cattle question

[seth30]

One of the land owners that lets me hunt his property hinted at me getting into the cattle buisness with him.  This will be a small herd of 20.  Looking at craigs list  for calves I see most listed at 1200-1500 bucks.  What  profit is normal for a full grown cow.  The cattle im looking at is either going to be angus or herferd.  Thanks for any insight into this

[Gringo31]

What  profit is normal for a full grown cow.

Profit?  I don't think there is a "normal" profit....



As far as your question....I have a few for you.  What is the end goal?  Is it to eat pasture, eat your own beef or is it a true business model where you are looking to make money?  What are your plans in the winter?  Is this east or west side?  Facilities, equipment, fences.............etc....

[Killmore]

Go to the toppenish livestock web site to get a idea on prices, If you got pasture you may make a few bucks but if you keep them through the winter and feed hay then that's a different story.

[iRem]

Look for cattle auctions to purchase calves if you want to raise them up and maybe make a profit! Get your self a Bull and have a few ladies to make a few babies!! It all depends on how many acres you have to work with, food source, predation, facilities and so on! Good luck!!

[50CalJim]

One of the land owners that lets me hunt his property hinted at me getting into the cattle buisness with him.  This will be a small herd of 20.  Looking at craigs list  for calves I see most listed at 1200-1500 bucks.  What  profit is normal for a full grown cow.  The cattle im looking at is either going to be angus or herferd.  Thanks for any insight into this

My advice is don't be buying Calves for 1,200-1,500 Dollars off Craiglist. They don't even come close to costing that much.

[Woodchuck]

  Go to an auction 

[HUNTINCOUPLE]

Check the auction off of auburn enumscratch rd. The sales pavilion.  I think they have stuff like that.

[50CalJim]

I use to buy Bull Calves in the spring from a Dairy farmer yrs ago dirt cheap & sell them in the fall & make some easy cash.Granted my Dad had plenty of land for me to use so my overhead was pretty low except for some Bottle feeding for a while. My Girlfriends dad just bought 2 from a Dairy Farmer & I think he paid 50 bucks each.

[Gringo31]

Yep, only problem with that is that most don't want to bottle feed a baby for 60 days....

[farmin4u_98948]

Cattle are also sold on online auctions. If you are looking for several animals look at herd dispersals. 

[Happy Gilmore]

we raised many a dairy reject and they were all mmmm good.. they got the .22 about the time they'd tick Dad off. One Jersey we got ran him over one day. Bambi went to the butcher later that day.

[shoot-em-dead]

I thought that making money in the cattle business was a myth.

[seth30]

Thanks for the inputs.  There is two 20 acre pasutrs that are overgrown, and the cattle will rotate between the two of htem.  We wont start until spring time so the winter will be no issue this year.  On whidbey island which is on the wet side of the state

[HORSEPOWER]

So the plan is to purchase steers just to feed out and resell as finished? Or is to be a cow/calf operation?

[seth30]

pretty much steers