Bagley, Clell

Burrell, Craig

Zobell, Dale R.

English

DigitalCommons@USU

1RAISING BEEF CATTLEON A FEW ACRESDale R. ZoBell, PhD, Beef Cattle SpecialistCraig Burrell, PhD, Area Livestock Specialist Clell Bagley, DVM, Extension VeterinarianSeptember 1999 AG-505INTRODUCTIONIf you are living on a few acres you may have the resources to raise a few beef cattle.There are four different enterprises to consider.1. Cow calf enterprise: keeping a few mother cows and raising calves from them. Thecalves normally would be weaned at about 6 months of age and weigh approximately 500pounds. 2. Dairy beef enterprise: purchasing new born dairy calves and raising them until theyweigh 300 to 500 pounds.3. Feeder or stocker calf enterprise: purchasing calves that weigh between 400 and 500pounds and feeding them until they weigh from 700 to 900 pounds. (Stockers are placed onpasture or on diets high in forage.)4. Market beef enterprise: purchasing 700 to 900 pound calves and feeding them tomarket weight (1100 to 1200 pounds). The resources available will determine which of these enterprises is appropriate for yoursituation. It may be possible to use a combination of two or three of these enterprises. In this factsheet we will discuss implementing a feeder or stocker enterprise and a market beef enterprise.WHAT RESOURCES ARE AVAILABLE?Location- One of the first things to consider is if the enterprise is compatible with thecommunity. Is the property zoned for large animal production? How many animals can youhave? How will neighbors react to the project? Land- Some acreages are suitable for pasture production. Is irrigation water available?When is the water available? What kind of an irrigation system is in place? Contact yourirrigation company to find answers to these questions. A corral or dry lot must be available tokeep the animals in when irrigating and when the pasture needs a rest from grazing. Corrals arealso essential if finishing cattle on grain rations. If there is adequate acreage you may considerfarming and raising some of your own feed. Realize that it is expensive to own and maintain2equipment. It may not be economically feasible to own equipment, although custom operators arean option.Forage Production and Carrying Capacity- There are several factors that affect forageproduction in a pasture: season, rainfall, availability of irrigation water, soil conditions, soilfertility, plant varieties, and grazing management. In Utah, pastures are normally grazed from thefirst part of May through the end of September. Note that this is only a five month period.Nevertheless, during some years grazing will be available in April and October. The greatestforage production and quality on grass pastures usually occurs from May 15 until July 15. Cattle performance and carrying capacity are related to and affected by forage productionand quality. Carrying capacity and cattle performance are not simple to predict and will changefrom month to month. For example, during the month of June you may be able to graze five, 500pound calves per acre and have them gain two pounds per head per day. However, during themonth of August you may only be able to graze three, 500 pound calves per acre and have themgain one pound per head per day. Contact your county Extension office for more information onpasture management.The Human Resource - You and your family may gain a lot of satisfaction from raising afew cattle. Children can benefit from the added responsibility and families can be strengthened asthey work together. However, the project will require a commitment of time. Even when cattleare on pasture they need to be observed daily to make sure that they have adequate feed andwater and to assure that they are healthy.Facilities - In the production of cattle on small acreages it is not necessary to providemore than the basic facilities. Some necessary facilities would be a means of constraint (such as aheadgate and side panel), trough or feeder for supplemental feeds, and proper fencing. Theremust also be available a clean and continual source of water to the animal. Humane care of animals is legislated and must be adhered to so provide facilities that willaccommodate animal welfare. These would include care for the animal in all aspects of its life,such as proper feed, handling facilities, shelter and the removal of any or all conditions which mayinflict stress on the animal. If unsure of any of these principles consult with your Extension Agentor local veterinarian.When cattle need to be treated or handled it is necessary to restrain them for their safetyand the safety of the people handling them. Commercially manufactured squeeze chutes offerexcellent restraint, however, they are expensive. Plans are available from the Extension Servicefor building homemade chutes constructed of metal or lumber. These are generally adequate whenhandling a small number of cattle. Good fences are important to insure safety and good relationships with neighbors. Electricfences are useful for pasture management, and perimeter fences should be sufficiently strong, highand tight to contain the animals. A four and a half foot fence made of woven wire, six strands ofbarbed wire, or a combination of the two is adequate. Corral fences should be at least five feethigh and constructed of wood or metal. Woven wire and barbed wire are not recommended inareas where cattle are being crowded or handled Troughs are necessary if cattle are being fed grain. A feed bunk or commercially availablefeeder is necessary to minimize waste when cattle are fed hay in a confined area. Cattle do well in the cold of winter in Utah if they have a wind break and a dry place tobed down. Corrals tend to get wet and muddy in the winter and spring. Cattle either need somehigh dry ground or a shelter. 