Hello all, I wanted your expert advice. We raise beef cattle here in Northern KY. I was thinking about raising some mini herefords or belties calloways. I just kind of wanted to do my own thing seperate from my husband. Here is the question, Is there any money to be made raising them in my area and which one should I do? Or should I just stick to what I know? Thanks for any info.
Question?
- Thread starter sandyhill
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Ouachita
Well-known member
sandyhill":104d155r said:
Cattle to the side; trying to do something "separate" from your husband would be a mistake. Of course, i don't know your relationship, but in my world my darlin companion is included in my decisions. Always. After all, she controls 90% of the money, and 100% of the nookie. Consideration should be given to the other half
chippie
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to be honest, I would be sort of scared to venture into a market that has a limited buyer base. I think that people will be hanging onto their pennies. The people who are interested in the smaller breeds are usually hobby farmers or someone who wants some small cattle as pets or to show.
You would have to sell them private treaty to make any money (not through an auction barn) and could end up keeping the calves years until you find a buyer. I see the mini breeds for sale at craigslist. The ads start off with the price several thousand dollars, then it gets lower & lower & lower.
You would have to sell them private treaty to make any money (not through an auction barn) and could end up keeping the calves years until you find a buyer. I see the mini breeds for sale at craigslist. The ads start off with the price several thousand dollars, then it gets lower & lower & lower.
Taurus
Well-known member
There is not much demand for miniature cattle and in my area they are much cheaper, about $300 for a dexter cow. See lot of miniature cattle on craigslist has never got sold. You can always sell them as freezer beef.
greybeard
Well-known member
Never saw the attraction for little tiny cows (or horses either for that matter). I see a few around (cows) and to me, it's the same amt of trouble and expensive for very little return. The only sales I see are between people all doing the same thing--just swapping/selling back and forth to each other like some people do baseball cards.
You will have to develop you own market for them. Showing, advertising, marketing the whole works. My brother in law tried this route and was on a good start but other personal reasons put things on hold. I still have some mini-herf semen in my tank.
Sizmic
Sizmic
Kathie in Thorp
Well-known member
Even though most of my cows are a breed unusual for this area, hubby and I agreed with the decision to jump in when we did. That said, I would have to agree with what the others are saying. Most in the cattle business stay with what the market wants, and mini cattle are really not part of the beef market. Dexters are about a dime a dozen out here; the few Lowline people do a lot of advertising, but I don't know if they're doing a lot of selling.
Thanks everyone, I kind of thought that would be the out come but wanted to ask. I have just seen them and didnt know if there was any money to be made there. I enjoy farming with my hubby, I just wanted to try to breed something of my own.
Kathie in Thorp
Well-known member
Totally understand, Sandy! And if your own project is OK with your hubby, go for it. You've already heard all the negatives . . . . but sometimes a girl just needs to do something for herself. :)sandyhill":a0h1ea7g said:
chippie
Well-known member
sandyhill":19v5b1sl said:
I understand that too. We have a small herd of mixed breeds of registered cattle - Braunvieh, Beefmaster and Jersey. The Braunvieh & Beefmaster are from our kids scramble heifer days and our family has always had a family milk cow.
It works for us because we don't have a bull (my husband breeds AI).
I had a longhorn cow for a while. That was an adventure and probably a once in a lifetime experience (First and last one.) I only lost $25 when I sold her.
I don't know your financial status. It you have money to burn and don't need for them to pay for themselves, go for it.
One thing about the mini breeds is that to get good quality breeding stock, they are expensive. You would have to sell a lot of freezer beef to get your initial expense covered.
Are you set up where you can keep the cows safe from your husband's bull?
Warrior2154
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What does your husband raise? I am from northeastern ky and around here angus are king and some Herefords. Have not seen any belts or any mini Herefords.
djinwa
Well-known member
Actually, I heard a divorce lawyer the other saying that spouses need to be more independent and have their own interests.
Anyway, I'm down to one cow for milking and meat, and I wanted a small bovine just to keep her company. Called a mini-hereford breeder (good quality animals) and asked how much a heifer would be.
She said she sells them for $3500, but they are all sold. Found someone else who sells at $1500, but I got a couple sheep instead.
Anyway, there seems to be some market out there. I don't see smaller cattle going the way of the emus and ostriches, since beef eating is pretty well established. I also see acreages getting smaller, making smaller cattle more desirable.
You won't get much support from commercial cattlemen, though, as they can't understand a different market.
Anyway, I'm down to one cow for milking and meat, and I wanted a small bovine just to keep her company. Called a mini-hereford breeder (good quality animals) and asked how much a heifer would be.
She said she sells them for $3500, but they are all sold. Found someone else who sells at $1500, but I got a couple sheep instead.
Anyway, there seems to be some market out there. I don't see smaller cattle going the way of the emus and ostriches, since beef eating is pretty well established. I also see acreages getting smaller, making smaller cattle more desirable.
You won't get much support from commercial cattlemen, though, as they can't understand a different market.
@ chippie yes I would be able to keep the bull away from the minis. I had thought about longhorns too but not now lol. I wouldnt mind milk cows but with a full time job I know I wouldnt have time to milk. I may just end up with a few bottle steers in the spring and sell them in the fall for some extra cash.
@ warrior we have black and red angus and a few hereford, but we have been alternating bulls between angus and simmital. And you are correct angus is the top dog around here.
@ warrior we have black and red angus and a few hereford, but we have been alternating bulls between angus and simmital. And you are correct angus is the top dog around here.
Taurus
Well-known member
Oh we do understand a different market allright. The emus and ostriches came and went and we are starting to see the miniature cattle go judging from the prices on them and numbers of unsold animals especially in most areas. Alot of people don't have any problems with managing normal-sized cattle in smaller acreages if done properly. Good thing is that the miniature cattle makes great freezer beef when you can't get most of the cattle sold...that if you can find buyers. A dexter breeder told me that he is having trouble to sell the dexter cattle as a freezer beef when I picked up his orny dexters.djinwa":13bhl3j3 said:
If you are too serious about getting miniatures, please put a limit on # of breeding females in the herd.
Warrior2154
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Those are good breeds to work with in my opinion. I like Herefords the best but I also like angus. Maybe instead of mini Herefords what about maybe having regular Herefords?
sandyhill":rw4uurkf said:
Why not get a couple registered cows, AI them, and maybe raise a bull to use in the commercial herd? The registered stock is 'yours', but will still work with the rest of the herd.
sandyhill":b04j8dko said:
If you want to have a small herd of cattle of your own, then learn AI and everything that goes with raising cattle.
If you want something that's 'yours' without this much work maybe you need to find a different project? Nothing wrong with that.
greybeard
Well-known member
An itty bitty Demitrius comes to mind here.............
:D
:D
Kathie in Thorp
Well-known member
djinwa":2om5vmc7 said:
Djinwa, I know about your cow; and I like your kind of cow. :)
