Raising Beef Cattle for Personal Use
I grew upwardly on a small cattle ranch nestled in against the foothills of the North Pour Mountains. White confront Herefords dotted the green pasture like daisies. The sound of my father's old red Ford pickup truck rolling beyond the dirt track of the long abandoned railroad track chosen the herd meliorate than any cattle domestic dog.
Every evening from October to May, I collection the truck while Dad tossed out nigh 35 bales of hay from the back. Nosotros've never bought beef from the shop. Subsequently my husband and I were get-go married, nosotros ran out of beefiness (never to be repeated) and had to purchase some meat from the store until butchering time rolled dorsum effectually.
I had never cooked store bought meat. I had no thought how dissimilar it was, and not in a good way. The aroma (it wasn't rancid or bad, simply information technology smells different) fabricated my nose ringlet. I couldn't believe the corporeality of liquid I had to drain even though I'd purchased lean. And the taste. It was the difference between real sweet cream butter and margarine.
We now accept our own herd of natural grass fed beef. I utilize the term herd generously as we only have 6 cows. Like whatsoever homesteading venture, there are pros and cons.
Cons
Infinite-Unlike chickens, cows demand more than than just a backyard, so you need some acreage to raise cattle. Depending upon your climate, an acre per moo-cow is a good rule of thumb.
Cost of feed-Even with adequate pasture, you'll have to purchase feed for the winter months. Our hay neb is normally around $900 for the year, depending on the flavor, and going charge per unit.
Fencing-There'southward the initial cost of fencing. Nosotros utilize spinous wire. Information technology's fairly easy to put upwards and different electric contend where you have to worry about the electric basis, weeds/brush touching the wire, and a constant power source, spinous wire is practiced to go. However, cattle can be notorious for getting out of whatever fence. Be set up to herd them back.
Care-Cattle don't take an extreme corporeality of care, but they do crave some. They demand a constant supply of fresh make clean water, and during the wintertime, feeding.
Breeding-If yous keep a moo-cow to brood back every year, you either have to purchase a bull, artificially inseminate, or booty your moo-cow to a bull or a bull to your cow every twelvemonth. Unless, y'all're lucky enough to accept a bull in the neighboring field who hops the debate when it's time, and and so goes dorsum home. (This only happened to the states one year and was with a bull we didn't listen cross-breeding)
Pros
Taste-You can't beat the gustation of naturally grass fed beef. I'd talked about the divergence and then passionately that a co-worker bought half a beef from us. (This isn't a sales pitch every bit nosotros can't meet the demand now) After having our beef, his wife refused to always go dorsum to store bought beefiness. You lot can taste the divergence!
Toll-While the cost of feed can be a lot up front, the cost of natural grass fed beef is much cheaper to raise than to buy in the store. Our local butcher charges a $55 kill fee (divided by how much of the beefiness you purchase) and $.50 per lb cutting and wrap. If you butcher and wrap information technology yourself, then this cost is eliminated. Beef tastes amend when allowed to age and as we don't have the proper hanging facilities, nosotros hire ours out. The average charge per unit in our surface area is between $two.10 and $2.75 a lb, making every cut of beef around $3.00 a pound, including your expensive cuts of steak.
Plus, you go to make up one's mind which cuts of meat you desire and how information technology'due south packaged.
Peace of mind– I know exactly what goes in to our cows. Nosotros buy our hay locally from local fields so I know they haven't been treated. Our own pasture is managed organically, fifty-fifty though nosotros're non certified. (It costs too much for our tiny operation) Our cattle are cared for humanly. I'll never have to worry about my children eating pink slime.
While raising your own grass fed beef isn't for everyone, if you have acreage, information technology's something to consider. I love that my children grow upwardly knowing where the food comes from. And I suspect they'll exist as grateful of that as I am at present.
Even if you lot can't heighten your own, yous tin can wait for a local ranch, and purchase from them. Or contact your local butcher and ask for referrals.
For more info on raising your own beef, listen to our Pioneering Today Podcast Episode #24 Raising Your Own Grass Fed Beef
Do you raise your own beef? Have you ever tasted homegrown beef?
Other Posts Y'all May Enjoy
- Planning Our Livestock to Raise a Year'south Worth of Food
- Stocking Up on Animal Feed (+ How Much to Feed Animals)
- Raising Your Own Grass-Fed Beefiness
- When Butchering a Cow the Best Cuts of Meat to Become
- Raising Grass-Fed Beef – What to Know on Butchering Mean solar day
- How to Butcher a Chicken
- Tips on Raising Chickens for Meat
- Raising Meat Chickens for Profit
- Raising American Guinea Hogs
- American Guinea Hogs – Were They Worth It?
- Tips on Raising Pigs for Meat
- A Guide to Raising Goats
- Raising Sheep for Fiber & Naturally Dyeing Wool
- Everything You Demand to Know About Raising Rabbits for Meat
- How to Keep Animals Cool in Hot Weather
Source: https://melissaknorris.com/raising-your-own-grass-fed-beef/
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