how big...

[longshot]

if i were to purchase a calf in the spring and put it on pasture for the summer on grass, how much weight can i expect that animal to gain by the fall?

any input folks?

thanks
ls

[GREEN_ALIEN]

Lot of wiggle room here long.

There are lots of factors such as breed, sire and dam, epd's, type of pasture, weight of calf etc...

If one of the girls (BA) drops a calf on March 1, then I would expect to have a 650 - 700 pound calf in the fall. Keep in mind that calf is not weaned yet and part of it's diet over the summer was good ole milk from ma.

In your case you are buying a calf and I assume you mean a young one, like a day old that needs replacer? or do you have a source of early weaned calves?

Weaning stress if early weaned will cost you some weight for awhile; a calf on replacer is slower to fill out but grain will help both.

Regardless, it is unlikely to hit a good butcher weight with that calf. A better way to go might be to find a cow operation nearby and buy a weaned calf at shipping time (sept / oct) or spring if fall calvers (apr / may) and grow it out for a season. That will net you an 1100 - 1200 lb animal depending on breed.

Hope all that ramble answered your question.

Ted
Crabapple Ranch

[longshot]

thanks for the reply Ted, i was thinking of getting a calf that was weened in the spring and putting it on pasture till the fall, actually i was thinking of getting 2 and having one for the freezer and selling the other to offset costs.

ls

[GREEN_ALIEN]

That should work out well. Definatley go with two as they are a herd animal.

Ted

[longshot]

thanks ted. we have community pasture here and it only costs about 15 or 20 pucks per head to put animals on the pasture for the summer. so the costs should be not too bad lol maybe some profit even. ;)


ls

[GREEN_ALIEN]

Cool, Good Luck and If you have any questions feel free to ask.

Ted