The thought of home base - raised heart and soul that has been eat by hand , cautiously tended to and humanely butchered to fill your family ’s freezer is enticing to many a homesteader . Whether it ’s a flock of substance chickens in the back chicken coop , some rabbit in the new hut , or a couple of beef oxen calf that you ’ve buy , it ’s hard to tick home - grown kernel raised right .
Purchasing and elevate kick cattle can seem like a huge step — a intimidating cerebration and rather gravid commitment . It ’s true that cattle are for sure a bigger project than a fistful of wench . But the return you get for your sweat is also much greater .
upgrade squawk cattle can offer a heavy eruditeness experience for not only you but the entire mob ! Here are several crest that will facilitate you get come out on the right “ hoof ” when you decide to purchase your first beef kine :
1. Know the Purpose of Your Beef Cattle
know what the design is for your cattle will be helpful when picking out your Bos taurus . It will also gain you in the retentive run , as you seek to make them a profitable addition to your homestead . This is true even if the rejoinder comes simply in the form of sweet milk for your family and not needs additional dollar .
For example , while Angus beef cattle will produce Milk River , it ’s mostly not as much of a quantity as the milk that would add up from a dairy cow such as a Holstein or Jersey . So if await for a luxuriously - produce Milk River cow , Angus likely would n’t be one of your top option .
2. Look for Good-Quality Animals
High - quality beef cattle with good genetic science and tranquil disposition are especially desirable . genetic science will play a larger function in your search if you retrieve you might want to finally start breeding cattle and are searching for heifers and shit to recruit and breed .
Good abidance , though not necessarily a major factor for an brute you intend to raise and slaughter , is also important if you ever hope to put up cattle to multiply . Yet even in the curt - term scenario , confirmation can still act as a major role .
For example , a heifer with poorly conformed hooves can begin to endure and distribute her weight unevenly among the hooves . This could finally head to lameness .
As far as the disposition of the family calf die , it is very authoritative to look at as it will belike grow up and be handled around ( if not by ) any children in the phratry . Look for an fauna with a calm nature that has been conjure by a gentle handler . Then continue to use aristocratical handling practices and keep a serene surround for the animal to grow up in .
Read more : Here are some more tips for purchasing Bos taurus for homegrown beef .
3. Purchase from an Individual
While the thought process of stepping into a live sales agreement at a local sale barn might seem intriguing , keep in mind that for a smaller cognitive process it is even more important to fetch home therightbeef Bos taurus .
big feedlots can afford to be somewhat less especial . Their animals are not specify to be handle as much or kept in as close of proximity to multitude as the backyard heifer or guide . Whether it ’s temperament , health or genetic science , large - scale operations wo n’t likely be as particular as a nester might .
One of the most important grounds to avoid corrupt from a livestock cut-rate sale ? You wo n’t have much information on the animal you ’re purchasing and the amount of malady it has been exposed to at the sale . From background and handling , old ailments and the original ruck health — not to note vulnerability to sickness from merely being at the sale — there are multiple reason to look for a secret vender over a sales event barn .
With a private trafficker , you ’ll have a good chance of take care the original ruck the calf comes from , get wind about any previous ailments , and hopefully have an open , honest conversation about anything you might have questions on ( within intellect ! ) .
4. Know the Needs Before Heading Home
Different animals will have different needs . If you intend to bring home a young calf , you might require to buy Milk River replacer and electrolyte to have on manus . If it ’s a fresh wean sura , ensure you have something to offer it that will be “ soft ” and easy for them to digest , such as hay and pot .
It ’s good to retrieve carefully through each step of caring for your new homestead increase before parachute right in to find yourself in over your nous .
5. Be Diligent about Health
This point ties in with number three , as you look to purchase beef kine from an individual . ensure you take metre to ask the marketer interrogation about not only the wellness of the animal you may purchase but the rest of the ruck .
When was the last time this animal was sick ? What did it have ?
involve if you could see the ease of the ruck . Look for signs of sickness such as any snotty noses , cough and wheezing , or even augury of lameness throughout the ruck . Be aware and keep your eye clear for ailments you might face in the future with your own cattle .
Read more : An experienced kine Fannie Farmer shares tips for raising stock .
6. Prepare the Facilities
It ’s helpful to occur home with a novel animal and have the facilities already cook . This includes basic provender and fresh water , as well as supplemental item like mineral licks .
Feeders and waterers should be cleaned out and filled with invigorated feed and water . verify your building is self-colored and not lack any major repairs . If using electric fencing , verify the conducting wire are clear-cut of any brush or grass that might interpose and that the barrage is working to keep them hot consistently .
7. In Case of Emergency
Of course you ca n’t ready for every situation that might uprise . But it can be helpful to keep a few canonic medications on hand .
study having treatment options useable for complaint such as coccidiosis or BVD ( Bovine Viral Diarrhea ) . If get up small calves , make trusted electrolyte are keep handy . economize your desire veterinarian ’s figure on speed dial and a good friend to call in case a situation is more serious than you ’re well-heeled portion out with alone .
8. Set Your Butcher Date
In today ’s world , one of the most common challenges for anyone kindle their own meat is finding a good appointment to get it take into alocker plant for slaughter . Meat lockers record book months ( if not years ) in advance , and people will hog dapple or botcher engagement like they ’ve hogged toilet paper in the past .
For this intellect , even though your bottle calf is a longsighted path from being quick to butcher , consider doing some calling around to local center footlocker to see how far out they ’re submit reserve . If you may , do a little mathematics to envision out how long it might be until you ’re ready to slaughter . Consider reserving a spot in advance to ensure you ’ll have somewhere to take your calf when it ’s finally ready to go .
elevate beef cattle can be a very rewarding , educational experience . The longer you have beef oxen on your homestead , the more chances you will have for an experience to captivate you by surprise and learn you something newfangled .
Strive to keep a unagitated thinker and an receptivity to check from each situation that comes up . Be uncoerced to involve for help and open to trying Modern things . Before you know it , the season will have communicate and you ’ll have a freezer full of impudent meat !
