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Joined: Apr 2009
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If you go with a steer. I'd talk to someone who knows what their doing in person first. I dont know how the grass grows up there in Canada, or even in your pasture. But they can help you figure out what you need. If they can help you get a good animal not the cheapest. There's no sense in getting a chitty steer and not having it grow. Then having it taste like chit in the fall. Plus a butcher bill isn't cheap and no one wants to have hundreds of pounds of beef that no one wants to eat.
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Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 15,885 Likes: 1
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 15,885 Likes: 1 |
Now I see he is from Canada. I dont have a clue how to figure the livestock per acre up there. Local farmer or county agent could help him with this.
Old Turd- Deplorable- Unrepentant Murderer- Domestic Violent Extremist
Just "Campfire Riffraff and Trash"
This will be my last post! Flave 1/3/21
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Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 10,653
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 10,653 |
The OP doesn't need any meat. He says he shoots what he needs.
My suggestion is to have a neighbor cut the acreage for hay or rent out the pasture for horses. Other option is purchase a ATV or small tractor. Both can be set up for dual purpose snow removal and mower attachments.
You're Welcome At My Fire Anytime
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Joined: Jan 2006
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Campfire Kahuna
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Campfire Kahuna
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 69,409 Likes: 5 |
Thanks guys. Around here you ca noften get llama's for free,nobody seems to want them. I just want something I can get rid of in the fall,be it by sale or slaughter.
The bottom went out of the llama market. You can get them for free because you can't sell them. If you get them, figure on eating or keeping them. They would be good grass eaters but they can be hell on trees. They love to eat the bark off of trees.
From what I have learned of goats in the last 5 minutes here, I think they may not work here! First off,it is a 4-strand barb wire fence,so tehy could likely get out easy.
With that fence, forget the goats. It wouldn't even slow them down.
Animal control officers around here are coyote's,and I shoot as many as I can!
The Dexter cattle are an interesting option,as I have a friend whose parents raise them,so I might could get my hands on some. Wife wants miniature horses,but I already know how that would turn out! Guess who would get to feed and water it and muck out hte stall when there's 4 feet of snow and it's -30 out? Yeah, you know.
So,I guess it comes down to some sort of cattle or maybe sheep. Are sheep noisy bastards? I like the fact that a couple little steers would likely be pretty quiet,as least as far as I remember. If I bought 2 steers,lets say about 2-300lbs,would they be okay on their own,eating just grass? Would I have enough pasture to kep them fed? A little Brahma would be awesome,if I could find one.
How many sheep would I need to keep a pasture this size decently mowed?
“In a time of deceit telling the truth is a revolutionary act.”
― George Orwell
It's not over when you lose. It's over when you quit.
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 16,032
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 16,032 |
I have no clue as to the state and condition of Canadian grass. I will say that a single beef animal does not do well by its self. Need at least two of what ever you get. Supliment with a lttle suplimental feed and you will have some tasty beef by fall or somethin the market wants. I'd never start with anything less than @ 450 pounds.
I've raised commercial cattle all my life. If you can find them black baldies are the best.
Quando Omni Moritati
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Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 2,489
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 2,489 |
Here in TX, I would either buy a small tractor or have a neighbor cut it. If you decide to own a tractor, I am sure you will find other uses. Especially with a front end loader, disk and blade.
If you want more wildlife like me, I would carefully "not cut" certain areas and "landscape" for better habitat.
Animals are fun, but require time and patience. I have neither.
I tried Longhorn steers. OK until they started jumping fences no other cattle would. Very easy to raise though here in TX.
stumpy
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Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 6,939
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 6,939 |
A couple steers would work. But think ahead, because you have to have a way to transport and load them.
I think what might be your best bet is to rent your pasture out to some young kid that wants to run a couple cow/calf pairs for the summer. Win-Win.
You get your grass eaten down and learn in the process, what you would need to do when you decide to run a couple steers yourself. You also get a little cash in your pocket each month.
Montana MOFO
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Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 13,860
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 13,860 |
Nubian goats - they are beautiful, funny, affectionate, and I have never known a nasty nubian. They always got along with the cows and horses and even the chickens and turkeys. They always made everyone in the family laugh at least once a day.
Terry IME, the only thing wrong with Nubians is this, they have such personalities, you won't be using them for meat. It'll be like eating your dog.
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Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 16,000
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 16,000 |
Nubian goats - they are beautiful, funny, affectionate, and I have never known a nasty nubian. They always got along with the cows and horses and even the chickens and turkeys. They always made everyone in the family laugh at least once a day.
Terry IME, the only thing wrong with Nubians is this, they have such personalities, you won't be using them for meat. It'll be like eating your dog. that is what has happened with the two pigmy goats in my back yard. My golden puppy runs like a goat. They don't much eat grass either by the way, they are more browsers, like deer. Love bark off trees, leaves and so on. Lot of things they won't eat. Also really need fresh water.
THE BIRTH PLACE OF GERONIMO
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Joined: Mar 2009
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Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
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IME, the only thing wrong with Nubians is this, they have such personalities, you won't be using them for meat. It'll be like eating your dog.
The daughter has a pair of female Nigerian dwarf goats for her 4H. They don't get much bigger than about 35 pounds, have a ton of personality, and are every bit as much her pets as her JRT. They winter well too, as long as offered shelter. So far, neither have emailed me that I just won a bunch of money......
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Joined: Jan 2004
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Campfire Regular
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If you have any livestock you can't just pull up and leave for a week without having someone around to keep an eye on them. They always find a way to get out or get caught in the fence at the worst times. If you have a neighbor you can trade watching duties with then you're good to go.
"I call that bold talk for a one-eyed fat man." --Robert Duvall.
"Fill your hand, you son-of-a-bitch!" --John Wayne.
~Molɔ̀ːn Labé Skýla~
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Joined: May 2012
Posts: 2,934
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 2,934 |
I say forget about livestock & plant some native prairie grasses along with some wildlife food plots ... kick back and enjoy watching the wildlife while helping provide them with the essentials they need for survival.
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I'm a proud member of the BGE cult ... yes, I consider myself an EGGHEAD
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Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 2,464
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 2,464 |
I say forget about livestock & plant some native prairie grasses along with some wildlife food plots ... kick back and enjoy watching the wildlife while helping provide them with the essentials they need for survival. +1
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Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 3,859
Campfire Tracker
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OP
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Lots of good info here guys,much appreciated. Will hold off on any purchasing of livestock this year and see if anyone nearby wants to cut/bale it or maybe a nearby 4H kid can use it. Down the road,maybe I can put something in there for myself.
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Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 69,409 Likes: 5
Campfire Kahuna
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Campfire Kahuna
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 69,409 Likes: 5 |
The one steer gets my vote...damned goats. Last Summer I told my dad that we should get a few goats to eat weeds around the farm. He didn't think it was very funny.....grin Now if he had been able to watch them eat Canadian thistles with their usual absently content look on their faces......... What about a few geese? Our goats won't touch Canada thistle. They're supposed to be great for eating poison ivy & oak, though.
“In a time of deceit telling the truth is a revolutionary act.”
― George Orwell
It's not over when you lose. It's over when you quit.
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