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Up to date ? On farm raised beef
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<blockquote data-quote="SRBeef" data-source="post: 870536" data-attributes="member: 7509"><p>Alan,</p><p></p><p>I sell mine as split halves only, USDA inspected, for $4.00/lb, I pay all processing etc. Quarters generally work out to about 100 lb of beef and include all cuts. I have it trimmed for minimum bone and fat and aged for 2-3 weeks. These 100 lb quarters are manageable for many potential customers in terms of cost and freezer space required. I keep only the best as roasts to increase the amount of very good hamburger in each quarter. A lot of families these days have little use for an arm roast.</p><p></p><p>As far as grain before harvest, I have a somewhat different approach as I have mine grazing standing unharvested corn the last 3-4 months prior to harvest.</p><p></p><p>As far as weight, mine go to the processors the third week of April ready or not. I don't think mine are really "finished" as most folks would think of fats coming off of a feedlot, but I harvest my Herefords at 13 months: calved in late March and go to the processor late the following April.</p><p></p><p>My goal is to get them as heavy as possible in this time. I leave them on the cow as long as possible in the fall (now). About 2/3 of my calves are still nursing on my better milking cows. I will fenceline wean them around the 1st of Nov. Then the steers and any heifers to be harvested will be on hay for about a month then controlled graze standing unharvested corn for about 120 days.</p><p></p><p>Some of mine will get close to 1050 lb by harvest. I notice a big difference between calves based on genetics. Some grow a lot earlier than others. This past spring I also noticed a big difference in the yield from various animals. Being heavy at 13 months is not much use if the weight difference is in bone/frame and not in beef. I am learning it takes certain cattle genetics to fit into my system.</p><p></p><p>At 13 months with 4 months of that grazing standing corn plants they are not fleshy but very tender and flavorful. By limiting the grazing until they eat about 2/3 of the corn plant (but not forced to eat the lower stalk) they are a cross between "grass fed" and conventional corn fed. I think this mixture of grain, cobs, husks and the upper corn plant with free access to hay, mineral, salt and good water produces very good beef. It also spreads the manure and reduces residue for next year's strip tilling for corn. And it is largely "self service" with the cattle doing most of the feeding work and manure handling, not me.</p><p></p><p>I don't use implants either. Because of the timing of my corn growing system, the third week in April they go to the processors, ready or not. This way I only have 2 years calves on hand for about 1 month of overlap. And since the new calves are 100% on mama for that month this increases my effective carrying capacity for the grazing season which starts here generally around May 5th.</p><p></p><p>Obviously a very tight calving period (hopefully one cycle) beginning the third week in March is very beneficial in this system. Get as much age on them as possible but hopefully avoid calving in the snow and mud of early March in WI. </p><p></p><p>I will probably be increasing my price in the future since I can sell more than I can produce. A good sign is customers calling back for more. I hope this answers your original question plus a bit. I haven't been on this site much recently and apologize if I have bored long timers. My system is evolving. Best of luck to you.</p><p></p><p>Jim</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="SRBeef, post: 870536, member: 7509"] Alan, I sell mine as split halves only, USDA inspected, for $4.00/lb, I pay all processing etc. Quarters generally work out to about 100 lb of beef and include all cuts. I have it trimmed for minimum bone and fat and aged for 2-3 weeks. These 100 lb quarters are manageable for many potential customers in terms of cost and freezer space required. I keep only the best as roasts to increase the amount of very good hamburger in each quarter. A lot of families these days have little use for an arm roast. As far as grain before harvest, I have a somewhat different approach as I have mine grazing standing unharvested corn the last 3-4 months prior to harvest. As far as weight, mine go to the processors the third week of April ready or not. I don't think mine are really "finished" as most folks would think of fats coming off of a feedlot, but I harvest my Herefords at 13 months: calved in late March and go to the processor late the following April. My goal is to get them as heavy as possible in this time. I leave them on the cow as long as possible in the fall (now). About 2/3 of my calves are still nursing on my better milking cows. I will fenceline wean them around the 1st of Nov. Then the steers and any heifers to be harvested will be on hay for about a month then controlled graze standing unharvested corn for about 120 days. Some of mine will get close to 1050 lb by harvest. I notice a big difference between calves based on genetics. Some grow a lot earlier than others. This past spring I also noticed a big difference in the yield from various animals. Being heavy at 13 months is not much use if the weight difference is in bone/frame and not in beef. I am learning it takes certain cattle genetics to fit into my system. At 13 months with 4 months of that grazing standing corn plants they are not fleshy but very tender and flavorful. By limiting the grazing until they eat about 2/3 of the corn plant (but not forced to eat the lower stalk) they are a cross between "grass fed" and conventional corn fed. I think this mixture of grain, cobs, husks and the upper corn plant with free access to hay, mineral, salt and good water produces very good beef. It also spreads the manure and reduces residue for next year's strip tilling for corn. And it is largely "self service" with the cattle doing most of the feeding work and manure handling, not me. I don't use implants either. Because of the timing of my corn growing system, the third week in April they go to the processors, ready or not. This way I only have 2 years calves on hand for about 1 month of overlap. And since the new calves are 100% on mama for that month this increases my effective carrying capacity for the grazing season which starts here generally around May 5th. Obviously a very tight calving period (hopefully one cycle) beginning the third week in March is very beneficial in this system. Get as much age on them as possible but hopefully avoid calving in the snow and mud of early March in WI. I will probably be increasing my price in the future since I can sell more than I can produce. A good sign is customers calling back for more. I hope this answers your original question plus a bit. I haven't been on this site much recently and apologize if I have bored long timers. My system is evolving. Best of luck to you. Jim [/QUOTE]
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