Small Cattle Operation Advice

He won't make a buck or 2

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You have to like cows, because you will be fooling with them and checking on them.

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I won't be fooling with them near as much as the BIL. Probably a %66-%33 split. and he does like to mess with them

My friends dad did it on the side, had around 55 acres and 30 head. He was lucky though because he didn't have to pay for the land, cattle chute, fencing, barn and all the other stuff. He did make a little money but not a lot. And like someone said you better like dealing with cows because you will be doing it a lot. They are the dumbest animals on earth. Sat there and watched one run through a barb wire fence when there was an open gate 10 feet away. Of course we had to go back and fix that entire line of barb wire. Its also much easier if you have a tractor. Good luck.

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On that size operation you can cover expenses and maybe make a little money... maybe. You have to like cows, because you will be fooling with them and checking on them.

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THIS x 1000- it's a hobby. As long as you have the big equipment to start, it'll be ok. Really, you just need a
40 hp tractor or so to mow and put out hay, spray, etc. The operation is too small to ever bale your own, so you'll buy from bigger producers.

This is in the South, right? You only get 1 cow to 30 acres in CO for example. Here, if you're well managed, you can almost run 1/acre.

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Best bet for a property that size is to buy weanling f1 heifers, graze them over the winter and breed them.

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Yes

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You can't produce enough calves annually on thirty acres annually to make it worth your time.

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I knew someone that did it. Only reason he quit is he lost land to people building houses(me for one). He made some spending cash but kept expenses very low. He also roped so some calves got converted to mama cows to keep next to zero expense.

In LA it is 1 cow/2 acres on average depending on the size, condition of the place. I would look into rotational grazing and buy yearlings. Unless you get really good pairs, you will lose your shirt with what 30 heard on 55 acres.

With yearlings and rotational grazing you can get by without hay, but you will need to move them EVERYDAY. You also need to hit the market just right.

On what you are talking about, 30 momma cows may be too much, especially with the dry conditions we have been having. That is just enough cows to make it a pain; too big to just reap the fun/tax advantages; too small to make money to cover expenses. You probably need two bulls, or you wil miss some cows, you will need hay (buying it will kill you, if you don't have the equipment, then you need a source for working them, selling them, etc. The stockyard will do everything needed but feed them, but you have to pay them and guarantee them your calves or they won't do it for long.

With yearlings, you keep them till they are about 600lbs and sell them. You don't want to winter them, because you don't want to feed them. You buy in March sell in Sept/October. If you can hold them to average 600 lbs you'll make money, but you may lose with paying for feed/hay and the damage wintering enough of them will do to your place if the market isn't right to sell or they haven't gained any weight, no grass, etc.

The way it is now you need at least 200 acres to be full time, anything less and it is a hobby that takes up a lot of time. They get sick and die, they miss claving, bulls get hurt, etc.

I had horses, dogs, truck, trailer, all for basically a hobby. My partner inherited all his stuff and used the crap out of it. He mainly used it as a tax write off.

You really need to think about it. Every boy wants to be a Cowboy, but the upfront costs are high, not many government subsidies as other crops, and with the amount of land required to be big it means you are moving them regularly or you are in the swamp (whole different set of problems), or North LA.

Just not the best way to make money. You probably would come out better with goats. Not as glamourous, but with the influx of Hispanics and South Americans into this country, you can make money with goats and they are much easier to deal with, transport, etc. Alot cheaper too.

The plan, at least so far, is to have about 15 calves, get them around 500 lbs, rotate them on the fields, and sell them about 800 lbs. Repeat. Is this even feasible. The BIL says this is the way to go. I am clueless. It is not too late for me to back out.

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The plan, at least so far, is to have about 15 calves, get them around 500 lbs, rotate them on the fields, and sell them about 800 lbs.

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I hope y'all have very good grass and a shite load of hay for the winter.

He is right, you are doing what I am saying buying yearlings, fattening them up and selling them. I think you are buying them too heavy. They won't grow as much as you think and 800lbs is to heavy. If you are selling at 800lbs they better be bred heiffers.

If you can buy at 250/ 300lbs and sell at 600 lbs you will make some money. To keep them longer for more weight, you will need hay or feed; no more profit.

You will need a place with good grass and alot of cross fencing and you will have to move them to a different plot everyday, rain or shine. Alot of work.

The easiest way I've seen if to buy spring calves. Give them vacinations, turn 'em loose and sell them in the fall when the grass can no longer sustain them.

You will need some kind of catch pen and protection from the sun too.

I've also been around a lot of winter calf operations but you need equipment to plow, plant, etc. The ones I was near were farmers who already had equip.