How to replace your herd

[mct]

I would like to get a few opinions on the best use of my property. We have 3 steers that are about 6 months old. They are in a pasture about 3 acres. I am going to fence another 3 acres to make another pasture in the spring. We are raising them for beef. One for ourselves and family and sell the other 2. We are going to get 2 or 3 more when the other pasture is built. We are wondering about buying a couple that had already been bred as opposed to buying young calves again. I do not know which way is more cost effective. I would like to keep about 6 at a time. Thanks

 

[bigbull338]

since your going to have 2 pastures,an you already have 3 steers almost ready to butcher.id buy 3 500 to 650lb steer calves an start them out in the 2nd pasture.having cows are to costly for what your doing.

 

[BC]

since your going to have 2 pastures,an you already have 3 steers almost ready to butcher.id buy 3 500 to 650lb steer calves an start them out in the 2nd pasture.having cows are to costly for what your doing.

Ditto

 

[gimpyrancher]

having cows are to costly for what your doing.

Huh? What do you mean?

 

[Sir Loin]

Re:

They are in a pasture about 3 acres. I am going to fence another 3 acres to make another pasture in the spring.

OK, so you have 6 acres.(in the spring ) Correct?
And you live in an area that has fairly good rainfall and it don’t get real cold. Grass will grow almost year round.
Correct?
Assuming your land is good and will grow grass , IMO you could graze 1 (full grown ) cow per 2 acres.
That equates to 2 acres per 1,000 lbs of beef on the hoof.
Using that formula you should be able to figure any combination of calves and/or cows you wish to raise.

Hint: 6 acres will support 3,000 lbs of beef on the hoof, but remember, calves are constantly growing and gaining weight and requiring more grass..
So you will, at some time/point need to do some supplemental feeding with hay if you are going to utilize your pastures to their fullest potential.

IOM you should go with all calves, as that is where the money is.
Remember: Calves appreciate and can be liquidated at any time for a profit.
Cows depreciate and can almost never are sold at a profit.

Hope this helps
SL

 

[bigbull338]

having cows are to costly for what your doing.

Huh? What do you mean?

think about it for a minute,the poster only has like 6acs of pasture that it.so really couldnt run 2 or 3 pair an bull,plus feed out 3 calves for the freezer.