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Raising steers (OT)

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John51

12-10-2004 12:23:22

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Is there anyone like me left anymore? I raise 25 or 30 steers a year on my own feed. Keeps me busy and out of trouble, or so I tell the wife. She says that's great but it would be nice if I could make enough to cover the costs of my old tractors. Once upon a time I could name a couple dozen farmers around who did the same thing but they are all out of the business now. Smarter than me I guess. Are there any good forums out there for livestock? Everything now seems to be geared to the producer who has thousands of animals or the homestead types with one cow and two goats. I don't fit in either one of those categories. I'm stuck in that part of American farming that is fast disappearing.

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Halwelch

12-14-2004 15:06:41

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Re: Raising steers (OT) in reply to John51, 12-10-2004 12:23:22

2nd year raising Angus. Last year I got 1.60 hanging weight and this year I got $1.70. Last year I raised 2 and this year I raised 6. I have enough orders for next year to raise 9 or 10. I keep a half for myself and sell the rest. I buy my steers in the spring at about 400 pounds put them in a 80 foot round pen and feed them all the shelled they want with hay at night. This year I eat beef for my labor. Buying corn at 8.50cwt
keeps profit down. I"m now looking for a used gravity wagon so I can buy corn in bulk. It should be less expensive.I have fun,eat good and meet a lot of good people. I"ll keep doing it.

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Teddy (punchie)

12-12-2004 16:22:35

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Believe it or not : Re: Raising steers (OT) in reply to John51, 12-10-2004 12:23:22

I was looking at a number of topics a few years back and came accross a groverment listing for farms and what they rasied and to my supprise and I'm sure yours. 50 percent of the beef in the US are rasied East of the Mississippi River on farms with 25-30 head of cattle. I found it hard out of high school to make 50.00 ahead , so I sell hay to horse people. Get 1.25 and up for 25-35 pound bales. Hard to feed to cattle and make any money.

Teddy

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kyhayman

12-11-2004 17:32:53

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Re: Raising steers (OT) in reply to John51, 12-10-2004 12:23:22

I've been running about that many the past 4 years (since I got back in the heifer business). Been using the profit to help pay the overhead on replacement heifers. Tried it in the mid 90's feed bills killed me. Now, using rained on ripe alfalfa round baled silage. Been a great way to market some very low value hay (in terms of price).

Several of my neighbors background and a few feed out.

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Jim Fowler

12-11-2004 14:13:27

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Re: Raising steers (OT) in reply to John51, 12-10-2004 12:23:22

I have been raising 10-12 head a year of Angus cross for the last 10 years or so. I sell them by the half or whole and usually put 1 or 2 a year in my freezer for the family to come and take what they need. I have had people back out, if the steer is ready to go it may just go to the auction ring. The problem is that it usually takes some time in advance to schedule the processing so last minute backouts create problems for a couple people. People seem to be hesitant to lay out a large chunk of money all at once for beef, but they don't realize what they spend piece by piece over the year when buying groceries. I like to stress the quality of my beef and will let anyone look over my stock as well as what is fed at any time, all natural, no implants, from a grass fed TB tested herd! I have been selling this yr. at $1.40 a lb hang wgt with the buyer paying processing. The halves have been in the 400-500lb range.

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John51

12-11-2004 16:31:09

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Me, too in reply to Jim Fowler, 12-11-2004 14:13:27

Most of my steers are sold by the quarter or half for freezer beef. I try to keep halves between 300 and 400 pounds. Most of my customers start to balk at 400. It's too much at once and the steaks sare getting pretty big. I charge $1.45 but that's after hanging for about two weeks. Most of my customers are repeat business or their friends. Everyone wants natural beef. I don't use hormones or feed antibiotics. All my feed is raised here on the farm unless I run low on corn. I sold 5 for beef in November and have orders for another 4 in February
I raise about half holstein steers because I can buy neighbor's calves and many people prefer the meat...including my wife! I have to watch Angus or they get too fat. Then it's off to the auction, but fat black steers are what they like there. Where are you located?

