Raising Cattle, I have never been on a farm or around cattle?

Question

I am thinking of purchasing a couple of cows, to raise for meat. The way this country is headed, I figure I best start now. Is it hard to raise cattle? Any special shots? Anything important that I need to know? I will have only about 4 acres, will 2 cows be OK? What Brand is best for butchering?

Answer 1

Cheryl, I've been thinking the same thing perhaps for a different reason. We don't know what we're getting anymore. Beef choked full of growth hormones or cloned, yuck! Mad cow disease, etc.



On four acres you should be able to raise 2 cows with supplemental feeding during freeze or drought. Hay, culls from veggie produce houses, commercial feed (expensive but should be affordable when necessary with only a couple of cows).



You'll need pens where they'll come in to drink their water and you can have a vet artificially inseminate or 'borrow' or rent a bull once a year. You don't have to brand your cows as now you can have them tattooed. Shots can be administered by your vet and you should have them wormed before taking them 'home.' The auction barn where you purchase can worm and maybe even give the necessary shots.



I once owned a dozen beef head on 37 acres, but a bad drought made me sell. I just couldn't find hay anymore, anywhere and so I sold to someone with more land and more grass on his property. Then I moved to the city and now that I'm considering retirement I'm also considering raising cows again for home beef production rather than commerically. If I do, I'll probably have less than a dozen or so.



Good luck Cheryl.



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Answer 2

This Site Might Help You.



RE:

Raising Cattle, I have never been on a farm or around cattle?

I am thinking of purchasing a couple of cows, to raise for meat. The way this country is headed, I figure I best start now. Is it hard to raise cattle? Any special shots? Anything important that I need to know? I will have only about 4 acres, will 2 cows be OK? What Brand is best for butchering?

Answer 3

A Brand is something you put on the cows hide, you don't butcher a Brand (I think you mean breed)!



If you have never been on a farm or around cattle I suggest you don't try this, it will be much more difficult than you think.



As for you acreage, it entirely depends on your climate and the productivity of the grass you are growing on the land.



Have you thought about water, transporting the cattle, attaining feed for winter, etc.?



If you are going to do this, find a local farmer/rancher to help you.



Better to go with chickens.

Answer 4

I agree with most of what was said. What we don't know is your finical situation, in terms of starting a hobby farm.



As a rule of thumb you need 1 1/2 - 2 acres of land for an animals of 1000 lbs, so you would be close. Like stated before things needed, feed both natural and supplemental, water (pond stream tank), more than likely a small tractor, building to load and unload the livestock, building to store equipment and feed, lots of fencing (we run three strands of four point barded wire and a smooth electric wire), fence equipment: gates, insulators, staples, corner poet, T-post for between the corner post depending on your terrain some round wooden post.and misc other stuff. I would never try to talk some one out of starting a farm as long as they are dedicated to doing the work, it is very rewarding.



The breed I have been looking into lately is the Galloway. It is a grass feed cattle that takes a little longer to fill out. I hope this helps at lest a little.

Answer 5

Cheryl, please read this advice. If your decision is based on where this country is heading and you want to ensure you have meat to eat let me throw out a few thoughts for you.



- In a survival situation, there is not likely to be any electricity. (where can you store and entire cow before it goes bad?)

- Cows do not reproduce well if not in the right environment (see earlier posting)

- That cow is going to eat you out of house and home, especially in a survival situation. Four Acres is not enough, you will have to supplement greatly with feed ($$$)

- The return on investment for two cows is a negative number. It is not until you can regenerate your herd that you actually start making money (roughly 12 cows and 1 SOLID bull)

- I can go on and on and on



Let me recommend something. If you are looking to have a meat available to support you in case of a surviavl situation, if you want something that four acres will support, if you want something that will not kick the living **** out of you ((COWS WILL)), if you want something that will not end up costing you money, then I strongly suggest another food source that is far more manageable.



Goats.....yup, I said it....



Based on what you have here goats would suffice wonderfully.



- You want meat

- You can even milk a goat

- You want support in a survival situation

- You want something you are capable of managing and raising

- You want something that doesn't take a thesaurus of knowledge to do.

- Plus, if it comes down to it you can butcher them on your own and wont need all the transportation logistic stuff you need with a cow.

- In addition, you may be able to get a tax break (check area laws) if you get the land identified as farming/greenspace.



Long winded....Hope it helps.

Answer 6

Better get your meat from the butcher! The cost of feed,

the risk of disease and you are thinking 'two cows'..

I like to say Hereford is good for beef..yet many like

Angus.....most of the time a steer is best for slaughter,

and if you don't know the difference between a cow and

a steer...beware the bull, many of those guys don't take

kindly to strangers....I'm not trying to discourage you, check

with your local county agent, there you will find a wealth of

info......Good luck!

Answer 7

You can have a local vet come out and give them all their shots and such. If you have never had them or taken care of them the vet will help you get an understanding of the process.

It is hard work and isn't something to be taken lightly.

Answer 8

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Answer 9

Why is this question in hunting? Are you planning on going cattle hunting?

Answer 10

my dear cheryl, being a farmer is dirty work, Are you sure you're into this?