Smart Tips for Buying Cattle
When it comes to buying cattle, it pays to do your homework before making an offer or bidding on any animals. By doing a small amount of research before you buy your cattle, you will save time and money. In addition, you will learn much about the care and feeding of the cattle. This care and feeding information is vital so that you can protect the investment of money and time that you will put into purchasing and / or raising the animals.
Making the Choice: Milk Cows or Beef Cows
You will need to decide if you wish to acquire cows that are used for beef or cows that are used to obtain milk. There are a number of breeds within the subsets of dairy cows and beef cows. You will need to decide which breed, or breeds, will suit your needs in the best way so that you are able to maximize your investment.
If you are interested in purchasing some cattle, you are likely to want a herd of some size so that you can breed them and, perhaps, sell them as well. Plan to purchase at least one steer and about ten to twenty cows for a small sized herd. You might also wish to buy a few young steer.
The term steer generally refers to a young male cow that has been castrated. He is usually between one and three years of age. Steer can be a viable source of income if you plan to sell them for meat when they mature. Steer can also be good project cows for youth who are interested in competitions.
Private Seller or Auction House?
When you are planning to buy cattle, you can typically find them in one of two common ways: either through a private seller or at an auction house. It is possible to find someone who is selling cows privately although not as common.
It is most likely that you will purchase your cows at an auction. At these cattle auctions, you will encounter many different breeds of cattle. It is imperative to get to the auction at least an hour or two before it starts. This will enable you to look over the cows that are up for auction. You will also want to ensure that you have a prime seat in which to view the cattle as they come up on the auction block.
When you are previewing the cows prior to the auction, you might want to pay particular attention to those auctions that are offering a large number of cattle. It is possible to obtain a great starter herd of cows for pennies on the dollar.
Ensuring that you are buying cattle that are healthy, and that are of a good quality stock, is paramount at any time. This is particularly true when you are trying to establish a herd. Young and vibrant cows with shiny coats, large clear eyes, and an absence of sores will most likely be great candidates with which to start your first herd.