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Jim Fowler

12-12-2004 01:06:17

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Re: Me, too in reply to John51, 12-11-2004 16:31:09

John, I am in southeast MI, have been doing this for a while, I know what you mean by the Angus getting too fat!! This next year I am going to try to reduce size of the halves. Most of my customers are repeat, or word of mouth. I tried Holstein for a while, takes a lot of feed!! If I had my druthers it would be Limousin beef all the way, had a few a while back and was impressed with the overall animal.

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tim[in]

12-11-2004 14:13:03

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Re: Raising steers (OT) in reply to John51, 12-10-2004 12:23:22

gene logsdon has a new book out that i'd like to get on pasture farming. and a good source of ideas on direct marketing are the books by joel salatin. he has one on getting started that i wish i had had when i started farming. but there is stuff int here which makes sense ,some i question, and some i disagree with. but the idea is to get new perspectives on things and learn to think outside the box.you may not change a thing in the way you do things but, at least the options and knowledge is available. and that's the idea. he sells eggs,broilers, beef,pork,lumber,firewood,rabbits direct to the consumer.he also has good books on beef, and pastured poultry . at least if not buying them go to the library and borrow them. a great source of info that will work no matter what the size of your operation .

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tim[in]

12-11-2004 14:03:18

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Re: Raising steers (OT) in reply to John51, 12-10-2004 12:23:22

there are some great books by gene logsdon and joel salatin that are pretty good sources of info for those who are contemplating selling direct to consumers. joel has polyface farm in virginia and sells grass fattened beef ,lamb chickens , and and other pastured raised products, firewood,lumber. some consepts might not be appropriate for your area ,farm or such but a lot of good ideas and info for thinking 'outside the box'.gene logsdon has a new book out too that i cant wait to read. some things i question in it but at least it's a start. some i disagree with . but is his account of his situation and what works for him. a different perspective on things is just what can help a lot of us.i definitly have benefited from it.

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tim[in]

12-11-2004 16:09:54

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Re: Raising steers (OT) in reply to tim[in], 12-11-2004 14:03:18

sorry stupid puter wasnt supposed to post the first one. 6 years and not a bit more puter literate than when i started! lol

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JC in Ky

12-11-2004 10:34:41

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Re: Raising steers (OT) in reply to John51, 12-10-2004 12:23:22

IVe herd my grandmother talk about a pair of Holsten steers that her dad raised. He used them around here to farm with. I think one weighed 2425 pounds an the other was 2450. There wasn"t a fence or a barn wall that they couldn"t walk through if they wanted to. His brother bought a super M farmall and he bet him the tractor that his team of steers couldn"t pull him backwards. Well they tied them togeather an sure enought they pulled that M about 30 feet with it spinning forwards. Im trying to break a pair my self to pull a wagon in parades. Ive finally got a good mached pair. Well thats my .02 worth Have a good one JC

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12-11-2004 15:44:45

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Re: Raising steers (OT) in reply to JC in Ky, 12-11-2004 10:34:41

Parade team? Was a swiss fest few years back had a beer wagon pulled by a pair of Brown swiss cows- these were 4H halter broke pets used to being led. Adults had beer, children got fresh milk in evening. Use of cows for wagon pulling or light oxe duty not uncommon still in eastern europe. RN.

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Teddy (punchie)

12-12-2004 16:12:19

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Re: Raising steers (OT) in reply to RN, 12-11-2004 15:44:45

Had and older friend that is now pasted on. Told me that Oxen ( cows ) were some of the strongest animals alive pound for pound, out pull any team of pulling horses and out work them. He was a horse puller aslong as I knew him, so 40 years or better.

Teddy

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jimont

12-11-2004 06:06:52

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Re: Raising steers (OT) in reply to John51, 12-10-2004 12:23:22

John - Come to Canada to get your stock. Friends took 3 bred cows (due in March) to the sale barn this week and took home a total of $406.00 then took $56 to refill their truck. Had to cut back for lack of hay. Very tough times here in Canada, all due to one cow two years ago !

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Teddy (punchie)

12-12-2004 16:06:34

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Re: Raising steers (OT) in reply to jimont, 12-11-2004 06:06:52

The border is to open in the near future for you and the us.

