I need some encouragement
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bgm
Well-known member
I hate to sound this way, but if you need convincing, then don't do it. It's not an easy business. It's hard work, with hard choices. Not alot of money and the future is anyone's guess. I doubt that the current prices will hold much longer, but I could be wrong.
If raising cattle is something you've always wanted to do, then go for it. Get your infastracture together and aquire some animals. Start slow, find a mentor and learn.
Just go into it with both eyes open, this is no get rich quick thing. But the upside is if things go bad, you'll always have a plate of beef.
Whatever you decide to do, good luck to you.
If raising cattle is something you've always wanted to do, then go for it. Get your infastracture together and aquire some animals. Start slow, find a mentor and learn.
Just go into it with both eyes open, this is no get rich quick thing. But the upside is if things go bad, you'll always have a plate of beef.
Whatever you decide to do, good luck to you.
Workinonit Farm
Well-known member
bgm":asht1412 said:
I was thinking the same thing.
If you need to be convinced to do anything, then perhaps you don't need to do what ever that anything happens to be.
Katherine
I agree with both of the above. I got into it starting out small about 2 years ago and i find myself often regretting getting into it. It has its good and bad points. I guess what i dislike about it the most is how time consuming it is.
I like hunting, fishing, & camping. And now i can not just take off and do thoes things when i want to. When you have cattle or horses to take care of. They are alot like kids. You can not just take off when you want to. You have to plan ahead of time and get someone to look after them while you are gone. Even if it is only just a few days. And then i worry about them the hole time i am away. Wether you have just a few or a whole lot of cattle. You have a lot of money tied up in them and about the time you think you are going to get a little bit of a break. Something will happen. Your Bull may decide to break out into your neighbors pasture if one of his cows is bulling. A tree may get blown down across the fence and then you will have several or all of your cows out.
In times like this you have to worry about getting enough hay to get you through winter. Wether you get just a few head or alot. You will be tied up taking care of these things 24/7. Now if i was big enough to where i could hire people to take care of all of these head aces for me. I would probably enjoy the business.
I really thought i would really enjoy it when i was getting into it. And i do enjoy it. But it is just having to sacrafice the other things that i like doing that makes me sometimes wish i had of never got into it.
And another thing. This is just my opinion unless you have arround a hundred head and really that is not enough. You are not going to make any money to speak of. I beleave i could work at Mcdonalds and make as much clear money as someone who owns about 25 head. And put in whole lot less hours working.
But everyone has their own reasons for getting into the business. Some people just enjoy it and would not want to do anything but mess with cattle. I think alot of people are in it for tax purposes. But if i had it to do over and know what i know now. I probably would not get into it again. But since i am in it. I will probably be in it for at least another few years any how.
What ever you decide though good luck.
I like hunting, fishing, & camping. And now i can not just take off and do thoes things when i want to. When you have cattle or horses to take care of. They are alot like kids. You can not just take off when you want to. You have to plan ahead of time and get someone to look after them while you are gone. Even if it is only just a few days. And then i worry about them the hole time i am away. Wether you have just a few or a whole lot of cattle. You have a lot of money tied up in them and about the time you think you are going to get a little bit of a break. Something will happen. Your Bull may decide to break out into your neighbors pasture if one of his cows is bulling. A tree may get blown down across the fence and then you will have several or all of your cows out.
In times like this you have to worry about getting enough hay to get you through winter. Wether you get just a few head or alot. You will be tied up taking care of these things 24/7. Now if i was big enough to where i could hire people to take care of all of these head aces for me. I would probably enjoy the business.
I really thought i would really enjoy it when i was getting into it. And i do enjoy it. But it is just having to sacrafice the other things that i like doing that makes me sometimes wish i had of never got into it.
And another thing. This is just my opinion unless you have arround a hundred head and really that is not enough. You are not going to make any money to speak of. I beleave i could work at Mcdonalds and make as much clear money as someone who owns about 25 head. And put in whole lot less hours working.
But everyone has their own reasons for getting into the business. Some people just enjoy it and would not want to do anything but mess with cattle. I think alot of people are in it for tax purposes. But if i had it to do over and know what i know now. I probably would not get into it again. But since i am in it. I will probably be in it for at least another few years any how.
What ever you decide though good luck.
I agree with all above, if you don't already have a love for it forget it. And if you can't get excited about making 4 or 5 hundred dollars in a 15 month period... you can make more money flipping the burgers rather than raising them. It can't be about the money.
Alan
Alan
Bez?
Well-known member
danielo":16686lpg said:
You might try the "search" button. Otherwise, it seems you may have come to the wrong place.
Do not forget to close the gate when you leave the field - the rest of us have a few cows that we do not want to have to chase tonight.
Bez?
