A
Anonymous
I had offered the author of this earlier post a summary of my first year, so here it is. Hope it is useful and sorry it took so long to respond.
Summing it all up:
I learned alot from this board and a whole lot from the school of hard knox. My business plan was great it worked out well, but what I wasn't prepared for was all of the things that come along with raising cattle. I bought out a heard of 11 cows, 7 calfs, 1 bull. Sold the calves paid for 3/4 my herd. I went on to buy 38 more third stage cows and I more bull. My point here is that if you are not carefull you can create for yourself another full time job. They will get out, get sick, calves not nurse, cows not take care of their calves, bulls fight and tear down fences, even die, and many other things! Here is the things I would have done first, have done different and things that did work well for me.
Things I should of done first.
1. Had all my fences 100%
2. Had a tall and sturdy corrall with a headgate.
3. Kept milk replacer, colostrim, LA200, Baytril, bolices, shots, needles,
feeding tub, calf pulling device, feed, and hay on hand at all times.
4. Vacinated my herd.
5. Vacinated and worm every cow you buy, and keep them penned up for
at least 7 days before they get near your existing herd. (I brought in
a cow with IBR, got into the rest of my herd, what a nightmare and
expense!!)
Things I would have done different
1. Go with your gut instinct when you buy, if when in doubt DONT!
( For instance, I bought an awful poor cow that I was against at first,
but then bought because of a low price. She had the calf alright but a
few months later with no warning she just was dead!)
Things that worked well for me
1. My business plan, only bought 3rd stage cows @ prices that I would get
my money back on with their first calf. Its not easy to do but it can be
done. 1st and 2nd stage cows ties up ypur money too long.
2. I bought solid registered bulls!! Had their first calves the other day with
same ole cows and I can see a huge difference in calves already.
3. Checked my stock everyday. You never know whats waiting on you,
TRUST ME!!
Thats how it went for me, I sold my calves got my initial investment back and I learned a whole lot. Alot I dont know and am sure to learn more off this board and its supporting members. Hope this might save someone a little of the bumps and bruises I had to take on.
Rod
Summing it all up:
I learned alot from this board and a whole lot from the school of hard knox. My business plan was great it worked out well, but what I wasn't prepared for was all of the things that come along with raising cattle. I bought out a heard of 11 cows, 7 calfs, 1 bull. Sold the calves paid for 3/4 my herd. I went on to buy 38 more third stage cows and I more bull. My point here is that if you are not carefull you can create for yourself another full time job. They will get out, get sick, calves not nurse, cows not take care of their calves, bulls fight and tear down fences, even die, and many other things! Here is the things I would have done first, have done different and things that did work well for me.
Things I should of done first.
1. Had all my fences 100%
2. Had a tall and sturdy corrall with a headgate.
3. Kept milk replacer, colostrim, LA200, Baytril, bolices, shots, needles,
feeding tub, calf pulling device, feed, and hay on hand at all times.
4. Vacinated my herd.
5. Vacinated and worm every cow you buy, and keep them penned up for
at least 7 days before they get near your existing herd. (I brought in
a cow with IBR, got into the rest of my herd, what a nightmare and
expense!!)
Things I would have done different
1. Go with your gut instinct when you buy, if when in doubt DONT!
( For instance, I bought an awful poor cow that I was against at first,
but then bought because of a low price. She had the calf alright but a
few months later with no warning she just was dead!)
Things that worked well for me
1. My business plan, only bought 3rd stage cows @ prices that I would get
my money back on with their first calf. Its not easy to do but it can be
done. 1st and 2nd stage cows ties up ypur money too long.
2. I bought solid registered bulls!! Had their first calves the other day with
same ole cows and I can see a huge difference in calves already.
3. Checked my stock everyday. You never know whats waiting on you,
TRUST ME!!
Thats how it went for me, I sold my calves got my initial investment back and I learned a whole lot. Alot I dont know and am sure to learn more off this board and its supporting members. Hope this might save someone a little of the bumps and bruises I had to take on.
Rod