Teddy

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JiminIA

12-11-2004 05:48:08

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Re: Raising steers (OT) in reply to John51, 12-10-2004 12:23:22

Anymore it just seems to be the big guys left. There are some guys raising some steers and some guys raising holstein steers around here but most of them aare also big crop farmers. If you can find a way to direct market them you can do alright, it is more hassle but it can be worthit when done right.....Jim

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chief 83

12-10-2004 21:06:55

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Re: Raising steers (OT) in reply to John51, 12-10-2004 12:23:22

I raise a few also. If I won the lottery I'd farm until it was gone!

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HobbyFarmerInWI

12-10-2004 19:47:11

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Re: Raising steers (OT) in reply to John51, 12-10-2004 12:23:22

I live about 75 miles from a metro area. Wife and I (and the boys) raise about 10 steers per year and sell them directly to consumers. We make good money, gives me a hobby, and teaches the boys some responsibilites.

We take orders for whole or halves, then have them fill out the cut sheet for the locker. We then deliver the finished product to the buyer.

Works for us.

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MARSHALL

12-11-2004 07:00:10

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Re: Raising steers (OT) in reply to HobbyFarmerInWI, 12-10-2004 19:47:11

HAVE YOU EVER HAD ANYONE ORDER ONE AND THEN NOT WANT IT WHEN IT WAS READY, OR WHEN IT IS TIME TO PAY THEY "DON'T HAVE THE MONEY"?

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HobbyFarmerInWI

12-11-2004 13:30:31

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Re: Raising steers (OT) in reply to MARSHALL, 12-11-2004 07:00:10

Yes, that has happened a few times. What we do is sell our 10, then let the next two people on the list know that if anyone backs out, they will get one.

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DaveNC

12-10-2004 19:45:57

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Re: Raising steers (OT) in reply to John51, 12-10-2004 12:23:22

I have been receiving American Small Farm Magazine for several years. It may have useful information for you. They cover many small farm possibilities-livestock, fruit, crops, etc.
Link

Attn: Circulation
267 Broad St.
Westerville, OH 43081
Subscription price
1 year = $18.00 US Dollars 2 years = $30.00 US Dollars
This is a 60% savings off the cover price

Information and Production: Marti Smith
Ad Sales: Marti Smith
Editor: Andy Stevens

Phone: 614.895.3755 Fax:614.895.3757

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HobbyFarmerInWI

12-10-2004 19:41:39

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Re: Raising steers (OT) in reply to John51, 12-10-2004 12:23:22

We take orders for whole or halves, then have them fill out the cut sheet for the locker. We then deliver the finished product to the buyer.

Works for us.

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Jerry/MT

12-10-2004 18:47:35

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Re: Raising steers (OT) in reply to John51, 12-10-2004 12:23:22

I'm fixin' to stock my place in western Montana and I hope to be able to run 30-35 cow-calf pairs. All my neighbors have bigger outfits (200-300 pairs and up (a few big ranches run 3000 mother cows!)Sure is a bad time to buy breeding stock with the record high prices! Just my luck; buy high, sell low. So you're not alone as a small producer, but it's tough to break even in a stocker operation. The way I figure it though, if I can make a bit more than breakeven, I'm ahead of the game 'cuz I just plain like runnin' cows. Other people like playing golf and you'll play hob makin' a buck out of that, too!

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Yes

12-10-2004 15:25:39

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Re: Raising steers (OT) in reply to John51, 12-10-2004 12:23:22

try this "www . home steading today . com/vb/" remove the spaces.

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mike brown

12-10-2004 14:52:06

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Re: Raising steers (OT) in reply to John51, 12-10-2004 12:23:22

I use to do that until about ten years ago. I got a job in town that helped pay for my cattle hobby but after a number of years of low cattle prices and spending all my vacation time making hay, feeding in the dark everyday in the winter,fence fixing...etc. You now the routine, I decided that the guy on my porch who wanted to buy the whole lot could own 'em if he did all the cowboy work.

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MARSHALL

12-10-2004 13:19:47

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Re: Raising steers (OT) in reply to John51, 12-10-2004 12:23:22

I DON'T KNOW OF ANY BUT I WOULD LIKE TO FIND OUT TO.

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