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<blockquote data-quote="Bez" data-source="post: 58993" data-attributes="member: 412"><p>Well, I am stealing some good info from another thread and giving the authors the credit - it's good advice. See below.</p><p></p><p>As for rennos on a barn - forget it - just give them a three sided shelter facing south - it keeps the rain off of them and lets the sun shine in. A little pasture or feed and you are in business. For that matter they do not even need that - two sides and a roof - or a real good bush with decent drainage will keep you out of most trouble. Heck, a wind break on well drained soil with no roof works as well.</p><p></p><p>These are animals - not pets. They are tough, ornery, eating machines that one day will run you over and the next day look at you with a calmness that you cannot believe. They are one heck of a great hobby - that is how wife and I got started years ago. Love 'em, but if you spoil 'em you will end up with problems.</p><p></p><p>As for breeds - well, any beef cow that can live in Canada can live in the U.S. of A. - some may do better than others - but ... and this is important - you folks do not have experience in breeding, calving and doctoring. Not a slur, just a fact - so find something that will not crush you when something goes wrong - and believe me, it sooner or later will. </p><p></p><p>Nearly all breeds do well - especially if they can be contained, sheltered, fed and watered. That's it in a nutshell. The rest is easy.</p><p></p><p>We all have our favourites - but who cares if you have a patchwork quilt of animals in the field - if they are solid, quiet animals with calves at side - well, be happy.</p><p></p><p>Go cheap. Go with pairs. Instant moms that are bred back. Go with quiet. Do not ask what breed, walk in amongst them before you buy - if they are gone like deer - then forget them. If they jump, fight or run you - run for your truck. If they load hard - run for your truck and leave. If they are not vet checked and preg checked - <strong>with you present </strong>- run for your truck and put your money away for another day. Go with mature to prevent calving probs and mothers who disown or kill their calves with starvation - not common, but it does happen. Go private - not sales barn - do not buy someone elses trouble. Tell the owner you WILL be back if there are problems that may have been hidden. Get all their records - herd health, vaccinations, dates of birth, and so on. If those records are not available - run for your truck.</p><p></p><p>Look up my thread - Ding! Dong! Brindles Dead - and avoid any brindles like crazy - no matter what the breed. Perhaps I am just superstitious?</p><p></p><p>Find an old hand in your area - have him go with you and look at at least 5 different outfits before you make up your mind - that way you have an idea of what you are up against. Bargain hard - know your price before you leave your own driveway and stick to it. Don't deviate - there are lots of animals out there for sale.</p><p></p><p>Have a good fence, some feed and water available when they show up at home - even quiet animals can become tornadoes for a day or two. If your area is small and poorly fenced, plan on searching for them for a couple of days before they settle in.</p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>Looks like there are three of us in the same boat.</p><p></p><p>If you plan to sell them - make sure that you are selling into an accepting crowd. As an example - if the area you are in loves that black hide, you will suffer with a dollar penalty by trying to sell red. In my area black AND red are guarantted to sell 10 - 20 cents a pound less than a TAN colour. Go figure - if you take the clothes off of them 99% of producers could not tell you what breed they were. Do your homework. If you want to go "exotic" fine - but you did say limited budget.</p><p></p><p>Far as I am concerned - solid animal is good - but cheaper is better. Calves all sell - you just want good 'uns. Healthy and lively.</p><p></p><p>Go for it - have fun and welcome to an interesting life - that of a cattleman!</p><p></p><p>Regards</p><p></p><p>Bez</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Bez, post: 58993, member: 412"] Well, I am stealing some good info from another thread and giving the authors the credit - it's good advice. See below. As for rennos on a barn - forget it - just give them a three sided shelter facing south - it keeps the rain off of them and lets the sun shine in. A little pasture or feed and you are in business. For that matter they do not even need that - two sides and a roof - or a real good bush with decent drainage will keep you out of most trouble. Heck, a wind break on well drained soil with no roof works as well. These are animals - not pets. They are tough, ornery, eating machines that one day will run you over and the next day look at you with a calmness that you cannot believe. They are one heck of a great hobby - that is how wife and I got started years ago. Love 'em, but if you spoil 'em you will end up with problems. As for breeds - well, any beef cow that can live in Canada can live in the U.S. of A. - some may do better than others - but ... and this is important - you folks do not have experience in breeding, calving and doctoring. Not a slur, just a fact - so find something that will not crush you when something goes wrong - and believe me, it sooner or later will. Nearly all breeds do well - especially if they can be contained, sheltered, fed and watered. That's it in a nutshell. The rest is easy. We all have our favourites - but who cares if you have a patchwork quilt of animals in the field - if they are solid, quiet animals with calves at side - well, be happy. Go cheap. Go with pairs. Instant moms that are bred back. Go with quiet. Do not ask what breed, walk in amongst them before you buy - if they are gone like deer - then forget them. If they jump, fight or run you - run for your truck. If they load hard - run for your truck and leave. If they are not vet checked and preg checked - [b]with you present [/b]- run for your truck and put your money away for another day. Go with mature to prevent calving probs and mothers who disown or kill their calves with starvation - not common, but it does happen. Go private - not sales barn - do not buy someone elses trouble. Tell the owner you WILL be back if there are problems that may have been hidden. Get all their records - herd health, vaccinations, dates of birth, and so on. If those records are not available - run for your truck. Look up my thread - Ding! Dong! Brindles Dead - and avoid any brindles like crazy - no matter what the breed. Perhaps I am just superstitious? Find an old hand in your area - have him go with you and look at at least 5 different outfits before you make up your mind - that way you have an idea of what you are up against. Bargain hard - know your price before you leave your own driveway and stick to it. Don't deviate - there are lots of animals out there for sale. Have a good fence, some feed and water available when they show up at home - even quiet animals can become tornadoes for a day or two. If your area is small and poorly fenced, plan on searching for them for a couple of days before they settle in. Looks like there are three of us in the same boat. If you plan to sell them - make sure that you are selling into an accepting crowd. As an example - if the area you are in loves that black hide, you will suffer with a dollar penalty by trying to sell red. In my area black AND red are guarantted to sell 10 - 20 cents a pound less than a TAN colour. Go figure - if you take the clothes off of them 99% of producers could not tell you what breed they were. Do your homework. If you want to go "exotic" fine - but you did say limited budget. Far as I am concerned - solid animal is good - but cheaper is better. Calves all sell - you just want good 'uns. Healthy and lively. Go for it - have fun and welcome to an interesting life - that of a cattleman! Regards Bez [/QUOTE]
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