "welfare farms" also.

Both are terms I learned about on these boards.

MD

 

[tom4018]

As far as poor quality calves go, they can come from any size herd. I have seen people with well over a hundred cows and no mangement have some of the poorest looking calves around then a guy with 10 head have some super looking calves. Then you see it reversed.

Read an article saying the the 85% of all cattle in the us were in herds of less than 40. Next largest percentage was under a 100.

 

[Beef11]

WOWWWWWWW I am almost in the BIG TIME, 2 more babies to go and I will be over 25 head. I may have to call my banker and tell him I am BIG TIME now

Typically you only count breeding females.

 

[Wewild]

WOWWWWWWW I am almost in the BIG TIME, 2 more babies to go and I will be over 25 head. I may have to call my banker and tell him I am BIG TIME now

Typically you only count breeding females.

A typical mistake for some. Then they maybe considering them all babies.

 

[S.R.R.]

and maybe I misread the intent of S.R.R. post.
Alan

You did.