I need advice from the experienced please

[Starting late]

Hello, I just started "farming" last year. In 07 I bought 8 Head of cattle, butchered 5 and sold them by the 1/4 and kept 3 Heifers. The 3 Heifers are bred now by a friends Angus Bull. My plan was to buy 16 head of feeders this year. Well, long story short I now have about 100 Acres of pasture, about 25 Acres of hay ground, and 40 head of livestock. Here is how the herd breaks down: 10 older Hereford cows, 2 2 year old Black white face cows, 2 1 year old Black/White face Heifers, 2 Bred Angus Heifers, 1 Bred Semintal Heifer, 1 7 Year old Angus bull, 9 Steers, 1 500lb. bull calf, 1 young bull calf, 4 young Heifers,3 mixed breed 1 year old Heifers, and 2 new calves born this weekend. I would like advice from you all with more experience as to what direction is most logical to go with this operation. I would like to buy a young Hereford bull to sire some Heifers to preserve the genetics of the older Hereford cows. The old cows are very gentle and have great calves. I don't know if I should feed out all the steers and sell them as beef or sell the calves as feeders at about 550-650 lbs.? The steers sell well for beef, but the cost of feed is about $200 per head to finish them right now. With access to 100 Acres of pasture would it be wise to try to increase from my current 15 producing cows to more like 30 breed cows? I have also considered stablilizing the herd at around 20 Breed cows and selling hay to horse owners. From the experience some of you have what direction would be the most profitable for the time and money invested. Both of my sons and I work full time, so time is valuable. I enjoy the cow/calf operation, I just keep thing that a $1200 carcass is more profitable than a $600 calf. However it also means another winter on hay and $200 worth of corn and protein pellets for each carcass produced. I also love baling hay, so should we consider custom baling? I have both round and square balers. My equipment is all older (like 50's to 70's) but it is in good working order. Sorry for the long post, just looking for an experienced person to respond. Thanks

 

[newrancher]

Sounds like youve got a good start on an allround operation,lots of options. Grass finished ? Are the heifers weaned? I dont think I would do custom hay work with a full time job and older equipment, unless it was just to help a neihbor.Run the cows,wean the calves and sell at 750 or above, heifers same way or breed and sell. I wish I had your problem, not enough land here. Good luck

 

[bigbull338]

i would slowly increase the cow herd to 30hd.an with corn being so high i wouldnt finish out any steers this year unless you have orders for some already.wean the steers an graze an feed them till they hitt 800lbs or better an sell them.with high corn prices the 800+lbers are bringing good money.

 

[Red Bull Breeder]

Where are you located starting Late? Just remember the more cows you run the less grass you have for the steers and hay.

 

[Frankie]

Red Bull is right. You may have a lot of grass now, but what happens next year? Check with your extension office and see how many acres in your area it takes to support one animal unit? Consider getting your breeding season tighter. A larger group of uniform calves will sell for more dollars than a few head delivered to the sale barn over several trips.

Most people around here wean their calves on the trailer to the sale barn, mainly because they have another job off the ranch. It's the simpliest way to go, but not necessarily the best way.

I think you can make more money if you sell direct to the customer, but it does take time to build a reputation. If you're not close to a population center, it's also more difficult. Does your state have a retained ownership program? In Oklahoma, they call it the OK Steer Feedout; in Texas it's called Ranch to Rail. You might want to look into that with some of your calves.

 

[Limomike]

Welcome to the world of cattle ranching. Alot of folks on here would love to have your "problems", but since you and your sons are all working full-time, I don't know if I would increase my herd with the land that you have available now. You do have quite a mixture of cattle, (not that its bad) just might want to concentrate on getting it the best bang for your buck. I know around here, I do more feeding the calves out on grass, and not as much feed since the prices skyrocketed. Supplement with protein mostly during the harsh winter months coming up.

 

[gertguy]

I would definely sell the beef but look at getting your meat liences and selling the beef by the piece. ( if you have time.)

 

[Starting late]

Good advice from you all. Yes, we are blessed to have such a nice little start on only our second year. A very nice neighbor who has been a family friend sold me his herd and provided much of the land and equipment at fair prices. My thoughts now are to focus on improving the pastures and infrastructure that we already have, retain and improve the genetics of the Herefords I bought, and to return to many of the "OLD" ways. For example: This weekend I am going to no-till in some rye for late fall grazing and some for a cutting of hay yet this year (double cropping like they used to do), My livestock barn was desinged and built by my two sons and I along with a carpenter friend who bartered his services for 1/4 beef, the barn is built with some American Chestnut lumber salvaged from my Grandpa's livestock barn and the rest of the lumber is red oak from a local family run sawmill (much cheaper than a fancy Morton building, local materials, looks great). I also intend to try other alternatives like turnips, spreading manure, raising corn for "fodder", winter wheat, clover into stubble, rotational grazing, etc. I figure that 200 years ago money was tight and building fence and barns was a huge investment in both money and time so those "old timers" must have done what they did for a reason. (set a fancy new treated pine post and an old fashioned hedge post then check back on them in 100 years and see which one is still solid $15 pine or free hedge?) Anyway, thanks to you all for your advice and wisdom. My family and I are having a great time enjoying nature and each other and really that is priceless.

 

[grannysoo]

Glad you're enjoying it. It is truely a life like no other.

You've got some good things going on. Now.... just stay out of debt!

 

[Starting late]

Thanks again to all of you. I am not in any debt. I did get my broker's license so I can sell by the cut. With this being my first year the expenses have really hurt. I bought a 3/4 ton 4x4, round baler, square baler, put up fence, bought 2 tractors, hay conditioner, etc. I bought everything used and for the right money, but it still adds up fast. Now I'm looking at fertilizer bills on the hay fields, seed costs, etc. Once I can get some more Heifers producing and take the advice I was given here about selling 800lb calves off grazing, and maybe just feed out about 4 steers a year things should turn around for us. I have learned that it is very important to be organized. For example have the hay equipment ready ahead of time, get vet work done when you have a break from the hay, get planting done early, etc. Anyone who thinks ranching is quick easy money should give it a try. Any more advice would sure be appreciated.