Butcher heifer

[webfoot]

I always buy a crippled heifer about 700-800 pounds to feed up to kill. I look for one with a big knee or foot. I get them cheaper. This one was well below market value. The pen they go into isn't very big so they don't have to travel. And she is by herself so she wont have to compete for feed. Well I bought one about 10 days ago. Turns out she isn't crippled at all. But they announced that she wasn't moving right and had a knee which looked a little big. My guess is she got beat up on her ride to town. She weighs 720 and only cost $2.35. Probably worth $1000 more now that she is moving good. But she as an appointment for freezer camp after a few months of eating grain.

 

[Fenyx]

So you've been doing grain feeding for the last few weeks. I knew someone who moved from Iowa to TN and kept cattle, and he also did the grain feeding.
It was the best beef I ever ate.

 

[RAdmin]

That will be some great eating.

 

[webfoot]

The earliest butcher date I could get is late December so I am not pushing the grain to her yet. Only about 6 lbs a day. And she is eating the grass which grew in the corral Around the first of September I will significantly increase the grain. And once she gets the grass eaten she will start getting hay. I don't push them as hard or make them as fat as some people do.

 

[Faster horses]

The earliest butcher date I could get is late December so I am not pushing the grain to her yet. Only about 6 lbs a day. And she is eating the grass which grew in the corral Around the first of September I will significantly increase the grain. And once she gets the grass eaten she will start getting hay. I don't push them as hard or make them as fat as some people do.

As long as they are on the gain, they will be tender.
I have inquired about a half a beef. Total cost would run $2500-$2600, which includes processing. These animals are in a feedlot and will have had grain for 120 days. My concern is that, in this heat--up to 110 tomorrow (I sure hope the weatherman/woman is wrong) I don't think they will be on the gain. What are your thoughts? I would take the processed beef in August sometime, so say, a month away.

 

[webfoot]

Weather that hot is tough on them. Do they have shade. My heifer has a loafing shed which she hangs out in.

 

[Faster horses]

I don't know about shade in this particular instance, but you are right in that shade helps.
In fact, I now have a shade over my garden!! First time for everything.

I am fearful of the cattle gaining weight in a feedlot when it is so hot. And I would be upset paying that much and have it not be tender. I think it is best for me to pass on this deal.
I did find out kill fee is $140 per head and processing is $1.19/lb. That seems high, but that is only a guess.

 

[webfoot]

I don't know about shade in this particular instance, but you are right in that shade helps.
In fact, I now have a shade over my garden!! First time for everything.

I am fearful of the cattle gaining weight in a feedlot when it is so hot. And I would be upset paying that much and have it not be tender. I think it is best for me to pass on this deal.
I did find out kill fee is $140 per head and processing is $1.19/lb. That seems high, but that is only a guess.

I thought my guys were high at $100 for the kill and $1.00 lb for cut and wrap.

 

[Faster horses]

I thought my guys were high at $100 for the kill and $1.00 lb for cut and wrap.

I guess not. I think what they were going to charge us was REALLY high. I will check around, just for fun. I had a hard time getting the price out of the lady that owns the processing plant and is selling the cattle for the rancher.