If your hobby farm includes beef cattle , you ’ve probably experienced a big upturn in the beef food market the last few years . The“buy local”food trend increased the numbers of people interested in buy locally grow and processed beef .
Of course there ’s more going on than just eat local market pressure . Add COVID-19and the rush to buy and fill a deep freezer with unspoiled , topically sourced meat and bring about , and you have a perfect storm of requirement for beef cattle .
You might be a breeding stock operation , a moo-cow - calf producer or a Deepfreeze gripe medical specialist . But whatever type of beef operation you own , in the last three days you ’ve had a strong market place in which to trade your creature .
Time to Upgrade!
All this addition in demand for local beef is likely to continue as new beef cattle processing and selling options train .
Farmers with enough land and farm assistance are , in response , increase the size of their herd . Private stumbler operations are increase their capacity for slaughter . New butcher facilities are being built , and kernel inspector positions are being added to fend for those new facilities .
If you desire to check that your gripe functioning stays competitive , now is the fourth dimension to upgrade your ruck and your herd direction practices .
The upgrade procedure starts with value each animal in your herd . Ask yourself :
Read more : Here are 7 reasons you should consider raising beef cattle or dairy cattle !
Herd Management Practices
right ruck direction practices are the origination of any productive herd .
honest herdsmen see to it the health and eudaemonia of their cattle daily . They provide quality feed and pastures and a regular health direction programme that includes yearly vaccinations and a regular worming program .
They keep good record , chase after a list of traits their calves inherit from their parent . In the beef diligence we call these EPDs : expect Progeny Differences .
What traits are important to your oxen operation ? have young ease ( nativity weightiness ) and docility are two important traits that help produce profitable calves and make your herd soft to wield . Other important trait admit sura wean weight , yearling weight , enatic Milk River and carcass trait such as marbling , costa eye country and fat heaviness .
unlike breeds cross other individual EPDs . But these are the ones everyone tracks for good cattle .
translate more : set out erect cattle to contact your beef needs !
Bull vs. AI
If your cattle are healthy and well cared for , the easiest and fastest agency to upgrade a ruck with the trait that are most sellable is topurchase a unexampled dogshit . You may also choose to move into AI ( contrived insemination ) .
There are professional and convict to both options .
crap need separate installation to be well managed . Purchasing a single herd bull of skillful quality will make out with a muscular price tag . Do your homework , bribe from reputable Irish bull sales or through private accord from well - know breeder .
Your state probably has a cattleman ’s association that make specialness horseshit sale declare oneself a variety of breeds . Do n’t shy away from registered stock with put out EPDs .
Artificial insemination is less dear than buying a quality herd bull . you’re able to figure about $ 75 per cow or heifer . AI bulls have published EPDs , and you get multiple breed choice .
On the downside , AI takes more fourth dimension and requires handling your cattle — commonly three to four visits into your cattle chute .
One major pro is estrus , or rut synchronization , which brings all your cows in standing heating plant at the same sentence . An AI technician can then fertilise your whole ruck in one head trip . The result is your moo-cow and heifers will break up within a few days of each other , giving you a more vendable sura harvest .
Keep in mind , however , that AI is not 100 per centum precise . Up to 30 percent of your Bos taurus may not be bred . Most operations will buy or lease a less quality “ clean up ” Taurus to catch open cows .
