How did/would you start from scratch?

[herofan]

What is the best way to start a beef cow/calf herd of around 20 from scratch? Would you buy older bred heifers or cows, or buy young heifers, which would be cheaper but a longer wait for new calves?

I've already started, but I just wonder what people here think. In answering the question, assume the person is only doing it for the enjoyment and not a living. In that case, does it really matter? Are there major advantages to either?

 

[cow pollinater]

Personally i like buying one iron bred cows with some age on them. It cost a little more upfront but by the time you sell a few steers in the first year it's about break even with buying heifers. Plus, you get heifer calves out of them and you already know that at least half of the pedigree worked for awhile for someone so there's a good chance that the daughter will to so you're a step ahead in keeping replacements. Plus you can punt the problems of calving out heifers down the road and use whatever bull you want right off the bat instead of catering to a heifers needs.

 

[robertwhite]

If I had known back then what I know now about heifers, I would not have bought heifers, period. Way too much trouble.

 

[denvermartinfarms]

I started with 5 brangus hiefers that weighed 527 fed them until they would calve at 30 months not that they needed to be that old it just worked that way and they did make the best cows i have ever had. i now farm for most of my living and if i was telling someone else how to start and they could buy anything they wanted i would tell them to buy the very best first calf pairs that were bred back that they could get this is not allways what can be done just what in my opinion what would be a good way to start out.overall if all i could buy was 400 to 600 pound hiefers that would not stop me from getting into cattle.

 

[highgrit]

I would stop by and talk to anybody that I saw working cows. And put the word out that you want a few cows or pairs.
When I travel if I see someone in the cow business I try to talk to them. Just got a good lead on 5 heifers and 2 bulls today, while we were dove hunting. Most country folks are good people, just don't bother them on Sunday.

 

[LimoX]

I started about two years ago and had a chance to rely on a man that had plenty of experience (73yrs old). He was extremely adamant about starting with bred cows! Less hassle and easier learning curve. Got the word out about what I was looking for and Looked for anyone that was reducing or liquidating their herd due to the drought out here. Worked for me started with zero and now have 45 mommas!

 

[Caustic Burno]

What is the best way to start a beef cow/calf herd of around 20 from scratch? Would you buy older bred heifers or cows, or buy young heifers, which would be cheaper but a longer wait for new calves?

I've already started, but I just wonder what people here think. In answering the question, assume the person is only doing it for the enjoyment and not a living. In that case, does it really matter? Are there major advantages to either?

Started with one old Brammer cross heavy bred cow that looked to have come out of Shanghi Pierce's herd a 100 year's ago. Have been up and down in and out over the year's. Buying heavies or 3 N 1's is the way to get started with girl's that already know how to work.

 

[backhoeboogie]

I bought bred cows n Calved them out. Bought dairy heifers and made nurse cows out of them. Bought split heifers and put them on the nurse cows. Culled a lot of problems out. Got really lucky with a couple of gambles on heifers. Much of the herd goes back to a small group.

 

[SRBeef]

3-fers (bred cows with heifer or steer calves at side) is a good way to start.

Jim

 

[KNERSIE]

Personally i like buying one iron bred cows with some age on them. It cost a little more upfront but by the time you sell a few steers in the first year it's about break even with buying heifers. Plus, you get heifer calves out of them and you already know that at least half of the pedigree worked for awhile for someone so there's a good chance that the daughter will to so you're a step ahead in keeping replacements. Plus you can punt the problems of calving out heifers down the road and use whatever bull you want right off the bat instead of catering to a heifers needs.

Good advice!

Here you'd often pay a lot less for such cows than you would for good heifers and with heifers its always a toss up if they're going to become good cows.

When I first started the registered herd I bought heifers, of the first 14 only 4 ended up staying past 7 years.

When I recently started the horned hereford herd again I drove thousands of miles buying up old proven bred cows, even if I can get only one or two more calves out of them I'd be years ahead of where I would have been buying heifers.

