Beef cattle 2 calves a year?

[ChickenCanoe]

You posted your location as I was writing.
As much as I admire Dexter cattle, if you don't plan on using them for milk. I would seriously consider something like Angus, Simmental or even Charolais.
Highland cattle are better in much harsher climates than yours.
The larger carcass would yield much more meat.
It also begs the question of how are your cows going to be inseminated. Will you keep a bull, have conjugal visits or use artificial insemination? I like having a good bull but special attention needs to be paid to fencing. Especially if your cow herd is quite small.

 

[410farmer]

You posted your location as I was writing.
As much as I admire Dexter cattle, if you don't plan on using them for milk. I would seriously consider something like Angus, Simmental or even Charolais.
Highland cattle are better in much harsher climates than yours.
The larger carcass would yield much more meat.
It also begs the question of how are your cows going to be inseminated. Will you keep a bull, have conjugal visits or use artificial insemination? I like having a good bull but special attention needs to be paid to fencing. Especially if your cow herd is quite small.

The space for the bull and cost of upkeep and cars compared to just doing AI is what I’m comparing on that front. So essentially a dexter, mini Hereford, lowline, highland would be more per purpose with their calves helping to pay for their stay. And the feeder/ stocker crosses would be my main way of getting beef every year. I haven’t thought much of the alternative of a regular sized angus cow being kept. I would buy my hay for the winter. Don’t want to invest the space or expense/time into making my own hay. In the areas I’ve been looking in PA and Maryland 9-12 acres with size home I want is in my budget. Then I also have to account for 6-8 goats, llama, possibly pony and the couple other random livestock over time I would get that’s going to share that grazing space

 

[410farmer]

Have you tried Back yard Herd? It’s the brother of this site...I’ve had issues getting into it before...but it deals with all livestock..I have goats and pigs. We are thinking of cows this spring for the same reason, but a new Hereford. They are small and easy to maintain...since I do the farm work myself....Anyway, I think you could get more info from people who actually raise cows, goats and Llamas year round? No offense to everyone on here...I love this site..but we typically only talk about our birds.

I tried signing up and haven’t received the email back to activate account I’m going to check my junk mail and wait it out. So far I’ve gotten some really solid points nailed down. Now that I feel that freezer time is debunked. Whether it’s raise a Feeder steer, cow/calf, or possibly get a full sized cow it’s less variables to bounce around in my head. The full size cow option never really stuck in my mind because of the sheer size so to me that equated to more feed overwinter and acreage one cow would need. And I’m aware they can have still births, don’t conceive, etc etc so I wanted to have more then one without dedicating 7-8 acres to just what the cows need.

 

[wyoDreamer]

It isn't really that hard to figure out - if you understand the basic principle for calculating animal stocking rates. This is super-simplified - it can get quite technical if you want to really get into the math.

They work in "Animal Units" or "AU" for calculating stocking rates.
Typically 1 AU = one 1000-pound cow with a calf under 6 months of age
If your cow weighs only 850 pounds, then that = 0.85 AU
If your bull weighs 1300 pounds, then that = 1.3 AU
Similarly, a 300 pound llama would =.3 AU. so you could probably have llamas on an acre of pasture.

They use a 1000 pound cow as a base because they have studied dairies enough to know that a 1000 lb cow eats about 26 lbs. of forage every day.
Here in Wisconsin, a well maintained pasture will be able to produce that much forage without being over-grazed. BUT, to maintain that pasture, you would need to rotate the grazing animals to different areas with fences so the graze would have time to regrow.

 

[410farmer]

It isn't really that hard to figure out - if you understand the basic principle for calculating animal stocking rates. This is super-simplified - it can get quite technical if you want to really get into the math.

They work in "Animal Units" or "AU" for calculating stocking rates.
Typically 1 AU = one 1000-pound cow with a calf under 6 months of age
If your cow weighs only 850 pounds, then that = 0.85 AU
If your bull weighs 1300 pounds, then that = 1.3 AU
Similarly, a 300 pound llama would =.3 AU. so you could probably have llamas on an acre of pasture.

They use a 1000 pound cow as a base because they have studied dairies enough to know that a 1000 lb cow eats about 26 lbs. of forage every day.
Here in Wisconsin, a well maintained pasture will be able to produce that much forage without being over-grazed. BUT, to maintain that pasture, you would need to rotate the grazing animals to different areas with fences so the graze would have time to regrow.

I guess I could simplify it even more. Thanks for that info btw that gives me an idea what to expect I may need in the winter and I’ll work some rough numbers out on that. Given the unknown of pasture quality and even exact acre size. I think a better question would be newbie work load. Working with a full size cow and breeding compared to a growing steer, or multiple smaller cows and a steer or two every year until my cows produce something I can harvest. If I can sell their calves for more then a 500plus pound steer cost I would probably go that route. I’ve seen feeder steers going for a dollar a pound for a 500 pound one. Haven’t looked at auctions or any deep research. Oh I was about to get complicated again lol. So one steer a year raised to 900-1100 pounds off grass only raised during spring to fall I would need to get one that’s atleast 600-750 pounds?

 

[Folly's place]

I want to add that handling cattle is something that you need to learn, and getting experience first is necessary. You don't want to get hurt out there!
Talk to the Extension people, visit farms if you can, and spend time getting that hands on experience before you have any home!
Read up on health issues too, and/ or ask to travel with a livestock veterinarian, which will be interesting, at least!
Mary