tnwalkingred
Well-known member
I've ran cow/calf operation for a few years now and have been constantly asked when I'm going to start selling freezer beef. My response has always been that with cattle prices so high there wasn't much incentive to keep calves past the 500 lb mark. Well as we all know prices will vary and the market is definitely on the down slope. With that in mind I've decided to start feeding out some freezer beef to try and not lose so much revenue on this years fall calf crop. Having never done this before I would love to know what everyone else is doing in relation to price (live weight, hanging weight, etc.), types of feed, weight when slaughtered, and so forth. My plans are below. Feel free to chime in with any input. Thanks.
1. Only beef breed steers will be fed out.
2. My customers will demand quality not quantity.
3. Customers will want all natural feeds fed with no preservatives or hormones.
4. I'm setup to pen steers in a dry lot and feed only high quality hay and grain.
5. I have a grain bin and will buy feed in bulk.
6. I plan on selling by price per pound of live weight and will deliver steers to the slaughter house. The customer will be responsible for all other costs.
Some questions are below.
1. How long does it take to finish a steer? Can you finish one at a lighter weight as long as they have been on full feed for a certain amount of time?
2. Does a lighter weight steer have better quality?
3. Can I feed a ration of 100% shelled corn? This would be easy to buy in bulk and would meet the all natural demands.
4. What percentage of a steers weight should they be eating?
5. How long do they need to be on feed to finish out? In other words can they grow on grass and hay solely up to a certain weight before we start feeding them?
KW
1. Only beef breed steers will be fed out.
2. My customers will demand quality not quantity.
3. Customers will want all natural feeds fed with no preservatives or hormones.
4. I'm setup to pen steers in a dry lot and feed only high quality hay and grain.
5. I have a grain bin and will buy feed in bulk.
6. I plan on selling by price per pound of live weight and will deliver steers to the slaughter house. The customer will be responsible for all other costs.
Some questions are below.
1. How long does it take to finish a steer? Can you finish one at a lighter weight as long as they have been on full feed for a certain amount of time?
2. Does a lighter weight steer have better quality?
3. Can I feed a ration of 100% shelled corn? This would be easy to buy in bulk and would meet the all natural demands.
4. What percentage of a steers weight should they be eating?
5. How long do they need to be on feed to finish out? In other words can they grow on grass and hay solely up to a certain weight before we start feeding them?
KW