3 CONSIDERATIONS WHEN PURCHASING ANIMALSCondition - If you are purchasing cattle to put on pasture avoid cattle with excess fat asthey gain poorly for the first month. Cattle should be healthy but lean and avoid cattle that maynot have performed well elsewhere. You may be able to purchase them for less money but theyprobably won’t achieve an acceptable performance. Health - Does the animal look healthy? Is it alert and bright eyed? Is its breathing normaland does it move about vigorously? Does it have a dull hair coat and look emaciated? What has itbeen vaccinated for and when?Frame Size - Cattle with a small frame will finish at a light weight while cattle with alarge frame will finish at a heavy weight. Cattle with different frame sizes require differentfeeding programs. Since you will want to manage your cattle as a group, purchase cattle that areuniform in frame size. Breed - In most situations frame and conformation are more important than breed inrelation to cattle performance. However, there are some things to consider. Holsteins will workwell in a feeder or finishing enterprise. They require different management and sell in a differentmarket category. Animals with a high percentage of Brahman genetics do poorly in cold winterconditions. The disposition of the cattle can be an important factor which can be a breedcharacteristic. Avoid cattle that are high-strung or aggressive.SOURCESAs with any purchase it is important that you get value for your money. If you areuncertain about how to purchase a beef animal then it would be best to deal with someone who isethical and understands this side of the business. This could include a family member, friend,neighbor, local farmer or County Agent. The idea is to not go into a purchase with little or noinformation or background. Cattle can be purchased directly from beef producers with the price based on local marketconditions. The local market is established primarily in commodity markets many miles awayfrom where you live. These are then modified for each specific region of the country based ontransportation costs to markets and local conditions. These local conditions could be suchvariables as abundance of feedstuffs, moisture conditions and supply and demand. Markets willchange through the seasons and from year to year. Within Utah there are also livestock auction markets in certain municipalities. Herelivestock producers bring their animals and exhibit them through an auction ring and sold to thehighest bidder. It is a system where potential buyers and sellers are brought together and a fairprice established. In order to determine what may be fair, however, the potential buyer must havesome idea of local market conditions and a predetermined animal type that they wish to purchase.Market reports are provided on the radio and can be checked on a daily basis, along withlocal auction market prices on the Internet. Following the market for a couple of weeks before youpurchase will help you insure that you are paying a fair price for your cattle. If you have done yourhomework it will assist you in purchasing at a fair price whether you purchase from a localauction or an individual. Market prices are quoted on the basis of the weight and sex of the animal sold. Generallynothing is reported about the condition or quality of the animals. 4The correct size for your enterprise - If you want stocker cattle to put on grass, calves thatweigh less than 450 pounds perform poorly on grass pasture. If cattle weigh over 750 pounds inthe spring, they should not be fed on pasture. It is recommended that they be placed in a confinedsituation and fed a higher proportion of concentrate feeds, such as barley or corn. Make sure youhave animals that fit your enterprise.MANAGING YOUR CATTLE ENTERPRISENutritional Management on PastureWhen cattle are on grass the amount of forage consumed will determine how well theywill perform, usually expressed in average daily gain (ADG). Growing beef cattle will consumeapproximately 2.5 percent of their body weight each day (dry matter pounds) depending on foragematurity and palatability. It requires approximately 8 to 10 pounds of roughage (dry matter) forevery pound of gain. Thus a 600 pound growing calf consuming 15 pounds of dry matter may gainapproximately 1.5 to 2.0 pounds each day (depending on forage quality). This level of ADG canbe increased when a concentrate, such as barley or corn, is fed to the cattle on grass. This will alsoincrease the number of animals that can be placed on a pasture. If concentrate is fed it should befed at relatively low levels (2 to 4 pounds per day) in a feed trough while cattle are on pasture. Theprices of the various commodities will dictate for any given year if this is economicallyadvantageous. Vitamins and minerals must also be provided.Nutritional Management in ConfinementIf cattle are confined, all nutrients required for growth and production must be supplied.Normally growing cattle over 700 pounds will receive rations relatively high in concentrates togain faster. The concentrate should be processed for maximum benefit to the animal. If possible itis best to mix all feedstuffs together and fed in a fence line bunk, however, forages can be fedseparate from the concentrate. Supplements containing vitamins and minerals and perhapsadditional protein (dependent on the amount of protein in the forage), should also be included atmanufacturers recommendations. The supplement can be obtained from any feed supply store.Check nutrient levels through feed analysis (see your County Agent) of your forage to determinethe appropriate supplement.A typical growing ration for a 650 pound steer gaining 2.5 pounds per day may containthe following (subject to nutrient analysis):Alfalfa hay - 11 poundsRolled barley - 6 poundsSupplement - 1 pound (10 % protein with recommended levels of vitamins and minerals)If grass hay is used the supplement should contain 14 to 16 % protein.An acclimation period is necessary to adapt the animal to the concentrate. Feed the ration toappetite or as much as they will consume maintaining the forage to concentrate ratio.Once growing cattle reach 800 pounds, more concentrate can be fed. An 800 pound steerwill gain approximately 3.0 pounds per day and will consume approximately 20 pounds of drymatter. It is essential to increase the amount of grain in the ration slowly to avoid digestive upset.Increase the concentrate .5 pounds per day until the ration is approximately 65 % concentrate, 30% roughage and 5 % supplement, fed 2 to 3 times per