Cabo
Well-known member
My advice is to find someone that has several head of cattle in a good pasture and visit them late in the afternoon. If they will walk with you out out into the herd slowly looking at each animal and you don't thoroughly enjoy it, then forget it as to me this is as good as it gets with cattle. All the rest is hard work that most people wouldn't think of doing if given the choice. Good luck
Herefordcross
Well-known member
I'll second all of the above.
longhorn314
Well-known member
I agree with all the above also.Maybe do some searching and talking to some local farmers and see what they have to say.I enjoy my cattle and I will always have cattle on my farm cause somethings gotta eat the grass,I ain't bushogging it. 
longhorn314":ulgjnnhr said:I agree with all the above also.Maybe do some searching and talking to some local farmers and see what they have to say.I enjoy my cattle and I will always have cattle on my farm cause somethings gotta eat the grass,I ain't bushogging it.
I'd happily bushog it...if we could get the rain to grow some.
Alice
My dad worked 7 days a week. We could never go anywhere for more than 2 days at a time. There was always something to do. The everyday things and chores. Calving, baling hay, planting something, digging ponds, welding, building, working cattle, plowing, fertilizing, spraying, irrigating... it was all the time. And it wasn't even his place, so in the end, when doc's tax man said to hire a cheaper hired hand, then dad was out. After 20 years.
Even having llittle bottle calves is a pain because you have to be their to feed them twice a day every day.
It's a good life if you like to be busy.
Even having llittle bottle calves is a pain because you have to be their to feed them twice a day every day.
It's a good life if you like to be busy.
Texas Gal
Well-known member
If you need convincing, raising cattle is probably not the " hobby" for you. There's always something that needs repairing, planting, harvesting, feeding, calving, etc.....
dj
Well-known member
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How I got here.
I got "into" it by default. I was happy just to help out the neighbors when I needed a cow fix. Got to "play" cowhand without any of the cost. Then a "family" member needed more pasture and convinced my little bride a small acreage was what we needed. It all went downhill from there. After putting up with that fer a time i decided to go it alone.
Why is it a good business?
The same reasons other business's are good business.
Satisfaction, good people, good products that customers want,
and for those that make prudent decisions a good income.
Hope this helps.
I got "into" it by default. I was happy just to help out the neighbors when I needed a cow fix. Got to "play" cowhand without any of the cost. Then a "family" member needed more pasture and convinced my little bride a small acreage was what we needed. It all went downhill from there. After putting up with that fer a time i decided to go it alone.
Why is it a good business?
The same reasons other business's are good business.
Satisfaction, good people, good products that customers want,
and for those that make prudent decisions a good income.
Hope this helps.
You gotta wanna. If they get sick, you gotta doctor them. Usually when something important to you is going on. If they get out, you gotta get them up and fix fence, usually on Sunday morning when you are dressed and ready for church. If they have trouble calving, you gotta help. Usually when company is there or in the middle of the night when you can't get a vet. Not trying to discourage you by any means but you have to love it to do it. At least once a year I say," I'm gonna sell all of them and get out." Then when all is done I turn around and look back at them standing there and think ah maybe I'll stay with it another year. I've been doing that for 30 years. Still got'em.
warpaint
Well-known member
Okay, here goes.
Possibly the dirtiest, hottest in summer, coldest in winter, frustrating, when an old cantankerous cow won't go where you want her to go, backbreaking, bloody at times, get you out of the bed at all hours, most rewarding thing I've ever done in my life, and I love it!
Like the others have said before me, you got to want it. :cboy:
Possibly the dirtiest, hottest in summer, coldest in winter, frustrating, when an old cantankerous cow won't go where you want her to go, backbreaking, bloody at times, get you out of the bed at all hours, most rewarding thing I've ever done in my life, and I love it!
Like the others have said before me, you got to want it. :cboy:
Bullbuyer
Well-known member
It's a passion. If you're not into it because you like it, the money will not keep you interested as there's not enough to hold your interest.
Late nights, early mornings, sore body parts, broken down machinery - can't get parts, rising feed / fuel costs - yep, it's just one big barrel o' fun. Come join the party !!!
Late nights, early mornings, sore body parts, broken down machinery - can't get parts, rising feed / fuel costs - yep, it's just one big barrel o' fun. Come join the party !!!
danielo":2hwao1jr said:
Wow Danielo,
I'm just a hobby Rancher
, with 7 cow calf pairs, 6 bred heifers, and a bull. And 7 Horses, plus my wife has 9 Boar goats (I don't).How's this been for words of enouragement? Not what I expected would happen, but all words written are words of truth and experience. Yet we who have cattle and have done it for a few years are in no hurry to get out of it... as said before it's a passion.
Good luck on your decision,
Alan
I agree with the comments that have been shared so far. You better have a passion for cattle and love working with them, or you're undoubtedly not going to enjoy it.
Plus, I don't think the chances are real good that you'll be successful at it if it's not something that you love doing.
Plus, I don't think the chances are real good that you'll be successful at it if it's not something that you love doing.
cowspider
Well-known member
Cattle are a great hobby/ business to have if you are ready to work and take the time to do it right. i have seen too many people get animals than turn them loose and not take care of them. I am selling off most of my cattle now because of health issues and do not feel I can meet their needs properly. :cboy:
Cabo
Well-known member
Hey, WP, what happened to the seegar?warpaint":px3vr6ao said:
