Hi! Pam, I can't comment on local prices. But dairy breeds do not produce beef. In other words, the meat of these animals is not the sort of thing sold in butcher's shops. In Australia they are nor regarded as being worth the feed needed to raise them. But different countries have different table needs. France for an instance, has a special use for young milk breed calves through to vealers. Before the current embargo's on movement of animals from the UK, a Welsh farmer contact used to get a very useful sales of his dairy cull steer calves to France, but is now using them for dog meat as there is no market in the UK for this class of animal. In Oz we eat very little beef veal and no dairy veal, mostly growing beef breeds to yearling or beyond. Dairy breed meat is mostly lost into pet meat and the like. It does not make worthwhile mince or sausage, as it is "watery" and lacks the fibre structure we expect in beef. If you are going to raise and kill the meat for your own use, that is one thing, but if intending to sell into the commercial meat market, get advice from a buyer or agent first.
I would track down a stock agent and ask for advice on what breeds are suited to your situation, what prices to buy, period and costs to get to marketable size and likely return. Do you have cattle yards, loading ramp, vet equipment etc? Or is there a contractor who can provide this service. Ask the agent. It may cost several year profits just to get set up to have animals on the land. On small properties it may be worth considering miniature breeds, as they tend to be more easily handled and require less expensive yards. One of our Permaculture members has started changing over and except for high initial stock costs, they seem to be performing quite well. As he breeds up females, he is quitting the conventional beef animals. Regards gil Pam DeTray wrote: > As my new place has historically been a cow pasture, I am keeping it that way >instead of tearing into it for a market garden. > My plan was to buy a cow/calf pair, and some young Black Angus steers to raise for >beef. Apparently all the calves around here have been weaned, but I can buy an Irish >Dexter cow due to calve in September for $800. Is that a normal price? > Also, a friend told me today that I could buy a steer from a dairy herd for $15 or >so and the beef would be just as good, just not as salable. I would like to hear >thoughts from the list on this. > Could someone please tell me what exactly makes a particular breed good for meat? >Why is a Black Angus better beef than a Holstein? > > Thanks, > Pam DeTray > > -- > _______________________________________________ > Sign-up for your own FREE Personalized E-mail at Email.com > http://www.email.com/?sr=signup