day.5Health ManagementCattle are susceptible to a variety of diseases. Good planning and management, along withuse of common vaccines and pharmaceuticals will usually enable your cattle to avoid most diseaseproblems. Find a local veterinarian who includes cattle in their practice and consult with thatpractitioner about a herd health program, based on your type of enterprise, prior to your obtainingany cattle. If in doubt consult with your Extension Veterinarian who has a list of Utah certifiedveterinarians by area and specialty. Bloat may cause sudden death of an affected animal. Avoid grazing cattle on lush alfalfa.Other plants may also cause problems for cattle so it would be wise to have your County Agent orveterinarian visit your pasture and corral area and determine any potential plant problems that maybe present. It is important that any supplemental feeds used be free of mold and spoilage. Avoidsudden feed changes; make gradual changes (over 10-14 days), especially when adding grain tothe ration. Bloat may be considered a disease which can affect animals in confinement fedmixtures of alfalfa and concentrate. Symptoms are similar as well as treatment which should bediscussed with a veterinarian.Scours (diarrhea) is common in newborn calves and animals of a young age. Cows mustreceive adequate protein and energy during pregnancy, especially the last 60 days to provideimmunity to disease for the newborn. The newborn calf must also receive colostrum (the firstmilk), within 1-6 hours of birth in order to develop immunity (antibodies) against disease. A cleanenvironment is also essential for the cow just prior to and after calving. The basic treatment forscours is fluid and electrolytes to maintain hydration of the calf.Respiratory Disease (pneumonia) stress, weather changes and infectious agents may allbe involved and are most common in calves soon after weaning. Minimize stress at this time andprovide protection from the elements, such as a shed and windbreak. Develop a vaccinationprogram with your veterinarian including IBR (infectious bovine rhinotracheitis), PI3 (para-influenza type 3), BRSV (bovine respiratory syncytial virus) and BVD (bovine virus diarrhea). Aminimal program for respiratory disease would include an intra nasal vaccination with IBR andPI3 at 2-3 months of age and a vaccination at weaning containing a modified live virus (MLV) forIBR, PI3, BRSV, and BVD.Clostridial Diseases: a group of related diseases may cause sudden death, especially inyoung, growing cattle. These diseases are Blackleg, Enterotoxemia, etc. Good vaccines areavailable and cattle should be vaccinated early in life with boosters at appropriate times. Yourveterinarian can help you select the proper vaccine and outline a time schedule. This wouldinclude a 7-way Clostridial vaccine at 2-3 months of age and a second booster at weaning.Parasite Control: when cattle are grazed on the same pastures every year, internalparasites may become a problem. In this situation deworming is needed to minimize parasite loadand allow proper gains. Specific products to use and the time are critical considerations anddepend on your grazing program. Your local veterinarian is best prepared to provide advice.External parasites of concern include lice, (common in winter) and horn flies (common insummer). Both need to be controlled, and several pesticides and methods of application areavailable.6Utah State University Extension is an affirmative action/equal employment opportunity employer and educationalorganization. We offer our programs to persons regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age or disability.Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension work, Acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S.Department of Agriculture, Robert L. Gilliland, Vice-President and Director, Cooperative Extension Service, Utah StateUniversity, Logan, Utah. (EP/09-99/DF)  General: injections of any type may cause lesions if injected into the muscles. Allinjections should be given subcutaneously (under the skin) when possible. Muscles in the neckcan be used if it is necessary that intramuscular injections be given. DO NOT make injections intothe hind quarters (rear legs or hip). Be sure to keep records of all treatments and always follow thewithdrawal times as directed. The directions on the product will indicate how long the animalmust be withheld from slaughter after use of the specific product. Always follow all directions onthe label.MARKETING YOUR PRODUCTIf you have a feeder or stocker enterprise your product is one or more 700 to 900 poundcalves. You may choose to keep the animals and feed them as a market cattle enterprise or if youdo not have the desire or resources to do so, you will need to market them. If you only have a fewcattle of this type your marketing options are limited. To ensure cattle are marketed optimallydiscuss your options with those experienced in the business and listen for market reports vianewspaper or radio. You can sell them at a local auction or sell them by private treaty byadvertising them in the paper, word of mouth or an add on bulletin boards at the local feed store orwherever cattlemen gather. If you have a market cattle enterprise you can always have the finished product butcheredfor home consumption. You can, however, have them slaughtered by a custom packer and sellthem to individuals cut and wrapped which is not always economical. Extension personnel canassist you in determining the economics of home-raised beef. CONCLUSIONSThose interested in growing and raising beef cattle on their acreage can find this veryrewarding. Be informed, however, so that you do not become involved in an enterprise that youhave little knowledge of or that is not economical. Consult with feed company personnel,Extension staff, local veterinarians or beef producers. Raising animals can improve quality of lifeand provide great satisfaction and responsibility for families. Explore your options and thendecide.

Raising Beef Cattle on a Few Acres

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Raising Beef Cattle on a Few Acres

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