Herds of cows, all with calves that were born this year. That’s a lot of babies and a lot of cows to get bred each year! How do farmers and ranchers get their cows bred? Most commercial beef cattle are bred by bulls, specialty cattle, like show steers, and most dairy cattle are bred by…
It’s a big day! Getting your beef for the freezer, yes! I love looking into a freezer full of meat and thinking of all the possibilities! But…before we get too carried away here, let’s figure up what will actually fit in the freezer. How much space is available for all that beef? One cubic foot…
Thinking about using A.I. for your herd? Whether you have one cow or quite a few, A.I. has some distinct advantages over running a bull and a few drawbacks that you need to know about before you decide how to breed your herd this year. So, should you try A.I. this year, or is it…
Thinking about raising your own beef? Nothing beats the view of a few steers on pasture or a freezer full of your homegrown custom cut beef! Raising your own beef takes time and money and will be the best beef you’ve ever had. Will raising your own beef be worth it to you? Raising your…
Raising your own beef is your ticket to meat freedom! Before you can eat the best beef you’ve ever had, you’ll need to get your steer processed. What are the costs to butcher that amazing steer of yours and how much meat can you expect to get? The cost to butcher your own beef is…
Cows eat grass, we all know that! If cattle eat grass and grow well on grass, what’s with diets containing corn? Cattle are fed corn to get them more calories in their daily ration than they could get if eating grass only. The extra calories are used to increase growth (beef cattle) or milk production…
Wow, you’re so close to the best beef you’ve ever had! And the best part is, you raised it yourself! Your steer is growing well and you’ve noticed he’s looking pretty big lately. Now it crosses your mind “how do I know when this guy is ready to put in the freezer?” Your steer is…
When you’ve got cattle, you’re going to have manure! How much will each cow produce and what are you planning on doing with it? A 1,000 pound cow will produce 60 pounds of manure per day. Manure in the barn should be captured in bedding, like straw or sawdust and then composted. You have a…
Getting your first few cattle is an exciting time! Now you can start putting together a plan, starting with price. What are your options to get started raising cattle and how much should you plan on spending? Generally speaking, bred cows and bred heifers cost $1,200 each and the bull $2,000. Cost varies with region,…
Congratulations, you’ve decided to get some cattle! Now, how are you going to care for those beautiful bovines to make sure they (and you) have a successful start? Your cattle will need grass, winter forage, fencing, handling and watering systems. The daily care of your herd will depend upon the season of the year and…