calves on grass

[gopher]

I have approx. 200 acres of good irrigated grass pasture that is all set up for rotational grazing. We use to run 80 cows on this land and cut enough hay to winter the herd. Old age seems to be slowing me down so the cows were sold and rather then renting my land out I thought buying calves and putting them on the grass for the summer would be a good alternative. I have no experience doing this and would appreciate any advice as to type and weight of calve to buy, the typical gain on grass and if anyone in this type of operation would recommend it as a possive experience.

[WoolyBear]

Here is something to checkout. Its an old article, but interesting just the same.

http://www.sare.org/sanet-mg/archives/html-home/39-html/0306.html

[WoolyBear]

Don't think they even give out free samples on their tours anymore either.

[agstar77]

Actually most of the wiskey is made from corn as I understand.

[cswilson]

Why not rent your grass out to a someone who runs yearlings and see how they gain on your place -kinda get a feel for the deal.

[chaffmeister]

agstar77's right. Mostly corn. Out west here rye is used as well (Alberta Distillers (Calgary) and Diageo (Gimli). After all, it IS called rye whiskey. If any wheat is used anywhere, its minor.

Scotch whiskey is made with barley - but only in Scotland.

[chaffmeister]

agstar77's right. Mostly corn. Out west here rye is used as well (Alberta Distillers (Calgary) and Diageo (Gimli). After all, it IS called rye whiskey. If any wheat is used anywhere, its minor.

Scotch whiskey is made with barley - but only in Scotland.

[cowman]

Personally I would try to buy calves that have been raised fairly tough? It seems those "lean and mean" ones can really pack on the weight? Those fat babies don't seem to do that well...just my opinion.
I am always amazed at how much grass cattle sell for in the spring? I think some of these grass guys must have pretty sharp pencils to keep doing this year after year?

[parsley]

From their website:
http://www.glenoradistillery.com/glenbreton.htm


"Glen Breton Rare Canadian Single Malt Whisky is the only single malt whisky produced in Canada. It is produced by the traditional copper pot stills method using only three ingredients: Barley, Yeast and Water."

"It can not be called 'Scotch' unless it is produced in Scotland, hence, Canadian Single Malt Whisky."


Legal sales of spirits products generate revenues of more than $2.5 billion to federal and provincial governments each year according to the Distillery association. Can less taxing
leave more money on the table?

Parsley

[kato]

If you buy calves with too much flesh on them, they go backwards for a while when they first hit the pasture. Best to get some really healthy looking ones that haven't been pushed too hard. And you can't put too much emphasis on healthy either.

Talk to someone who's been grassing cattle for a while and get some opinions as to what works in your neighbourhood, and with your type of pasture.

One important thing that a lot of people forget is to make sure you don't buy a bunch of wild animals! We've found our experience that these young ones just don't stay in a herd the way cows do, especially if they get out on you. We had one bunch get out once that instead of sticking in one herd of 25, they split into 25 herds of 1! It took three weeks to get them all back.

[kato]

some interesting reply to your grazing
cattle.
we done it for many years and is not always profitable due to price variaton
on 200 irrigation i asume by pivot or wheelmove ,so you have controle of when ,to put on water.and use off fertilizer.
you be able to manage ,and run 200head
of 6 to700 weight on rotation set up .
it is like cowman has said lean and green me be brittish breeds you need some size to get a average gain of 1.6
to 1.8 per day .
implants plus fly -tacs we give all long acting biomycen on delivery and not mutch problems after that.
you need to have a good setup,if you get in to wreck like hoofrot, respitory
pinkey ,bulls??? if you run hfrs .
irrigation grass is soft so more head
and less gain per unit.
if you need more info be glad to assist
you author gopher!

[smcgrath76]

A couple of thoughts. CSW has a good thought about renting and custom grazing for a year or two. We did this in the early 80s and it worked well. If the system is intensive the cattle get really quiet, really quick. One twelve year old kid with a horse and a dog can move 300 yearlings lickety split.
Leaner, british type cattle are the way to go. Healthy is important, although we have had good luck buying tailenders and spending the first two weeks watching them like hawks.
look for 1.5-2.5 pounds a day depending on incoming condition, pasture type/condition, etc.
One other thing, if you don't pump your water (direct dugout access) spend the money and buy or build a pump. It really pays with growing classes of cattle.