grow cattle is a way that many masses prefer to feed their home wholesome food that is levy according to their ethical and wellness standard . Raising a pair of cattle can feed your kinsperson and then some for the year . You do n’t even need a caboodle of land to do it — as a rule of thumb , you could keep one cow - calfskin duad per every 2 acres of pasture for 12 month . Here ’s how from start to finish .
Prepare Fencing Before Cows Arrive
Melissa K. Norris
One of the most important things you ’ll need in place before raise oxen , no matter the sizing of the ruck , is good fencing . If there ’s a golf hole in your fence , a cow will feel it . There are three main fencing material selection for cattle :
1. Barbed Wire Fencing
spiny wire is salutary if you ’re fencing acreage . You ’ll need to have at least three string , though four is best . The bottom string needs to be low to the ground , as cattle can do a mean abdomen creep , and the top strand needs to be close to 4 feet tall , as oxen are surprisingly quick and can leap quite high when they want . Another excellent particular is for your fencing are alloy wire stays . These keep your cows from pushing their manner through the fencing . Remember , they ’re like a mouse ; if they can get their foreland through it , their body will follow .
2. Electric Fencing
electrical fence is another good option for raising oxen , but this will need electrical energy , whether obtained from the grid or solar panel . When using electric fence , you need to have good background , and in dry area or during droughts , this can be more difficult . Be aware that as coppice and vegetation grow , they may settle on or agitate the conducting wire , causing it to short out . galvanising fence is often considerably suited for smaller playpen or pasture areas .
3. Wooden Fencing
I have to confess , there is trivial else more charming than a weathered wooden fencing . However , if you ’re fence acreage or bombastic paddocks , wood becomes expensive fast . Here in the Pacific Northwest , wood also rots rather quickly , though true cedar is often a good woodwind of option because it holds up longer .
Fence Posts
Your selection offensive postswill range from metal tonne - posts to wooden one . We use railway ties or cedar tree posts for all of our corner posts , gates and as middle section during foresighted stretch of fencing . call back , unless you ’re in costless - range country , if you ’re cattle get out , you ’re responsible for any harm they receive , so good fence is important .
Choosing Your Cattle
oxen are herd animal and find safety in numbers . If at all possible , you ’ll have better chance raising oxen with a dyad than a undivided cow , and you may keep one of the cows as your breeding stock .
You ’ll hear a flock of opinion about which cattle breed produces the best - try out nitty-gritty . While some breeds produce larger steaks or mature more quickly than others , in our experience , we ’ve find the flavour of your bitch get from what you feed your cow and how it ’s handled during and after butchering .
We ’ve raised Black Angus , Red Angus and Hereford . We prefer a Black Angus and Hereford crossbreed , as the Angus lean to be larger than our Herefords and raise a slightly great ruined animal .
you’re able to purchase kine at auction , but we prefer buying from local breeders so we can see the cattle ’s condition , observe the rest of the herd and ask the stock breeder questions .
Water For Your Cattle
Your cattle will take access to clean water system . This is even more important than feed when raising cattle . If you do n’t have a natural water source , like a pool or creek , on your place , you ’ll require to practice a big water trough . Instead of purchase a formal trough , we use an sure-enough casting - iron bathtub . Keep an optic out for people doing a remodel , and you could get an sure-enough tub for loose .
Locate your waterer snug to your weewee origin . Miles of hose is n’t fun and can be tough to deal during the freezing temperatures of winter .
Cattle Feed Options
Ideally , your nation will bring on enough dope to prey your cattle for the majority of the year , but most mass will have to feed hay during the wintertime months when grass drop dead dormant . Seed your pasture with different varieties of green goddess to help stretch out your pasture further into the yr . We ’ve been looking into Triticaline , a stale - atmospheric condition grass uprise from Russia .
If you only have one or two cows , you ’ll most belike feed square hay bales during the colder months . Purchasing from an independent husbandman or baling straight from the sphere will be garish than purchase from a feed store — you’ll usually pay more for the second cutting . Cover thestored hayto protect it from rain , wet hay will grow mold and be of inadequate quality for your cattle .
If you have more than two cows , however , look into haylage — the large circular bales that depend like marshmallows . This is grass hay is turn over when it reaches 60- to 65 - percent wet capacity , as opposed to 18 per centum of regular baled hay . Haylage is an excellent provender source and what we apply for our ruck . It ’s higher in protein counting and more cost - effective per ton . When we switched to using all haylage , our yearly feed banker’s bill was cut in one-half .
Melissa K. Norris
To forfend having your cattle liquidate the hay , you ’ll find most hoi polloi run in a large , rotund bird feeder so the cows ca n’t make it into bedding . After they ’ve laid in or soiled the hay , they wo n’t eat it . We will also unwind the hay from the main round bale and feed it by hand , making sure to handle the Basle back up with a tumid tarp .
We do n’t use any pesticide on our pasture , control brushing and widow’s weeds with mowing and chopping off efflorescence before they go to seed . Our haylage is purchase from local Fannie Farmer who do n’t use spray either .
Butchering Time
Many the great unwashed butcher beef in the fall for two reason :
When it ’s time for butchering , you want your animate being to still begaining weight , not losing it . Once the weather condition twist to cold , more of their energy conk to keep warm rather of growing . Also try out to keep to your procedure as much as possible on butchering 24-hour interval , so your animals appease calm . expect your slaughterer to attend and mature the meet for a full 14 days , provided there is enough of a productive level to protect the center . This aging summons will bring forth a much better flavor and a more tender finished product .
It ’s potential to raise beef on a modest scale , though some thought and preparation does go into the process . We love lie with exactly what goes into our beef , and the finished merchandise is not only one we can be gallant of , but is nourish to our family . If you ’re considering bring a pair of cows to your farm to feed your family , use this selective information as your jumping - off point . We make out you wo n’t be disappointed with the results .
Melissa K. Norris
Lynda Bullock/Flickr
Melissa K. Norris
Carrie Cizauskas/Flickr
