quote:
Everything really depends on the size of the operation. If you are looking at 20 heifers then I think AI is the way to go so that you dont have the expense of a bull. I would find a low birth weight brangus or angus for their first and then if I wanted to continue a registered herd go back to beefmaster. Is this going to be a hobby our a way to make a living?

small operation. 20 heifer max. Id like to make a few dollars on it, but definitely not a living.

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Posted by angus1838

Southeast Alabama

Member since Jan 2012

923 posts

Posted on 1/27/13 at 12:14 pm to diat150

Then I would say AI because of the initial cost of a bull (around $2000) and the actual cost of keeping him a year(around $500). Like Geaxtiga said their is no one super breed above all others some just give you an advantage in the profit margin. I have a few different herds and brangus is outperforming almost all. I do have some tiger stripes and while a little spirited they are doing well too. I love to see peolple buying into the cattle industry cause our numbers are dwindling and we need more producers

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Posted by Geauxtiga

No man's land

Member since Jan 2008

34377 posts

Posted on 1/27/13 at 4:16 pm to diat150

quote:
small operation. 20 heifer max.

I once read that the average herd in the U.S. was <50. That was several years back though.

To have 20 you can figure on needing a minimum of 40 acres. Half summer/half winter. For that much you need a tractor to put out hay, etc.

Unless you have crop land to rotate them in (rice stubble) it's hard to make money relying solely on permanent pastures. Even summer pastures now, with the price of fertilizer.

Get 3 or 5 head for a hobby. You can feed square bales in winter. You can overseed a few acres of rye without tilling.

Start with VERY gentle ones cause if mom ain't gentle and runs when she sees you, so will baby and it perpetuates itself.

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