 

[novatech]

Personally i like buying one iron bred cows with some age on them. It cost a little more upfront but by the time you sell a few steers in the first year it's about break even with buying heifers. Plus, you get heifer calves out of them and you already know that at least half of the pedigree worked for awhile for someone so there's a good chance that the daughter will to so you're a step ahead in keeping replacements. Plus you can punt the problems of calving out heifers down the road and use whatever bull you want right off the bat instead of catering to a heifers needs.

Good advice!

Here you'd often pay a lot less for such cows than you would for good heifers and with heifers its always a toss up if they're going to become good cows.

When I first started the registered herd I bought heifers, of the first 14 only 4 ended up staying past 7 years.

When I recently started the horned hereford herd again I drove thousands of miles buying up old proven bred cows, even if I can get only one or two more calves out of them I'd be years ahead of where I would have been buying heifers.

I did pretty much the same thing . Just didn't drive tousands of miles. Most regestered breeders have a writen history of production. You can look at and older cow and know how the will hold up over time and get a lot closer at predicting their longivity. This is worth a lot more to me than throwing the dice, paying a lot of money on the potential of heifers.

 

[andybob]

My start in NC was with 3 in 1 deals with older, proven cows, it worked well for me at the time.

 

[cross_7]

Personally i like buying one iron bred cows with some age on them. It cost a little more upfront but by the time you sell a few steers in the first year it's about break even with buying heifers. Plus, you get heifer calves out of them and you already know that at least half of the pedigree worked for awhile for someone so there's a good chance that the daughter will to so you're a step ahead in keeping replacements. Plus you can punt the problems of calving out heifers down the road and use whatever bull you want right off the bat instead of catering to a heifers needs.

i agree 100%
only thing i'd add is to try and buy cows from your area that have proven to fit and work in your environment.

 

[Bigfoot]

The hiefer or bred heifer route would onlybe for the experienced cattle man. Stick with 3 in ones to start.

 

[Workinonit Farm]

I started with a Jersey heifer and an Angus bottle calf. Bred the Jersey to a friend's bull, eventually sold the bottle calf and used that $$ to buy a couple of dairy bottle calves (re-invest and pay myself back) after the Jersey calved, used her as a nurse cow, sold a few more calves, eventually bought a couple heavy bred older cows from where I was working, sold their calves as well as the "bottle calves" and bought another couple heavy breds and a second Jersey heifer (to be used for a nurse cow) and retained a few heifers from the better cows, as well as sold some 'custom' beef, and the rest is history.

Back then the bottle calves were selling for $25.00, the 1st Jersey heifer was $450.00 the second was $350.00 and feed (when needed) was cheap and milk replacer wasn't expensive either. Those days are long gone.

If I were to start now in 2012, I'd buy a couple of heavy breds and go from there.

Katherine

 

[salebarn junkie]

If I had never had cattle id buy old third period cows calve them out and sell them. This way your exposed to lots of differnt breeds and you'll have info when you do choose a breed it also gets used to selling cows and helps you to learn flaws in cattle.

 

[bigbull338]

both times i started reg herds i went with bred heifers or cows an went from there.im not scared to buy heifers but i prefer buying 3 to 4yr old cows.

 

[KNERSIE]

both times i started reg herds i went with bred heifers or cows an went from there.im not scared to buy heifers but i prefer buying 3 to 4yr old cows.

I don't want an argument Scott, but who sells GOOD 3 to 4 year old cows?

 

[Anonymous]

What is the best way to start a beef cow/calf herd of around 20 from scratch? Would you buy older bred heifers or cows, or buy young heifers, which would be cheaper but a longer wait for new calves?

I've already started, but I just wonder what people here think. In answering the question, assume the person is only doing it for the enjoyment and not a living. In that case, does it really matter? Are there major advantages to either?

I'll let you know once I'm finished starting from nothing.

 

[bigbull338]

both times i started reg herds i went with bred heifers or cows an went from there.im not scared to buy heifers but i prefer buying 3 to 4yr old cows.

I don't want an argument Scott, but who sells GOOD 3 to 4 year old cows?

breed assoc sales,but since i got back in this last time ive bought a few private treaty cows worth the money.i had 1 of those cows throw a bull calf worth keeping this year.