A friend asked me about buying some cows to raise to weight and slaughter. They have never raised cows before, but they have lived in rural areas their whole life, and they know plenty of people who have just done that.
My own grandpa used to do this every year. He’d buy a calf, run it in the pasture, feed it then slaughter it. In those days, it was a lot cheaper than buying meat from the store. These days — if you’re not careful you can spend a lot of money on a little bit of meat that isn’t tender and doesn’t taste good at all.
Here’s my advice to someone thinking about bringing back the old days of raising cattle.
Advice #1: Just buy the finished cow from someone who knows what they are doing. I cannot emphasize enough, there is an art to getting the steer or heifer up to weight. Even if you plan on finishing on feed (which I highly recommend — it’s what you are used to) this is not easy.
Advice #2: If you want cows just for cows’ sake, maybe you have a few acres and you just want to see cows mooing in the background, then I highly recommend doing a miniature cow-calf operation. The main reason for this is that this is pretty much the “entry level” of cattle operations. You will make a little money, it’s not terribly hard, and most of the small-scale guys are doing this. Bonus points: You can sell your calf to the guy who knows how to finish them, and he’ll take care of the rest.
Advice #3: Cows are easier than sheep or goats, but it is a lot of work, and a lot of that work is unexpected. Cows do just fine — most of the time. It’s those rare occasions when the cows need you that you are going to wish you didn’t have a cow. If you are going to be ignorant of managing cattle, then I recommend you get a big dog instead, and buy your beef from a farmer. If you’re up to the challenge, then have at it.
If my advice doesn’t persuade you not to do it, then have at it. There’s a lot to learn, both from the internet and first-hand experience, but it will be very enjoyable and fulfilling, if you are ready for the challenge.