First, let me tell you I am nothing but a hobby cattleman. I only have a small herd of 5 mommas, and I am in the middle of my 2nd calving season. Of my 5, three are having their 2nd calves and two are having their first calves, one of which has already calved. I sell calves in the fall at about 500 lbs. I am not in it for the money. I enjoy being around the cattle and spend time with them daily. I enjoy learning more and more about them. I don't want to lose my shirt, but I'm not dependent on cattle for income. I have a regular job for that. Anyway, here is the problem:
My brother is in the same boat in that he has a small herd. He has a pretty nice bull that we swap back and forth so I have calves in the spring and he has calves in the fall. Great deal, but he wants out. He owns the bull outright and has offered to sell him to me, but in my opinion he wants a little too much, and I generally try to avoid large exchanges of money amongst family. Plus, I am pushing my stalking rate already. I'm trying to start a rotational grazing set up so it works better. If I add a bull, I'm sure I will be well over stocked. Plus, if I need to separate him to keep a calving schedule, there wouldn't be any shelter should there be sever weather of some kind. He would have shade but nothing for extreme cold or hail etc. So what should I do?
1. Sell my pairs this fall and buy calves and background them.
2. Learn how to AI and do it myself.
3. Buy my own bull and hope weather isn't too bad when separated. Feed hay most of the year.
4. Sell my stock and buy my own bull. Buy pairs, breed momma and sell as heavy breds and sell calves too.
5. Say heck with it and sell out.
6. Other
Help me figure out what to do.
By the way, I live in KS if that matters.
My brother is in the same boat in that he has a small herd. He has a pretty nice bull that we swap back and forth so I have calves in the spring and he has calves in the fall. Great deal, but he wants out. He owns the bull outright and has offered to sell him to me, but in my opinion he wants a little too much, and I generally try to avoid large exchanges of money amongst family. Plus, I am pushing my stalking rate already. I'm trying to start a rotational grazing set up so it works better. If I add a bull, I'm sure I will be well over stocked. Plus, if I need to separate him to keep a calving schedule, there wouldn't be any shelter should there be sever weather of some kind. He would have shade but nothing for extreme cold or hail etc. So what should I do?
1. Sell my pairs this fall and buy calves and background them.
2. Learn how to AI and do it myself.
3. Buy my own bull and hope weather isn't too bad when separated. Feed hay most of the year.
4. Sell my stock and buy my own bull. Buy pairs, breed momma and sell as heavy breds and sell calves too.
5. Say heck with it and sell out.
6. Other
Help me figure out what to do.
By the way, I live in KS if that matters.