Starting cattle farm

7 posts
Sun, 12/15/2013 - 09:19 #1

Member for

11 years 6 months
lucetto
Last seen: 03/08/2018 - 21:05
Joined: 06/23/2013 - 12:16

Starting cattle farm

Hi there 
we a looking to start a beef cattle farm of approximately 80 to 100 cows. My question is what is the best strategy to start - buying pregnant cow so we can sell the calves shortly after? Or another option? We are aiming for this to cover the costs and make a profit.  Any assistance would be greatly appreciated :)

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Sun, 12/15/2013 - 17:37 #2
rmcpb
Last seen: 03/08/2018 - 21:05
Joined: 10/22/2012 - 11:13

This is a bit of string question. What is your experience? Where are you? What sort of pastures do you have? What water points and storage do yo have? What are your fences like? Do yo have room to grow hay? Are you trying to do this one the cheap or can you afford in calf cows?

At the moment stores are really cheap and may be a good way to start if you have feed. Get them, fatten them and get some experience without all the problems of calving and keeping a bull. When you have done a few cycles you could then grow out some of the better heifers and breed them to start although heifers are more work than cows as they have more calving problems.

I would suggest growing out weaners for a start.

Cheers
Rob.

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Sun, 12/15/2013 - 18:41 #3
lucetto
Last seen: 03/08/2018 - 21:05
Joined: 06/23/2013 - 12:16

Hi rob 

i know this is a bizarre question especially as we are yet to buy the property. :) We know everything relies in the soil,dse etc and are hoping to buy a property next year.  We are open to areas in nsw but are looking to buy the place outright, with good carrying capacity, and rainfall etc. our plan is to buy enough space for beef cattle to support us and we know this varies differently in areas.

Just wondering the best way to start or just throw ourselves in;)

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Sun, 12/15/2013 - 21:46 #4
charlie
Last seen: 12/26/2018 - 09:21
Joined: 05/31/2011 - 09:44

Hi Lucetto,

There are a number of ways you can start your herd, these include:

  • Buying pregnant females in calf. 
  • Buying a cow/heifer and a bull, in some areas smaller farmers have pooled their money together to buy a bull, or you may be able to lease one from a neighbour.
  • Buying a cow/heifer and doing AI (Artificial Insemination), this is a good method if you do not wish to own a bull, however AI is expensive with conception rates lower thgan a natural mating.

Regarding the best way to start, you could lease a small farm with an option to buy. That way you will get a feel for farming and ensure that's what you want to do before making a large investment.

Regards,

Charlie

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Sun, 12/15/2013 - 22:47 #5
barb
Last seen: 09/17/2019 - 18:07
Joined: 11/23/2011 - 09:38

Hi Lucetto,

I would tend to agree with Rob. Start with weaners, grow on for 6-12 months, sell them and then buy in your next lot. Country for breeding needs good soils/pasture and rainfall to bring the cows into good breeding condition and sustain them through pregnancy and lactation. If you still want to run breeders and the property is suitable for breeding it is possible to have cows Artificially inseminated which saves you the need to run a bull. If there are dairy farms in your area, they will usually do their own A.I programmes and can often do the job for you for a reasonable fee. They always order their straws (containing the semen) from catalogues that list the available semen with photos of the bulls and details of their blood lines and characteristics.  Every few months the salemen come around to recharge their nitrogen tanks where the straws are kept and in this area of Qld, they also deliver the straws you have ordered at the same time. Whatever the dairy farmer charges to do the job for you it is still much easier and less expensive than buying in and running a bull.

For me half the satisfaction in running a property is trying out different things and then seeing the results later. Sometimes if you are fortunate, everything seems to come together and you get  such a great sense of achievment when it does.

You have the right idea- research, research and more research. I believe you can never do too much. Ask questions ( there is no such thing as a stupid question) listen to everyones advice and then do what you think best. Sometimes it doesn't work, but each time you succeed or fail, you learn for the next project.

Cheers and all the best for Christmas and the New Year,

Barb

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Wed, 01/01/2014 - 22:37 #6
grometluowe
Last seen: 01/01/2014 - 22:37
Joined: 01/01/2014 - 22:14

It would be safe to have a 1-2 years of experince in complete cycle of cattle raising then only you should take the chance of having a preganant cow but still I would appreciate your view and thinking so go with buying the pregnant cows so that you would have first hand experience of all the cattle related things, I would suggest you start a little poultry farm at the same time as you start the beef cattle farm because it would be second source of income  and help you a lot.

Read more here.

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Fri, 01/03/2014 - 18:34 #7
lucetto
Last seen: 03/08/2018 - 21:05
Joined: 06/23/2013 - 12:16

Hi all

thanks so much for the feedback and apologies for the delay in reply - thank god the silly season is over. Thanks for being gentle also - I realise my questions sounds stupid ;)

i am starting to think that you may be right regarding getting weaner and then growing a bit and reselling might be the safer option in terms of less outlay initially, less issues with potential birthing and husbandry issues also. 

we know that with this we aren't going to make a lot of money but are looking for a lifestyle change while we have the balls to do it ;)

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