MurraysMutts
Well-known member
U got a lot figured out already.Thank you for your replies, you gave me a lot to think about and discuss with the others that want to take part in this adventure if you will.. I will try to answer some of your questions.
* Location: Northeastern part of Oklahoma (Ochelata, OK/Washington County)
* We have 10 acres that we need to finish fencing. We have the t-posts, but we will need to get the barb wire. We are aware that we cannot start this without putting money into it.
* We will brush hog the 10 acres, I do believe that there is Bermuda grass under all the weeds along with some other grasses. I have no doubt that I can get the grass to grow if we can keep the weeds mowed down.
* My boyfriend has a friend that has 3 brangus calves, he said that he would let us have them for $500 per head.
* I have express to my boyfriend and our friends that I think it would be a good idea to visit some local sale barns to see what breeds are going for at the best prices.
* I am aware of what it takes to take care of livestock, I have 2 horses. I know its a lot of hard work.
* I have relative that use to raise red angus in Colorado, we are friend on FB and she would talk about all the work she had to do especially during winter - and she used horses to do the round up and go check on calves in the middle of winter etc...
* Water source - 2 ponds on the 10 acres -
*There is a barn where we can store hay
* I have a truck and trailer
* The vet that I use for my horses also does cattle and owns them himself.
* the heifers and the bull calf all come from the same bull
So from what I am understand we need to figure out what kind of operation do we want to do:
Do we want to get calves raise them and feed them to take to slaughter, then buy more calves and repeat the process?
Do we want to get the 2 heifers, get another bull - and after all are of breeding age let the heifers have calves - wean the calves to take to slaughter while breeding the cows again until they are no longer breeding age... which is a cow herd, right?
During the winter I think most people around where we live try to sustain their cattle on their pasture and hay. But I do understand that depending on pasture that you may need to feed grain of some sort... correct?
I hope my reply has helped you to help me... if not I will try to answer more of your questions.
Again, thank you for your replies, they have given us a lot of things to think about.
Personally, the FIRST thing I'd do is steer that bull calf!
Having a breeding stock program on 10 acres will most likely not be a profitable venture. Spend your money how you see fit.
The calves are cheap imo.
Raise em up and eat em.
Now I'm partial to nurse cows. But I've got a small herd of commercial mamas. Most with a little ear. (Brangus based. Mostly)
I do a bit of trading as well. And dabble with a couple cheaper stocker calves. Gotta get in when the opportunity presents itself. There are good deals all the time. Just have to be present to get em.
On 10 acres, I'd either have a couple nice jerseys raising babies. Or run a few stockers to grow and re-sell or eat. Or I suppose a couple older bred cows to calve out and re-sell.
For the financial part, check out this thread!
Eleanor (Profitability from Jersey cows)
Noooo. Not THAT Eleanor! This one! Bessie approved! Ok. So I said I was gonna do it. Here we go-go! Cow - $1300 140lb Steer - $120 80lb Heifer - $50 90lb Heifer - $50 Veterinary - $45 (band bull and vax all) Transportation - $50 (gotta pay for fuel) So the Young Jersey cow and Calves...
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